Brake shoe break-in procedure?
 

Good afternoon.

I am about to install a new set of rear brake shoes on my 1991 Accord.
What is the correct procedure to break them in properly?

Thanks
-Mark

Re: Brake shoe break-in procedure?
 

The basic rule for new brakes is 'go easy on them for a while'.

If the pad manufacturer doesn't offer any recommendations, most
mechanics I've known suggest 400 to 500 miles of moderate driving
while avoiding heavy braking during this period. (This is also true
for new cars, which might explain why a "break in" period is generally
mentioned in the owner's manual for new cars).
As with any new set of brake pads or shoes, don't tow a trailer or do
any hauling during the break-in period.
Full seating of new brakes normally occurs within 1,000 miles.

If you haven't checked out this site <http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
index.html>, you should. It's got lot's of good Honda Accord help,
though brake shoe systems aren't covered from what I can tell. But
otherwise very DIY info.

(I did my own on '00 Accord - front & rear pads - last year, and just
avoided hard braking as much as possible the 1st 500 miles. No
problems 10k miles later, and shooting for 90k on this set)

On Jul 22, 1:03 pm, "Mark G." <anon40...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Good afternoon.
>
> I am about to install a new set of rear brake shoes on my 1991 Accord.
> What is the correct procedure to break them in properly?
>
> Thanks
> -Mark

Re: Brake shoe break-in procedure?
 

<jrknorr@gmail.com> wrote

> The basic rule for new brakes is 'go easy on them for a while'.

Thanks for the info. I'll do that.

Ugh...the drums can't be turned again.

Re: Brake shoe break-in procedure?
 

Mark G. wrote:
> Good afternoon.
>
> I am about to install a new set of rear brake shoes on my 1991 Accord.
> What is the correct procedure to break them in properly?
>
> Thanks
> -Mark

=====================

Read both pages of this thread and follow any links provided. Same basic
drum brakes as yours. Your parts diagrams are at www.slhondaparts.com

http://www.hondasuv.com/members/show...ght=pump+click


'Curly'

Re: Brake shoe break-in procedure?
 

From a 95 Civic's Owner's Manual:
Break-in Period
Help assure your car's future reliability and performance by
paying extra attention to how you drive during the first
1,000 km (600 miles).
During this period: Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration. If you need to add oil, use the engine oil
recommended in this owner's manual.
Avoid hard braking. New brakes need to be broken-in by
moderate
use for the first 300 km (200 miles).
You should follow these same recommendations with an
overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the brakes are relined.

The 91 Accord's Owner's Manual says similar.

Re: Brake shoe break-in procedure?
 

Mark G. wrote:
> Good afternoon.
>
> I am about to install a new set of rear brake shoes on my 1991 Accord.
> What is the correct procedure to break them in properly?
>
> Thanks
> -Mark
>
>

personally, i'd be more worried about whether they were genuine honda
brakes than what the break-in procedure was. in my experience,
non-honda components tend to fade badly and score disks and drums.
judging from your desire to replace the drums already, highly unusual on
a honda except for extreme mileage or cheapo brake linings, it sounds
like you could be discovering that already.

Re: Brake shoe break-in procedure?
 

Mark G. wrote:
> <jrknorr@gmail.com> wrote
>
>> The basic rule for new brakes is 'go easy on them for a while'.
>
> Thanks for the info. I'll do that.
>
> Ugh...the drums can't be turned again.
>
>

why were they turned in the first place? what is the mileage?

Re: Brake shoe break-in procedure?
 

"jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote: >
> why were they turned in the first place? what is the mileage?

187k miles. I am getting pulsing from the brake pedal, and a squeal from
one of the rear brakes. The linings are very thin, and I don't want to put
new shoes on drums that are out-of-round or cut beyond limits. These
drums are about 0.012" beyond the limit.

Re: Brake shoe break-in procedure?
 

"jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote:
>
> personally, i'd be more worried about whether they were genuine honda
> brakes than what the break-in procedure was. in my experience, non-honda
> components tend to fade badly and score disks and drums. judging from your
> desire to replace the drums already, highly unusual on a honda except for
> extreme mileage or cheapo brake linings, it sounds like you could be
> discovering that already.

The old shoes were genuine Honda, as are the new ones that I will install.
The drums are just old, and have already been turned at least once.

Re: Brake shoe break-in procedure?
 

Mark G. wrote:
> "jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote: >
>> why were they turned in the first place? what is the mileage?
>
> 187k miles. I am getting pulsing from the brake pedal, and a squeal from
> one of the rear brakes. The linings are very thin, and I don't want to put
> new shoes on drums that are out-of-round or cut beyond limits. These
> drums are about 0.012" beyond the limit.
>
>

go ahead and replace the brake linings, but the pulsing can usually be
solved with a little antiseize and a torque wrench. google this group
for details. use honda linings - seriously.

as for the drums, why were they turned? my civic has 176k miles, and
the drums are /well/ within limits.

Re: Brake shoe break-in procedure?
 

Mark G. wrote:
> "jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote:
>> personally, i'd be more worried about whether they were genuine honda
>> brakes than what the break-in procedure was. in my experience, non-honda
>> components tend to fade badly and score disks and drums. judging from your
>> desire to replace the drums already, highly unusual on a honda except for
>> extreme mileage or cheapo brake linings, it sounds like you could be
>> discovering that already.
>
> The old shoes were genuine Honda, as are the new ones that I will install.

good.


> The drums are just old, and have already been turned at least once.

why were they turned?

Re: Brake shoe break-in procedure?
 

"jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote:
>
> as for the drums, why were they turned? my civic has 176k miles, and the
> drums are /well/ within limits.

Beats me. This is the first time I have done the rear brakes myself.
I took the drums to a local shop this afternoon. They measured them
and pronounced them out-of-limit. Unfortunately I don't have a suitable
caliper to verify this myself.

Re: Brake shoe break-in procedure?
 

Mark G. wrote:
> "jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote:
>> as for the drums, why were they turned? my civic has 176k miles, and the
>> drums are /well/ within limits.
>
> Beats me. This is the first time I have done the rear brakes myself.
> I took the drums to a local shop this afternoon. They measured them
> and pronounced them out-of-limit. Unfortunately I don't have a suitable
> caliper to verify this myself.

ok, here's what i suggest - remove the drums yourself and check to see
if there's a ridge. the brake linings are not /quite/ as wide as the
drum width, so if there's wear, there will be a ridge between the
original drum diameter and the worn drum diameter. if there's no ridge,
or if it's tiny, like a finger nail thickness, they're b.s.ing you and
you need to re-measure somewhere else. that said though, if the drums
are badly grooved, just replace them.

Re: Brake shoe break-in procedure?
 

"jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote:

> ok, here's what i suggest - remove the drums yourself and check to see if
> there's a ridge. the brake linings are not /quite/ as wide as the drum
> width, so if there's wear, there will be a ridge between the original drum
> diameter and the worn drum diameter. if there's no ridge, or if it's
> tiny, like a finger nail thickness, they're b.s.ing you and you need to
> re-measure somewhere else. that said though, if the drums are badly
> grooved, just replace them.

Yes, there was definitely a ridge. And the brakes have been rebuilt
several times since I have owned the car, so I find it likely that the drums
have been turned once or twice before.

Re: Brake shoe break-in procedure?
 

"jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote:

> ok, here's what i suggest - remove the drums yourself and check to see if
> there's a ridge. the brake linings are not /quite/ as wide as the drum
> width, so if there's wear, there will be a ridge between the original drum
> diameter and the worn drum diameter. if there's no ridge, or if it's
> tiny, like a finger nail thickness, they're b.s.ing you and you need to
> re-measure somewhere else. that said though, if the drums are badly
> grooved, just replace them.

Yes, there was definitely a ridge. And the brakes have been rebuilt
several times since I have owned the car, so I find it likely that the drums
have been turned once or twice before.