New to forum. Have test driven 2019 RDX a couple times. Like the car, but brakes are stopping me from buying. Initially, I was shocked at soft brake pedal. Still have to apply brakes extra hard, doesn't feel natural. I notice some of the magazine reviewers have also commented about that.

My question is - Can the brakes be adjusted to have more bite? Can this be done with software, or would it require different master cylinder, or what?

Current owners - Are you OK with the brakes as they are?
Max

 

 

 

They are soft for sure but I get used to it after two weeks of driving.

 

After the overly sensitive brakes on the MKX, the brakes on the 19 RDX are perfect to me

 

No complaints here. The tires of the testers could also be improperly inflated. Mine were at 41 psi when I took delivery lol.

 

I had no issues with any of my test drives. Very much like my Toyota Highlander - a bit soft when first applied but firm up nicely with a little pressure. Not much chance of snapping someone's neck inadvertently.

 

Slightly off topic. Does anyone find the braking power varies according to speed? I find the braking power is good and constant from 40mph to 20mph and anything lower than 20mph, you need to press harder on the brake pedal. This caught me by surprise the first few times driving it. After driving it for 3 weeks, I got used to it but I still notice that I need to press harder after 20mph. Anyone have the same feeling?

 

We have an Accord and just got rid of the BMW.

Honda brakes are grabby, BMW brakes are not. BMW braking power is superior to Honda braking power, and the brakes in the BMW are far more linear. You just step harder and harder, and, IMO, that gave them better feel.

The RDX's brakes, to me, were much more like the BMW brakes than the Honda brakes.

 

I totally agree with you re: BMW. I have an old 97 E36 M3 and love the brakes, in spite of the large amount of black brake dust. From reading the BMW forums, supposedly it was some kind of requirement at the time to have graphite(?) in the metallic brake pads. I don't know if it was to keep the rotors from being chewed up by the metal fibers of the brake pads or what, but the brakes are very linear and strong although I've heard they will fade when overheated on repeated hard stops from speed. I have huge confidence in my M3's brakes. My friend who also had a 95 M3 was so irritated by the black dust that he changed to PBR deluxe ceramic pads which had a white dust, but his brake feel had no initial bite (I almost felt that the car had wet brakes) and then a hard "grabbiness". On my 2002 Lexus RX300, I put Akebono ceramic pads which are pretty linear, but when its raining, the grab so much that I get surprised and pitch forward in my seat, weird.

Maybe the RDX's brake pads have no initial bite, then grabs when they heat up or I've heard that some automakers where experimenting with a mechanism to slightly retract the brake pads for less friction when driving = better MPG, don't know if anyone's doing that.

 

Has anyone tried to bed in the pads on their RDX? Maybe they just need to be bed in to the rotors to grab better.

 

 

Reviving an "old" thread...I've owned my RDX for a week, and really love it. I was aware of the soft brake pedal from my reading, both here and watching/reading reviews, and my several test drives. it does take some time to get used to it, especially when the other car I drive has a much more positive feel. I read somewhere that the engineers did intentionally. HUH? Anyway, I'm sure I'll get used to the brakes, but will likely brake too hard when I drive our other vehicle the first time I step on the brakes!

 

Could just be me, but I find the brakes on my sisters RDX weak. (Then again, I always upgrade my tires and brakes)

Any pads out there that can improve the performance, or just upgrade the tires?

 

A little off topic - but would you recommend the 2019 RDX - considering a purchase; but all the infortainment concerns has given me pause.

 

Yes, I am very happy with my RDX Advance, am used to the brakes, and have had no issues with the infotainment system.

 

I have to say my DD is a 2016 Accord V6EXLNS and there is a lot of transmission brake assist (even more so in S mode). Most of the time I use very little brake pressure and let the trans do the downshifting and then I just have to stop it at the end. I felt like our 2016 RDX was the same way. I've driven the 19 RDX a few times and I feel little to no brake assist and feel like I really have to brake hard coming up to a stop sign. Maybe it is just break in period given we only have 200 miles on it. Time will tell.

 

For the owners out there, when I apply a constant/consistent light pressure to the brakes, it doesn't really stop the car, but when it travels over bumps, the brake pedal moves with it. Is that a normal thing?

 

The brakes on my wife's '19 RDX are different than my '07, but I don't think they're soft. Still better than a super sensitive brake, like in Mercedes.

 

I have no problems with my wife's RDX brakes and don't find a noticeable difference between them and my GLC300. There shouldn't be much bedding needed with new pads and rotors. I haven't had the need or tested "threshold" braking with the RDX, but it appears to have good stopping power. If you think your brakes are weak you need to find a safe location to do several "threshold" brakings stops to learn the vehicles limits. Then do a full ABS panic stop. If you have a local car track suggest you attend one of their safety weekends. They will teach you the difference between threshold braking and an ABS panic stop. You will quickly learn the limits of the vehicles brakes and tires plus emergency lane changes and stopping. Threshold is just before ABS engages. A full panic stop will engage ABS and possible stability control so you also steer the vehicle. I have an 09 Boxster that has track pads and after a weekend of HPDE with them I have to adjust my braking with both cars.

 

I have a theory about the "soft brake" feel (probably will be promptly dis-proved here) ;-)

The idle auto stop/start has a feature where you can avoid it engaging if you maintain slight pressure on the brake pedal when at a stop, pushing further, and it will engage.

Is it possible that this is related (and by design) to the "soft" feel of the pedal?

 

Seems logical to me....I usually turn off the auto stop/start....perhaps pedal effort is different with this turned off?

