Rotors are often warped when some GED monkey with an impact wrench put on the lug nuts with too much torque and/or don't tighten the lug nuts down in a star-pattern.
If you wanted to replace front brake and rotors the job is very easy and the parts (if you don't buy Honda parts) are pretty cheap and would probably fix your problem.
If you are getting a vibration in the steering wheel during braking most likely you have a warped front rotor. on average brakes can last anywhere from 20-80K miles of more or less. standard though for a car like that with basic semi metallic pads new ones could get over 50K. You never really want to get brakes down to where you hear the squeak tab or the chirp of worn brakes. So in you case since you dont know when they where done last do them. your car should have disk brakes all around. drum brakes are older technology but still around in some basic cars but the standard is disk. If you take it to a shop or dealer expect to pay about 150 per axle for JUST pads the rotors can be done at the same time and you may only need to replace one or two they run about 50 bucks a piece at part stores plus labor. in total to get all the brakes and say two rotors done at a shop or dealer expect to pay 4-600.. Now if you have a friend or family member with basic tools and knowledge can do the same job for less than 200.. 30-40 bucks a set for brakes. then about 100 or so for rotors. My family brings there cars to me for brakes all the time and I just tell them to buy the parts and bring a case of beer. Now few people know this but if you have an Autozone in your area they have lifetime warranty on there brakes SO you buy a set then after so many miles you can buy another set then bring in the old ones for your money back. I have done this for YEARS and have paid for only the first set but have done three brake jobs on the SUV. so at this point im getting free brakes..
Depending on your driving, brakes can last a long long time. My 2003 has the original brakes. If the dealership tells you that your brakes are OK, then they probably are, and the dealership is probably not interested in taking advantage of you. (It would be so easy to sell you new brakes right now, because you are expecting it) I am guessing that there must be something beyond normal wear that is wrong. Maybe with the ABS, that will vibrate on and off,but could be described as a the car and steering wheel. Best bet would be to have the mechanic at the dealership go for a roadtest and to experience it.
I can almost guarrantee you have disc brakes, but not to worry,
Your car has front disc brakes, and rear drums -- discs don't work well for parking brakes, so performance cars like Corvette have discs all around, plus added drums in rear for parking brake.
Since you feel vibration in steering wheel when braking, your problem almost certainly is warped disc on one or both fronts. Could be caused by over tightening, tightening out of sequence, or by running through puddle of water when hot.
Parts for your car are so cheap and discs are so thin, it isn't advisable to have them surfaced -- just replace them. Good idea to have new pads installed at the same time -- I like cast iron discs and semi-metallic pads. Should cost a few hun at a quality general repair shop. Check how long in business, BBB rating, ask friends for recommendations -- auto repair is a major source of complaints at BBB. The shop will check master and wheel cylinders for leakage, etc. while they're at it. Good idea to do this work as soon as funds are reasonably available -- hard braking in a panic situation will not be as easy to control with this condition.
Sounds like your rotors are warped ( out of round). If you plan on keeping the car long term, I would get a good set of rotors & pads installed at a local garage. I would not recommend Midas because it has been my good mechanic's experience that Midas's policy is to tear down the entire brake system & tell the customer what is needed regardless of what the customer knows needs to be done & may charge for work that is completely unnceccessary.
There is not a dealer around that will miss a vehicle that needs rotors due to brake pedal pulsation! they all know what warped rotors are and it's one of the "gravy jobs" that a Mechanic can still make money on. If you're that paranoid about getting ripped off by a mechanic...find a good looking one and take him out back for a BJ. That always worked to get my attention at work!
Excessive width variation, excessive runout.
These two things affect the pedal feedback or "pedal feel"
and steering wheel feedback..
vibration in the front is likely caused by rotor variation of the shape of the front rotors.
The most effective way to make it go away, is to have them perform the front brake service using a lathe that machines the rotors on the car.
Even new parts can be required and hubs checked for true.
This is the best remedy.
Then you may have aftermarket wheel issues.
some aftermarket and custom wheels cant be cured for what they do to your wheel bolt circle.
You may have wheels of that type. You have to prove it to most people by substituting a known good factory set.
Show this to your service advisor so he knows what you mean.
Tightening of the wheel bolt circle can lead to distortion of the hub and rotor. This is because of the manufacturing differences of the wheels some cars get fitted with AFTER the factory.
You were smart to ask before you spent good money after bad repeatedly rewarping your new parts in your brake system.
You could also get this verified by a brake specialty shop, but the availability of factory wheels and tires for a test will be more difficult to have at the ready.
The on-the-car rotor machine can be available by calling a mobile service that does them where the car is being done, or some shops have their own.
