home4sale2

Recently two dealers had recommended that I change my brakes and they made it a point to tell me that my brakes were special Brembo implying only they could do the job right. I bought Centric rotors and pads (compared it online and each site including Amazon stated that they were the right parts for a 2006 RL). Did I buy the right parts? I had a local mechanic put them in for me for $200 and I provided the parts. Sorry DIY'ers, I thought about doing it myself but this is not where I wanted to cut corners. They seem to be running fine and perform well.

What I was hoping was that it would solve my other problem as well, seems like the car is out of alignment. It only occurs at less than 30mph or so but there is a slight vibration on the steering wheel as if it was switching through gears (don't know how else I can describe it). The reason I don't notice it at higher speeds is because the steering wheel travel (CW or CCW) is not that great.

Tires seem to have enough tread on them, probably another 10,000 miles left (per mechanic), the rotors and brakes are new (and haven't fixed the problem), nothing in the suspension is shot.

Thoughts?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

Does this only happen when braking?

home4sale2

No, normal city driving, typically up to 30mph speeds and then goes away. Braking is fine. The reason I thought new brakes and rotors would fix it was because I thought maybe one of the pads was loose or the rotors were slightly warped causing a rattle and a rubbing sensation. Needed new brakes regardless so not a waste and the best tires were put in the front though all 4 seem ok. Tire pressure is fine all around. The only other thing that has changed is that I took it to the dealer for the brake cylinder recall and the car hasn't been the same.

Carbon Legend

Should have went back to the dealer right away after you noticed the car wasnt the same. Ive heard a few people have issues with there car after Master Cylinder Recall. makes me sketchy about getting it done

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

LMFAO, brakes are brakes (there are a couple of cars that you do have to follow a special procedure though, and/or need a scan tool, but not on the RL though), nothing super special about them, biggest thing would be getting ahold of the parts needed

as far as those tires, what brand are they first of all (along with model)
second have you ever had a flat on one of the fronts, more specifically have you driven on the tire being low
i am thinking the inside liner/surface has come apart some, cause little chunks to come loose internally, then they form into balls with enough time
and basically what is happening is that those balls are causing a unbalanced situation, and then you hit like 30 (which seems to be the magical number normally) they even out, causing the vibration to go away
best bet would be to rotate your tires, with putting the fronts on the back, and see if the steering wheel shake goes away (and at the same time you are rotating, roll the tire back and fourth [picking it up, and rocking it back and forth works better, especially right next to your ear, but not everybody has the strength though], and listen very carefully, to see if you can hear anything moving inside, which it should not be

Chas2

Technically, they are not Brembo brakes. The calipers and pads were designed and are manufactured by Advics. They are very nicely made light aluminum caliper assemblies...and definitely not Brembos.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

Chas is right, I did a lot of research when I got my car...



FYI, the brake work is very easy and just like any Honda I've owned.

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

and look to actually be made local possibly too (at least in this country, in Ohio)

home4sale2

Thanks all, what I thought based on what I have read on this forum (Advics), just find it amusing that two Acura dealers in the Chicago area seem to believe that they are Brembo. Anyway, @friesm.. I had the tires rotated but the issue didn't go away. I typically rely on TPMS and for the most part the pressure has stayed around 32, rising while driving, as expected. Tires show normal wear but I believe they are the original tires (Michelin Pilots) and I am at 39K. I did buy the car used however I haven't had this issue till recently when I took it for a recall. Call it a conspiracy theory but because of the useless maintenance they are recommending, I feel like these guys are turning into a Jiffy Lube. That's been my experience lately so I am not taking the car back to these guys, would rather deal with it myself and my local mechanic that I trust. His recommendation was to replace the tires in about 5-10K miles as they are getting there, sounds like it might be sooner and look into balancing and alignment.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

I can tell you first hand that my dealer said that the service managers are instructed to up sell the brake recall so they can make money on the work.

Don't fall for it if you don't need it.

rtr

good advice!!

Ballinger

There's a guy on eBay selling slip-covers for our calipers that say... Brembo. Perfect!

rtr

yea you should go stick one on the dealers forehead. lol

and they're so dumb they will probably like it...

Neekaleek24

I saw those slip covers you were talking about...are those simple to install? or do you have a pic of them on your car?

Ballinger

No, I don't have them on my car.

Seriously, we have big, badass brakes that don't need another brand name on them.

rtr

LoL

037

man, I want those but I don't have enough clearance with the RJs...doh

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Brembo-BRAKE-C...item3365dbd462

I'm only half jocking after seeing this one

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

I gotta tell you, I HATE the way the calipers look when they are unpainted, I cant see the pics at work but if they have front a rear I may do this.

rtr

oh you guyz? You may as well put a Strut grill in also to help with the cheezzeness... That shit is just crap cant believe they even sell them. The stock calipers are beautiful and very powerful. If you put proper pads in they clamp super hard.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

LoL

037

stopping power and the way things look aren't exactly the same thing.

Brembo's look much better from a distance and give some credit to RLs fancy brakes by a crappy sounding company name (advics)

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

if they where real they be

037

who cares about real, it's all for the look. If you want real, shell out 10k on a custom brembo kit and be done with it.

nynruas

Yeah, I've seen these on ebay. They do look nice but the only thing is that they are universal slip covers (more or less). I'd be a little imbarassed if I bought these and a Hyundai with 18" wheels pulls up next to me with the same covers..LOL

037

then the Hyundai blows your doors off, now that's embarassing.

Now what if the Hyundai driver is embarassed to be next to you...or what if...just if...they don't care.

Ballinger

..driving her Genesis. Not implausible.

037

2.0T Sonata or Kia Optima will blow the doors off an RL as well. I'm seriously considering getting one or the other for my wife.

Optima has a cooled seat option and how about heated seats in the back for both!

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

Hyundai is the new Honda and then some.

Ballinger

Great. That's just what I wanted to read.

Now, I have to find that thread with the supercharger and that other one with the how-to on rear seat removal and that other one with Jenny Craig's home number...

037

I must be missing something out of the West Coast humor manual

T-jay

Check your ball joints and tie rods. i had an inner tie rod go bad a few months back and replaced it. the dealer told me the inner tie rods weren't serviceable. I looked online for the part numbers and ordered them now no problems.

Those covers are a waste of money. ebay crap!

oo7spy

There is a 2.5G RL on here with cooled seats... I thought it was yours. It's on the thread about the wood console area upgrade.

That back seat weighs probably 20 lbs total. The seat back is HEAVY.

037

yes..my RL does have cooled seats, but not under $30k for a brand new car but as part of a 50k car package...that's the difference.

oo7spy

Ahhh... I'm still jealous of that BTW. I bet your seat coolers last longer than theirs. They probably cool faster too!

037

I don't have butt warmers in the back regardless of how you slice it.

Heck, my 93 Pontiac had a heads up display...A PONTIAC IN 1993!!!

I want that back