Adjusting front and rear disc brakes for improved performance.

[Amperex]

Driving a 2012 V6 Accord Sedan. At 6,000 miles the brakes are feeling a bit soft, spongy and "notchy". Worsens after heated from highway drive or stop and go traffic. Very noticeable loss of stopping power and pedal feedback.

I'm pretty handy with brakes but haven't done anything in the past on an Accord other than change rotors and pads.

Visual inspection of the rotors shows them to look in perfect condition. No signs of scoring or warping.

Does this brake system have any manual adjustments I can make to restore brake performance?

Thanks for any help

[MikeyC]

Originally Posted by Amperex

Driving a 2012 V6 Accord Sedan. At 6,000 miles the brakes are feeling a bit soft, spongy and "notchy". Worsens after heated from highway drive or stop and go traffic. Very noticeable loss of stopping power and pedal feedback.

I'm pretty handy with brakes but haven't done anything in the past on an Accord other than change rotors and pads.

Visual inspection of the rotors shows them to look in perfect condition. No signs of scoring or warping.

Does this brake system have any manual adjustments I can make to restore brake performance?

Thanks for any help

No adjustments on disc brakes. Are the rear brakes dragging and overheating from a stuck e-brake? unlikely though on a new car. Just take it to the shop, anything wrong will be under warranty

[glen e]

There are no adjustments except rotor and pad replacement with good ones, vs the std Honda crap. I'm never interested in the Honda warranty replacing with the same crap, I replaced with autozone ceramic pads...all of $100 all around and the DIY thread here

[bojowilly]

Originally Posted by glen e

There are no adjustments except rotor and pad replacement with good ones, vs the std Honda crap. I'm never interested in the Honda warranty replacing with the same crap, I replaced with autozone ceramic pads...all of $100 all around and the DIY thread here

There are some people who don't know crap but think they do with the above quote a perfect example. And it comes from a guy who has fake Brembo caliper covers, so you be the judge.
There are many brake system points that can be checked and adjusted from the steering position sensor to a proper bleed to adjusting the pedal itself. Best to follow Mikey 's advice and bring it back to the dealer for an under warranty repair or calibration.

[jeebus31]

Originally Posted by bojowilly

There are some people who don't know crap but think they do with the above quote a perfect example. And it comes from a guy who has fake Brembo caliper covers, so you be the judge.
There are many brake system points that can be checked and adjusted from the steering position sensor to a proper bleed to adjusting the pedal itself. Best to follow Mikey 's advice and bring it back to the dealer for an under warranty repair or calibration.

[Pete240z]

We don't like our cars with fake stuff (Brembo covers, wire wheels, continental kit, mufflers, convertible top) but we do like our ladies with fake stuff (boobs, hair color, eyelashes, nails, butt pads, girdles/spanx).

LOL!

[glen e]

I love my fake stuff, it just dresses up a commuter car, to each his own. Has nothing to do with my automotive knowledge. 35 years on the corporate side of Honda, Porsche and BMW and yeah, I'm an expert. And my comment stands, you can adjust brakes to bring back to stock specs, but you can't adjust to make them better than stock.

[jeebus31]

Originally Posted by Pete240z

We don't like our cars with fake stuff (Brembo covers, wire wheels, continental kit, mufflers, convertible top) but we do like our ladies with fake stuff (boobs, hair color, eyelashes, nails, butt pads, girdles/spanx).

LOL!

you know what they say... if i can touch it, it's real!

[Aviography]

Originally Posted by bojowilly

There are some people who don't know crap but think they do with the above quote a perfect example. And it comes from a guy who has fake Brembo caliper covers, so you be the judge.
There are many brake system points that can be checked and adjusted from the steering position sensor to a proper bleed to adjusting the pedal itself. Best to follow Mikey 's advice and bring it back to the dealer for an under warranty repair or calibration.

I suggest toning down your comment as some elements of your comment borders on going against DA forum rules of insulting DA members.

As well what OP is describing:

the brakes are feeling a bit soft, spongy and "notchy". Worsens after heated from highway drive or stop and go traffic. Very noticeable loss of stopping power and pedal feedback.

seems to be brake fluid boiling or brake system requires bleeding, and there is no "manual adjustment" that OP referenced to address soft pedal or lost braking power or pedal feedback, I would also like to know what you meant by "adjusting steering position sensor" or "adjusting brake pedal" you had mentioned? And how these adjustments would improve braking performance that seems to deterioate once the brake system has been exercised?