The true causes of rotor warpage can be found in tech service bulletins. Dissipation of heat and energy while braking, coupled with the quality of the part casting, and then being subjected to stop and go traffic, high ambient, excessive loading or carrying can affect the brake effectiveness as well as the resulting rotor and caliper condition after.
A car that has a wheel bolt circle distortion that happens regardless of how it is torqued can be a genuine issue.
It happens to small cars and all the way up into medium truck applications. The use of spacers is something a car manufacturer will not agree with and they will not pay warranty claims when it is present and found to be the causal part.
If you have a dealer that offers no solution, it is because they are letting you wear the pads out first.
They do not want to sell you something you dont need. They cant afford to, really.
The brake rotors maybe warped or the if the wheels has been taken off they installed the wheel improperly(ie one part tighten too much; warped). Re-install the wheels.
If you like, asked if replacing the brake would get rip off the vibration. If yes then say that you'll pay to have it done.
Vibration felt in the steering wheel when you apply your brakes is most likely due to warped brake discs on your front brakes. And they could have gotten that way from someone using an air-powered impact wrench to tighten the lug nuts on your wheels instead of using a proper torque wrench when changing or rotating tires.
You didn't mention how many miles you have on your car, but I'm guessing that it's somewhat less than 75,000 miles, and it is quite possible for your original equipment brakes to last beyond than number.
Brake rotor lateral run-out (in and out) can easily and inexpensively checked with a 0-1 dial indicator or on a rotor turning machine. *Nobody in their right mind has brake work done by a chain brake shop. They do not sell dealer rotors or brake pads! Brake pad thickness can easily be checked down through the caliper inspection holes when the tires are rotated every time the oil and filter is changed by the dealer.
Yep, total stereotypical girl here needing work and knowing I'm going to get ripped off if I don't know my stuff. I have a 2009 Honda fit (sport). I have never changed the brake pads-but every time I go into the dealership and have them check everything they insist that my brakes are all a-ok. However, it has GOT to be time to change them, right? And here's the main problem: When I brake at moderate to high speeds, my car and steering wheel vibrate like there's no tomorrow. I've brought this up at the dealership and they can't seem to tell me anything. The two things I know for sure: It's not my alignment and it's not a lug nut (look at me, using big car words!). From my research, I have come to the conclusion that it is either pads, rotors or drums. However, I have also learned that there are drum brakes and disc brakes. I don't know what I have. What's going on with my car in your opinion and how much am I looking forward to paying for it? (PS, my car is my baby so I will do everything necessary and buy high end everything even though I'm pretty broke). Your help is SO appreciated :)
Does sound like a warped rotor. Don't go to a dealer or one of those places like Midas, they usually over charge for everything! Ask around, one of your friends or a neighbor should be able to point you toward a good, honest mechanic. I only go to this one garage if I can't fix it myself, they're locally owned n operated and as honest as the day is long.
I am very surprised the dealership hasn't done a complete brake job - whether you needed one or not. Suggest you take it somewhere else (like Monro) for a second opinion. You should not get vibration like that.
let me keep it simple... Break problems will make noise when they go bad...I have 140,000miles on my Toyota breaks and they are just starting to make noises it sounds like metal rubbing on metal... If your rotor is warped your break petal will feel like it is pumping up and down under your foot... I don't think your breaks are your problem after all it is a HONDA... I would first try checking the air in the tires and make sure they are full ...Air will work as good as Nitro fill and it is cheaper and you can do it your self...
your brake pads might be still good but the rotors are warped, that,s why it vibrates when you hit the brakes ! you should have brake rotors in the front and brake drums in the rear dear, so your shimmy is probably in the front rotors !
This is text book: new and or on the car cut rotors and pads. Happens a thousand times a day across this country. Go somewhere else.
The dealer mechanic is lazy, he should have test driven the car because your front rotors are warped.
Most dealership technicians are on flat rate, which means they only get paid for the time spent repairing, not checking. Unfortunately there is more to your braking system than just the pads, which are easy to check, but not the only thing that wears out.
Stay away from the dealership for brakes, they usually can't sell you rotors at a discount and they often don't have the machine to resurface them. Go to a local shop that's been around for awhile, preferably recommended by friends and tell them you probably need front pads and rotors because of a pulsation when braking. The rear brakes usually outlast the front and almost never cause enough of a vibration to feel.
Front rotors and pads should be changed together because they both need a fresh flat surface to mate to when either is new. For your car rotors are so cheap it's not worth having them resurfaced, if the shop wants to do that, walk away.
The front brakes is all you should need but have them check the rear. With new rotors and pads my shop would charge you $290. + tax for the front brakes - complete.
go on a test drive with them. problem solved but really go somewhere else...they will over charge you every time...orrr find a real man for you next man..someone who knows how to change brakes.
It sounds like you need to either get your rotors resurfaced or replace them.
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