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2011 Honda CR-V - why do brakes and rotors need replacement every year?

Maintenance/Repairs
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#1

Why do breaks and rotors wear out in 1 year?

My Honda CRV breaks and rotors wear out in about 1 year. I think I need to do the 4th replacement now. We don’t drive it that much - maybe 10K miles for the year, and about 60% are highway miles. I tried getting good parts and decent parts, but it didn’t make a difference.

I asked the mechanic a few times, but they don’t want to answer interesting questions. They just want to do the job and kick me out of the shop.

So what’s causing the breaks and rotors to wear so quickly?

#2

Your driving style, guessing you drive like my wife, waiting until the last second to apply the brakes and make hard fast stops.

2 Likes
#3

As above, or do you have your left foot on the brake pedal much of the time? As far as the shop you are using, try a different shop.

#4

In addition to what is mentioned, I would make sure the caliper pistons are moving freely. I also suggest a different shop using high quality parts.
Most of the people I know who drive/brake like a bat out of hell have no idea that they are doing it, and that it kills the brakes.

2 Likes
#5

My wife, who is convinced I’m constantly 5 seconds away from an accident, drives like that too. It makes me nervous and it amazes me that she’s never been in a wreck.

#6

Hi Everyone - thanks for all ideas. I’m pretty good about not riding the break and so is my wife. We’re not agitated drivers who need to slam on the breaks all the time. I have actually been wondering about “make sure the caliper pistons are moving freely”. I will look into that.

#7

OK , but what about your Brakes ?

1 Like
#8

Is it the front, rear, or both?
What’s the issue that is requiring replacement of the pads and rotors? Are they squeaking? Pulsating? Pulling? Worn to the minimum thickness?

I find it odd that rotors need to be replaced every year. If a new pair of rotors are installed one year, there is surely enough material remaining to resurface them for service the next year.

#9

With your car going on ten years old, it might be a good time to have the flexible brake lines replaced. Might be time to have all the calipers replaced or, at the minimum, each one thoroughly examined, cleaned and lubed as necessary.
Number one, you need a better mechanic. Expect to pay for what you get.

4 Likes
#10

I have to wonder if you and your wife are habitual tailgaters. When people tailgate other vehicles, they inevitably have to keep hitting the brake much more often than if they followed the Three Second Rule:

The 3-second Following Distance Rule - Driver’s Ed Guru

Even if you don’t think that you are habitually tailgating, if you don’t follow the Three Second Rule, then you probably are doing it.

If you definitely don’t habitually tailgate other vehicles, then I think new calipers should be on your agenda.

#11

Maybe you need a new brake mechanic.

3 Likes
#12

Which parts, exactly, are actually worn out?

#13

So little time. Brake booster may have a problem. Brake booster rod may be too long and should be adjusted. The calipers (all four??) may be tight. No. Caliper slides may be tight and could have the plating worn off or just not lubricated. Heck, by now the wheel alignment may be so far off that it is even part of the cause. Worn wheel bearings too.

#14

Do you live in an area that gets a lot of snow so you are driving on salted roads all winter. Do you commute daily in the winter with this car?

If yes to both, that can be part of the problem.
I drive very smoothly, try to time the lights and keepflowing through traffic and when I get up to the speed I want, stop accelerating.

I live near Buffalo NY. I get 3 mpg better when I drive the car than when my wife does. she keeps accelerating as long as the road ahead of her is clear and doesn;t dtop doing that until she gets way too close to the car ahead of her and then keeps hitting the brake to control her speed. She rushes up to red lights and slams on her brakes. She follows so close behind slow moving cars that she can’t take her eyes off the car ahead of her long enough to see if she can go around them. my 9 plus year old car has only 55000 miles on it and I have done 3 rear brake jobs and 2 fronts. It has had new rotors every time and both front and rear have had new calipers once. As far as turning rotors, it is hardly worth it unless you have a car with expensive rotors or you have you own brake lathe.

1 Like
#15

It may be a Honda thing, unfortunately.

We have a 2012 Honda Odyssey, purchased used in 2015. We’ve had the front pads and rotors replaced twice already, and I think it may need front rotors again soon.

The indicator is the steering wheel shaking up and down while braking with middle to heavy intensity.

What I’ve read online says that Honda did not allow/design for large enough brakes for such a heavy vehicle. They overheat and warp more quickly, then. I know the CRV is a different, perhaps smaller vehicle, but it’s similar at least.

I don’t like this at all…but the vehicle is paid for, and I’ve got the tools now to change the rotors myself. So that helps.

Good luck.

#16

Volvo, why do you keep doing this?

ArtS joined this site for the first time, and asked a sincere question.

Is berating him for a simple spelling mistake the best you can do?

7 Likes
#17

Given the low miles per year, I’m guessing we’re talking about pulsating brakes. In spite of the 60% highway remark, I’ll bet we’re not talking about no brake application (as in Interstate), but several stop lights per mile type highway.

And if that is the case, I’ll bet the mechanic isn’t using the best stuff.

1 Like
#18

… plus the possibility of habitual tailgating.
Most tailgaters don’t even seem to understand that they are doing it. I used to have a friend–Carol–who tailgated in her SUV to such an extent that I was once able to read the digital speedometer on the dashboard of the car in front of us.

When I suggested that she leave a little more distance between her front bumper and the rear bumper of the car in front of us, she SCREAMED, “I’m not tailgating!”.

After that day, whenever we needed to go anywhere together, I would say, “Let’s take my car, Carol”.
That was just so much less nerve-wracking than subjecting myself to another white-knuckle ride in her vehicle.

#19

@VOLVO-V70 I agree with @JoeMario that the spelling critiques aren’t helpful. I don’t think that the spelling lessons are why we are here, and you’re not the only one who did it, but @VDCdriver did comment further on the topic at hand.

3 Likes
#20

Could be a Honda thing. My Mustang has 130,000 miles on the original rotors, plenty of meat left.
Pads changed twice.