Brake System Troubleshooting Guide (AJA50639)
WARNING: This page is about the CR-V EX, Eng CD K24V1, which is a different variant/trim than selected.
Publication date: 2014-02-01Reference number: AJA50639
BRAKE SYSTEM TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
Reference Number(s): AJA50639, Date of Issue:
February 01, 2014
| HONDA: | All Models |
| APPLIES TO: | All Models |
SERVICE INFORMATION
Use this Job Aid for troubleshooting common brake system issues based on symptoms (steps are in proper troubleshooting order).
SERVICE INFORMATION
| CONDITION | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POSSIBLE SOURCES | Brake Pull | Sinking Pedal | Low/Spongy Pedal | Brakes Drag Rapid Wear | Excessive Brake Pedal Effort | Vibration During Braking | Rattling | Squeal | Groaning/Moaning | Grinding/Scraping | POSSIBLE SOURCES |
| Air in the Brake System | 4 | 2 | Air in the Brake System | ||||||||
| Anti Squeal Shims | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Anti Squeal Shims | |||||
| Booster Unit | 7 | 3 | 5 | Booster Unit | |||||||
| Booster Vacuum Leak | 4 | Booster Vacuum Leak | |||||||||
| Brake Lines | 7 | 9 | 9 | Brake Lines | |||||||
| Brake Pads/Shoes | 2 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | Brake Pads/Shoes | |||
| Brake Pedal Switch | 2 | Brake Pedal/Switch | |||||||||
| Brake Pistons | 3 | 7 | 5 | Brake Pistons | |||||||
| Brake Shield | 2 | 2 | 2 | Brake Shield | |||||||
| A/C Cycling | 1 | A/C Cycling | |||||||||
| Fluid/Leak | 2 | 1 | 3 | Fluid Leak | |||||||
| Lug Nuts | 4 | Lug Nuts | |||||||||
| Master Cylinder | 3 | 4 | 5 | Master Cylinder | |||||||
| Parking Brake | 6 | 7 | Parking Brake | ||||||||
| Retaining Clips | 4 | Retaining Clips | |||||||||
| Rotors/Drums | 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | Rotors/Drums | |||
| Sliding Pins | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | Sliding Pins | |||||
| Steering | 2 | 5 | Steering | ||||||||
| Suspension | 5 | 3 | 6 | Suspension | |||||||
| Tires | 4 | 5 | 6 | Tires | |||||||
| VSA/ABS Unit | 8 | VSA/ABS Unit | |||||||||
BRAKE PULL
NOTE:
When the brakes are applied, the vehicle drifts to one side.
INSPECTION PROCEDURE - BRAKE PULL
| No. | Source | Check/Inspect for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sliding Pins | Damaged, stuck, incorrect size/type |
| 2 | Brake Pads/Shoes | Metal to metal contact, contamination, mismatched pads |
| 3 | Caliper Pistons | Stuck pistons, damaged/leaking piston seals |
| 4 | Tires | Uneven wear, improper inflation, mismatched tire type/brand |
| 5 | Suspension | Loose/damaged components |
| 6 | Rotors/Drums | Contamination |
| 7 | Brake lines | Binding, kinks, pinched, weak, inner or outer bulging or damaged hose |
SINKING PEDAL
After the vehicle comes to a complete stop, the brake pedal drops or sinks further than an identical vehicle.
INSPECTION PROCEDURE - SINKING PEDAL
| No. | Source | Check/Inspect for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A/C Compressor Cycling | Brake booster vacuum from the engine is decreased when the A/C compressor cycles on during idle operation, leading to sudden brake pedal drop. |
| 2 | Fluid/Leak | Excessive fluid contamination/deterioration, check for brake system leaks in the lines, master cylinder, brake booster, VSA system, and any related hardware |
| 3 | Master Cylinder | Perform master cylinder inspection |
| 4 | Air in the Brake System | Bleed the system to ensure integrity |
LOW OR SPONGY PEDAL
Brakes seem slow to respond or are soft/mushy when applied because of excessive pedal stroke.
INSPECTION PROCEDURE - LOW OR SPONGY PEDAL
| No. | Source | Check/Inspect for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fluid/Leak | Check for brake system leaks in the lines, master cylinder, brake booster, VSA system, and any related hardware, excessive fluid contamination/deterioration |
| 2 | Air in the Brake System | Bleed the system to ensure integrity |
| 3 | Sliding Pins | Binding |
| 4 | Master Cylinder | Perform master cylinder inspection |
| 5 | Rotors | Dished rotors with new pads installed. |
| 6 | Anti-Squeal Shims | Incorrectly installed, incorrect aftermarket component |
| 7 | Caliper Pistons | Damaged/leaking piston seals, excessive piston seal rollback, stuck piston |
| 8 | VSA/ABS Unit | Air in the modulator |
| 9 | Brake Lines | Weak, inner or outer bulging |
BRAKE DRAG OR WEAR
Brake pads or shoes are in continuous contact with the disc brake rotors or brake drums leading to early, rapid, or uneven brake wear.
INSPECTION PROCEDURE - BRAKE DRAG OR WEAR
| No. | Source | Check/Inspect for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sliding Pins | Damaged, stuck, incorrect size/type |
| 2 | Brake Pedal/Switch | Insufficient pedal free play |
| 3 | Brake Fluid | Brake fluid contamination leading to swollen seals |
| 4 | Retaining Clips | Rust, contamination, inadequate lubrication or brake pad clearance |
| 5 | Caliper Pistons | Stuck caliper pistons/cylinders |
| 6 | Parking Brake | Insufficient drum shoe clearance, parking brake applied during driving, sticking or corroded cables |
| 7 | Booster Unit | Misadjusted push rod, check valve |
| 8 | Brake Pads/Shoes | Aftermarket material composition |
| 9 | Brake Lines | Binding, kinks, pinched, weak, inner or outer bulging or damaged hose |
EXCESSIVE BRAKE EFFORT
The brake pedal must be pressed hard to stop the vehicle despite maintaining the normal pedal stroke/high or hard brake pedal.
