Hi All,

I had some funny brake problems after leaving my car for 2 weeks while I was traveling for business in the UK. Never had brake problems before leaving. I have a 6MT with 30K miles.

When I got home, the parking brake seemed "stuck." I could disengage the lever, but when I went into 1st gear, the engine was pulling but I wasn't going. I went into reverse and gave it some more gas and the brakes freed, but there was a gringing noise while driving in time with speed, and shuddering in the pedal when braking.

Took the car in to the dealer and they say new rotors all around to the tune of $800 bucks, plus new tires (they were pretty worn). They ground my rotors once before at 4K miles due to some noise issues (I wish they hadn't) and said they were right at spec and could not be machined again.

Does this sound reasonable? Any idea why the parking brake seemingly fused to the wheel and what could be done to prevent this?

I live in overpriced NY so I can't afford the $1m to get a house with a garage, so I must park outside and wonder if that had something to do with it.

 

I noticed this also on my '04 TL 6mt and on my '03 G35 cpe 6mt w/brembos. I have had no ill effects then the initial sticking.

The grinding is the rust that builds up on the rotor. That is normal. Just wash your car one day and let it sit overnight. Your rotors will start to rust.

30K miles is what I am on pace to replace my brakes/rotors. So that does not seem outrageous. Find a local shop to get them done cheaper. Rotors are not easy to find on the internet. The cheapest that I have seen was from a dealer that is sponsered here, I think, for @250/pr. I'm sure someone will provide a link :-)

Ohhh, it is my experience to never use the parking brake unless you are on an incline/decline. Parking brakes can and will warp the rotor it is attached to. If the rotor was hot when you applied the parking brake, it might have melted to so-to-speak. Along with the prolonged touching and rusting. This all probably caused it to fuse.

One other thing on brake care. When you are stopped, try not to HOLD the brake pedal down. The HOT brakes will keep one spot hot on the rotor while the other portions will cool down faster. This causes warping.

miiipilot

 

Thanks for the info miiipilot. I knew about the not holding the brakes thing, and was thinking about the parking brake on the way home... it makes sense esp. since I ride motorcycles w/ no parking brake and just leaving them in gear keeps them where they should be; just never really thought about applying that logic to a car.

I'm going to have the dealer do the rotors, mainly since I have no garage or anywhere to do the work easily myself... glad to know at least they're not suggesting I replace too early.

 

I have '04TL5AT with 29K on it and had no need to take my brakes apart yet, but from my experience with 99AccordV6, the parking brake should not cause rotor warping, since by design it is like an independent small drum brake and therefore not touching the rotor. And I assume 3GL brakes, at least parking brakes, have the same design.
I am not a mechanic, but I usualy do brake replacements myself on my cars.

$250 a pair - is that for Brembo rotors for 6MT? Ouch!
On the other hand, Honda uses Brembo as OEM, which means I also have Brembos on my 5AT, correct?
On my 99Accord front rotors cost was I think $55 each, and it was OEM Brembo purchased from the dealer.