 

See TSB 19-022 - Soft Brake Pedal or Excessive Brake Pedal Travel in the 2019 TSB thread.

 

This is good news! While I have become used to the "soft pedal" I would prefer it to be a little harder. HMMM.

OK, not going there!

I would expect that as members get this TSB EBB software update implemented, they will post back with their results. (I was going to say "post back with their feelings", but .....)

It's a good day today!

Have fun everyone!
EDIT: Just called my dealer, I will have this update applied on Tuesday, and will report back. :-)

 

I am new to this site and forum so hope this displays correctly...

Although I have yet to purchase a 2019 RDX, I also have read somewhat negative opinions offered by auto-blog and -magazine reviewers.

I am, therefore, curious if anyone here has received any definitive feedback from an informed dealership, a factory rep, or perhaps an Acura mechanic regarding the 2019 RDX's "soft" braking mechanism? Is this by design or unintended consequence?

 

My post just above yours, mentions that Acura has issued a TSB, to update the electronic Brake booster to address owner's concerns with the soft brake pedal.

 

Thank you, AZ!

 

I thought the same thing when I did my test drives. After a few lights though it started to feel fine.

 

Not that I worship Consumers Reports' opinions, but CR does downgrade their evaluation of the 2019 RDX for brake-pedal "feel." CR also expresses, somewhat strongly, their displeasure with the new RDX's track pad. I think it's unfortunate that CR's judgement seemingly has so much influence in situations difficult to judge objectivity.

 

I agree CR can sometimes be overly critical and really kill a vehicle but that probably means better prices for us .

 

The corpses seem to be selling briskly. If CR hadn't dumped on the trackpad, Acura probably couldn't build enough RDXs to meet demand.

As for the kinder, gentler brakes, I have kinda gotten used to them, along with the "do I want to or would I rather wait a while" accelerator pedal. But there is room for improvement.

 

That's the thing I hate about CR and other reviews, they bash on something that's new and they don't understand. Honestly, while I don't own the RDX I've played around with the track pad and from my limited interaction it seems intuitive and not very difficult to figure out. I'd much rather have the RDX system then the one in the MDX or even the tablet touch screen based systems like in Volvo's. The RDX track pad is not only much more user friendly it also allows you to not have to take your eyes off the road (unlike touchscreens which are all the rave these days but are more of a safety risk). They shouldn't bash something just because it's new or they don't understand it. Perhaps try spending some time with it first and get to know it? You can't tell me for most people who are used to any form of tech that the track pad in the RDX is that hard to figure out. Even the split screen system in the MDX while it is universally bashed for being too hard to use, but after spending 5 minutes with it I figured out how to use it and now find it functional and I don't run across a situation where I don't know how to use/interact with it. The RDX system is 10x better then that in the MDX.

 

Just had this TSB 19-022 applied and brake pedal feel is much better.

I encourage all those who's 19 RDXs fall within the VIN range have it applied.

 

how would you describe it before? Vs now

 

From the time I first test drove 3 or 4 different RDXs over a few week period before buying, and on to owning my RDX, I always felt that the brake pedal was soft. It needed more travel to engage the brakes then I was used to. And then I began reading /watching reviews that often commented the same thing. I did quickly get used to it, and never had any issues stopping...but when I would occasionally drive my wife's car, the first brake application was more abrupt than I would normally drive. Never had that issue when switching between my '18 CR-V and her car before.

I only drove home from the dealer today, and my first impression is that there is no doubt that the pedal travel needed to engage the brakes is less. But I was consciously thinking about it... So, I'll have to give it a few days, without specifically thinking about it and see how it feels . Tomorrow will be a good test, as I will be making a lot of short trips in town. I'll report back.

I suppose the real test for me will be after getting used to my RDX brakes again over the next few days, then driving my wife's car over the weekend.

Bottom line, it is better.

My RDX VIN was included in the TSB, and it was built in Nov. Obviously Acura felt it was a big enough issue to update the EBB software and provide a TSB for it.

The dealer was very cooperative, looked up the TSB and had no issue at all of doing the procedure for me.

 

Drove the RDX today in a variety of places, freeway, stop and go city type driving, suburban...after the TSB for soft brake pedal feel, and I can say;

1. It didn't take any time to "get used" to the new brake pedal feel
2. It's different, but not dramatically different
3. Brakes engage at less pedal travel now, it feels "right", better.
4. The fact that it "feels right" is a good thing. I am happy with the change

I will get to drive (or perhaps I should say will "have to " drive) my wife's car this coming weekend, and will report back about the apparent difference...if I am still stopping abruptly the first time I brake after the update to the RDX. Muscle memory, ya know!

 

I thought the brakes in my 2019 RDX felt weird, but I got used to them.

Until I got a loaner 2019 MDX when I had another vehicle in for service.

If I hadn't been buckled in, I think I would have flung myself through the windshield the first time I hit the brakes. Muscle memory, indeed.

 

Part of me thinks I should not update because I’m used to it and it feels fine, but part of me would like a more sensitive brake pedal, not sure if I should have them update it or not

 

TSB for brake booster is great. Less travel translates to quicker engagement which in turn means more responsive. Glad I went in and did it. Don’t expect a race car pedal but it’s much better in my opinion.

 

Took mine in today for its first FREE oil change and tire rotate. The did a filter change and installed 4.8 quarts of 0W20 Full synthetic. While there they performed two TSB's that came up for my VIN...the brake booster 19-022 and the PGMFI 18-063 which takes care of a cold start idle issue that I never experienced (maybe because I live in FL)

Very happy with the feel of the pedal now and my RDX continues to be rock solid...still very happy!