Other than better fluid flushed more often to keep boiling temperature high, performance brake lines and more aggressive brakes pads are also potential solutions to this problem, and Glen has identified the brake pads solution.

I happen to also use ceramic brake pads on my Accord, mainly for less dusting, but they are also as good if not better than the OEM pads, although I'm sure they are not as good as the pure performance pads, but I'm Ok with that compromise to not deal with poor cold temperature performance, squealing, and premature wear on rotors.

[bojowilly]

Let's address the issues that Amperex threaded:

Spongy, soft pedal especially after highway drive or stop and go traffic and a loss of stopping power. He performed a visual inspection and everything looks good.

Part of the EBD system is a steering position sensor that works in conjuction with brake assist, measuring steering inputs to determine distribution. This sensor must be properly calibrated or you'll end up with extreme wear on the rear pads, which was a pronounced problem with early 8th gen Accords.

Brake boiling occurs from extreme heat which being on his stock pads and not racing around a track, is unlikely (unless the factory fluid is compromised). That can occur when a semi metallic pad is used and has a greater tendency to transfer heat to the piston.

So the adjustments that can be made can include calibrating that steering sensor, bleeding the brakes, adjusting the pedal BEFORE changing the pads and rotors and not solving anything. Glen's comments are uninformed and irresponsible and hardly the advice of a so called "expert". Inspections should include the master cylinder, all lines etc. All this should be done at the dealership and NOT in your driveway.

[Aelayyat]

Originally Posted by Amperex

Driving a 2012 V6 Accord Sedan. At 6,000 miles the brakes are feeling a bit soft, spongy and "notchy". Worsens after heated from highway drive or stop and go traffic. Very noticeable loss of stopping power and pedal feedback.

I'm pretty handy with brakes but haven't done anything in the past on an Accord other than change rotors and pads.

Visual inspection of the rotors shows them to look in perfect condition. No signs of scoring or warping.

Does this brake system have any manual adjustments I can make to restore brake performance?

Thanks for any help

The spongy part of the complaint sounds like there is air in the system... I am not familiar with the new cars braking systems to know about adjustments, I just know basics.

[coupe7]

Originally Posted by glen e

There are no adjustments except rotor and pad replacement with good ones, vs the std Honda crap. I'm never interested in the Honda warranty replacing with the same crap, I replaced with autozone ceramic pads...all of $100 all around and the DIY thread here

2nd that.
Why "adjust" defective or sub par parts.
Replace, upgrade, autozone is a good alternative.
Do not call myself an expert or mechanic but when i had problems with the rear pads wearing out at 12000 miles upgraded to autozone ceramics, and 20,000 miles later there's still pad life left no 'adjustment' needed. Take it to the dealer never hurts, but i would skip the oem replacement stuff and upgrade.

[bojowilly]

Originally Posted by Aelayyat

The spongy part of the complaint sounds like there is air in the system... I am not familiar with the new cars braking systems to know about adjustments, I just know basics.

That would be my guess too. Then it begs the question : How did air get into a sealed system? Leak? Bleeder Valve paritially open? Master cylinder? Pinched line?. Enough of my blather. Its under warranty...take it back

[Amperex]

Dealer gave me an 11AM appt for today. I will report back with results.

Thanks everyone.

[TopSniper69]

I partially agree with everyone's post to a degree.
I would have all that stuff mentioned by bojowilly checked at the dealer cuz like he said it's under warranty so might as well be sure you rule out things.
Now on to everyone else's response with upgrading, if everything seems good on the check by Honda and the problem still persists then upgrade the pads to ceramics. Many people said their problems went away by doing this. Ceramics are also an upgrade in regards to less brake dust, instant cold performance, and easy on the rotors. After being checked at honda you'll know your whole system is good, and now you upgraded the pads. WIN WIN
It seems like you getting brake fade which can happen very easily with cheap pads. There has been many complaints on the factory pads, they obviously went too cheap on them. Good luck!