When car problems come they come in threes, at least for me. So I recently had my bearings on my 2005 Honda CRV replaced. It became apparent that the bearings for the CRV had to come from Honda since portions of the bearing were magnetized so a speed sensor could pick them up. Now it’s time for new brakes. I know what all is involved… Turning rotors if they do not need to be replaced, get the calipers back in place install new pads, and so on. Here is what I’m curious about. I know I can change the brake pads myself and get a mechanic to turn the rotors. I would like to know if after market parts would work without setting off any sensors that might be part of the brake system or if I need to buy them from Honda. I want to avoid any hassles with having to put pads on and take them off because one version of the pads have a special magnet in them that the car’s computer needs to read.
It is usually a piece of wire that makes contact with the rotor when the pad is too worn and that lights the “check brakes” light on the dashboard, not a magnet.
If stock pads have that wire then aftermarket pads will also have it.
I frequent http://www.hondasuv.com and most of the regulars there recommend sticking with the OEM pads. It isn’t that there is anything wrong or incompatible with aftermarket pads, but the OEM seem less likely to result in squealing and wearing your rotors. The OEM pad kit also comes with the appropriate shims and molykote grease for doing a proper brake job.
As Dog80 states the aftermarket parts should be suitable replacements.
May I suggest you read your owner’s manual as pertinent information can be found in there regarding your car’s parts and maintenance.
FYI, these days we don’t turn rotors anymore so if they’re worn you simply replace them.
If you need to ask such questions then I’m not sure you should do the job yourself.
Braking is arguably the most important system on your car.
There should be no problem with aftermarket pads provided they’re of good quality. Cheap pads will cost you more in aggravation than they will save you in money. I have had excellent results with Wagner ThermoQuiet pads.
There was a time when it was routine to either resurface or replace the rotors, but nowadays car manufacturers recommend to leave them be provided they’re still thick enough, do not have significant scoring, and do not have warpage. Doing nothing with the rotors under these conditions can work just fine provided, again, that the pads are of high quality.
This info would be in a repair manual, but I’m afraid you’ll find that all the owner’s manual has to say is take it to an authorized dealer.
IANAE, but when I change my brakes, I just replace the rotors. I was going to have my current ones turned down, but the shop wanted something ridiculous to do it. IIRC, it was like $50 for the new rotors compared to $30 to get them turned down. And I read a few things online that were suggesting that turning rotors down usually isn’t possible or gives sub-standard results.
The main deciding factor was convenience. I’d rather spend the extra cash at the parts store because I’m saving a bunch on the installation. I think the shop wanted $250 just to replace the pads + $200 more if the rotors needed to be replaced. I think I saved over $100 doing it myself, just over the pad replacement.
I’d never done it before. I sit in an office all day and sometimes I need to do this sort of work just to boost my man-ego.
