Kirbert

With 115K on the odometer, my 2004 Civic LX Coupe's front brake pad squealers informed me that they were due for replacement. That's the first time; clearly this car is not driven hard! Anyhow, while picking up new pads for the front I went ahead and picked up a set of shoes for the rear.

That turns out to have been a mistake. The original brake shoes on the rear show NO wear. I don't mean just a little; I mean they are barely scuffed. In fact, I wouldn't think they show any more wear than I'd expect from the few times the handbrake has been applied while the car was moving.

I did bleed the rears while I was there, and that worked, so clearly fluid is getting to the cylinders. And the handbrake does hold the car securely, even on a Florida hill.

Any idea what's up? Is something wrong?

ezone

Normal. Most of Hondas drum brakes can outlast the cars they are on (especially where I'm at in the rust and salt belt)
I figure a ratio of front pad replacements to rear shoes at 5:1 or greater.

My dealer doesn't even stock rear shoes for anything because we never sell them (only the rookies try...until they get dialed in)


If you installed aftermarket brake shoes, they could wear much faster than Hondas shoes. Check wear regularly, or at least whenever the fronts need changed again.

Kirbert

Ha! Well, that makes me feel better! Thanks! I put the old shoes in the box and will store them away. If these new shoes ever wear out, I'll just put the old shoes back in!

sdaidoji

iTrader: (1)

mine showed no wear at all either, they will outlast the car.... Means, they do not do any work other than holding the car in inclines...

mikey1

my rear brakes are original on 2005 with 320,000kms and i have no plans in touching them unless they start yelling at me, i know they are original cause im the only owner, i think i have done the front brakes 3 times

Coach_1

Every car that I have owned since early 1970's with front disc and rear drum has had drum shoes that last the life of the car; usually 250,000 km or 150,000 miles. But watch out if you buy a new Honda with front and rear discs. Because of my experience, I ignored checking the rear disc pads and destroyed my discs of my 2014 Civic at 75,000 km (45,000 miles). My bad. I will check front and rear carefully from now on. My front pads still have 70% life which I find really weird. Means most of the braking work is being done by the much smaller rear brakes, not the front.

rockyrock

Last time I got the oil changed at my local dealer, they marked the rear drums "yellow" at 2.5 mms. Current miliage is 135K, should I be concerned or do I have a while to go?

mikey1

i wouldn't worry about them, until they start screaming at you

ezone

If that's accurate then it took 135k to wear off 1mm or maybe 1.5mm of shoe friction material?

Stock shoes normally start out with IIRC about 3.5 or 4mm thick linings.
You've got lots of mileage left IMO.


The FSM states to replace shoes when there is 2mm of friction material remaining, but sometimes they are left to wear quite a bit more than that.

rockyrock

Thanks all!

chuffsy

I have 85k miles on my 2010 lx-s and the rear shoes show just about half worn. I am replacing the front rotors and pads and this will be number 3. I got 35k from the oems and replaced them with Powerstop Z23 kit. Those lasted 50k miles. I am reinstalling the same kit again. The rear drums started to show some rust so I primed with phosphoric acid then spray painted them with high temperature Bar B Q paint.
Cheers