INSPECTION PROCEDURE - EXCESSIVE BRAKE EFFORT
| No. | Source | Check/Inspect for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake Pads/Shoes | Glazing, contamination, aftermarket material composition |
| 2 | Brake Rotors/Drums | Contamination, glazing, heat spots, corrosion |
| 3 | Booster Unit | Misadjusted push rod, frozen check valve |
| 4 | Booster Vacuum Leak | Perform booster unit inspection test |
| 5 | Master Cylinder | Perform master cylinder inspection |
VIBRATION DURING BRAKING
A judder or pulsation is felt through the brake pedal, steering wheel, seat, floor, or elsewhere in the vehicle when the brakes are applied.
INSPECTION PROCEDURE - VIBRATION DURING BRAKING
| No. | Source | Check/Inspect for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rotors/Drums | Excessive lateral runout or parallelism, corrosion, heat spots, contamination |
| 2 | Steering | Loose/damaged components |
| 3 | Suspension | Loose/damaged components |
| 4 | Lug Nuts | Over torqued causing excessive rotor lateral runout |
| 5 | Tires | Dynamic or static imbalance |
RATTLING NOISE
A noise similar to a baby rattle originating from the brake area when driving over bumpy surfaces either off or on the brake.
INSPECTION PROCEDURE - RATTLING NOISE
| No. | Source | Check/Inspect for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anti-Squeal Shims | Incorrectly installed, incorrect aftermarket, loose |
| 2 | Brake Shield | Check for foreign material caught between the shield and rotor, bent/loose/misaligned shield |
| 3 | Brake Pads/Shoes | Excessive clearance |
| 4 | Sliding Pins | Loose, incorrect size/type |
| 5 | Steering | Loose/damaged components |
| 6 | Suspension | Loose/damaged components |
| 7 | Parking Brake | Sticking, cut or frayed cables, excessive drum shoe clearance against backing plate |
SQUEALING NOISE
A noise similar to skidding tires or a loose fan belt when the brakes are applied.
INSPECTION PROCEDURE - SQUEALING NOISE
| No. | Source | Check/Inspect for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anti-Squeal Shims | Inadequate lubrication, loose, missing, damaged, incorrectly installed, incorrect aftermarket |
| 2 | Brake Shield | Metal to metal contact, check for foreign material caught between shield and rotor, bent/loose/misaligned shield |
| 3 | Brake Pads/Shoes | Metal to metal contact, aftermarket material composition |
| 4 | Rotors/Drums | Metal to metal contact, glazing, scoring, heat spots, corrosion, aftermarket material composition |
GROANING OR MOANING NOISE
A noise similar to blowing across the top of an empty bottle (moaning) or a twisting wooden beam on a ship (groaning) when the brakes are applied.
INSPECTION PROCEDURE - GROANING OR MOANING NOISE
| No. | Source | Check/Inspect for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anti-Squeal Shims | Incorrectly installed, incorrect aftermarket |
| 2 | Brake Pads/Shoes | Metal to metal contact, inadequate clearance, aftermarket material composition |
| 3 | Rotors/Drums | Glazing, scoring, heat spots, corrosion, aftermarket material composition |
| 4 | Sliding Pins | Binding |
| 5 | Booster Unit | Misadjusted pushrod |
| 6 | Tires | Uneven wear, driver may be sensitive to tire compound on different road surfaces |
GRINDING OR SCRAPING NOISE
A noise similar to the sharpening of a tool on a grinding wheel when the brakes are applied.
INSPECTION PROCEDURE - GRINDING OR SCRAPING NOISE
| No. | Source | Check/Inspect for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anti-Squeal Shims | Incorrectly installed, incorrect aftermarket, loose |
| 2 | Brake Shield | Check for foreign material between shield and rotor, bent/loose/misaligned shield |
| 3 | Brake Pads/Shoes | Metal to metal contact, inadequate clearance, aftermarket material composition |
| 4 | Rotors/Drums | Aftermarket material composition, corrosion |
LIQUIDS AND LUBRICANTS USED ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM
LIQUIDS AND LUBRICANTS SPECIFICATION
| Lubricant | Part Number | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Brake Cleaner | P/N 08700-9201 | Cleans brake drums, liners, cylinders, springs, and disc pads; degreases brake fluids, grease and oil |
| Heavy Duty Brake Fluid DOT 3 | PN 08798-9008 | The only brake fluid specifically formulated for use in Honda vehicles and AKEBONO caliper piston seals. |
| Honda Silicone Grease | P/N 08C30-B0234M (supersedes 08C30-B0224M/Honda caliper grease) | Use on caliper piston seals and boots, sliding pins and boots |
| Spray Cleaner and Polish | P/N 08700-9203 | Cleaner for degreasing parts and removing brake dust from alloy wheels |
| Hondabrite All Surface Cleaner | P/N 08732-0020B | Cleaner for degreasing parts and removing brake dust from alloy wheels |
| Molykote 44MA | Call Dow Corning: (800) 248-2481 | Use on the backing plate and brake shoe contact points and on the ends of the shoes, shoe adjuster bolt and connecting rod |
| Molykote M77 | P/N 08798-9010 call Dow Corning at (800) 248-2481 | Use between brake pads and pad shims, brake pad ends and between caliper bracket and pad retainers |
| Shin-Etsu Silicone Grease | P/N 08798-9013 | Use on master cylinder inner bore lip and rods |
| T68 | P/N 08734-0016 | Use on master cylinder inner bore lip and rods |