Greetings,

So, 29k or so... I've got my 1st brake change with this Fit (09)... I don't want to do it myself because I've found in the past with another vehicle calipers and other aspects of the system are a pain in the butt -- even working with a friend who allegedly knew what he was doing cost me far too much time and a pretty penny in the end so it's not something I really care to do. Just quicker and easier at a pro shop, in my case at least for the time allotted, I think.

So.. any suggestions?

Should I go with standard brakes or the more expensive ceramics?

Should I go with 'lifetime warranty' brakes considering that I'm planning on having this car for a LONG time, or is that just a waste of money?

Is there a particular chain place you like, or should I go with a dealership, or... ? and if so why?

I am in the East Coast, USA Philadelphia/South Jersey/etc. area so there are a number of different chains around here.

Anything else?

thanks

 

Changing brakes on the Fit is very easy. I would not see why you'd want to pay someone more for an easy job. If your rotors are not warped, just changing the pads are sufficient.

Steps
1. Take off wheel
2. Use a 12mm socket and loosen only one bolt to swivel the caliper up or down.
3. Take the old pads out.
4. Compress 1 piston with a clamp.
5. Put in new pads with brake quieter fluid if needed.
6. Put the bolt and wheel back on and you're done.

No need to bleed the brakes.

If you are planning to use your car for a long time, go buy some Wagner ThermoQuiet brake pads(ceramic). If you have an O'Reillys, or something similar, they are lifetime warranty.

 

Well, as simple as it may be, besides my previous bad experience with another car trying to DIY with someone who supposedly knew what he was doing:

1) If I was going to do it, I would want to do it with someone who knows what he is doing, just incase I screw up or am missing something. I don't know anybody who does, or would have time/be willing to/whatever. (Any volunteers? I need to get them changed ASAP.)

2) I don't personally have access to a (relatively) flat and open space to do this on.

3) I don't have good jacks to do this with at this time.

4) While I have extensive tools, and have been working with them since I was a toddler, I'm not terribly auto-tool-heavy.. and probably would need some more besides jacks, etc.

5) It would probably take me (and a friend) at least 4 times the length of time that a shop would take.

6) I don't want to be liable if I screw it up and get in an accident because my brakes fail since I've never done it before. :P

7) I don't know if they were just trying to sell me a load of bull, but the dealership when I got my oil changed, basically implied/stated that my rotors would need to be turned in addition to just changing the pads. (I get free oil changes for the life of my car every 5k miles or as needed, in addition then have free beverages and snacks while I'm waiting and they also most recently tossed in free washing and vacuuming of the car too, which is why I go to the dealership for such a simple thing.)

 

Turning rotors. Thing of the past.

 

first tiem i changed teh brakes on my fit (GD3..im assuming the GE is nearly identicle) it took me 25 minutes start to finish(including cleanup)

if your good/quick, you dont even need a jackstand, since your not going under the car you can use the oem jack

jack up car.
remove wheel
unbolt 1 bolt, swing caliper up and over.
remove pads
use c clamp and old pad to compress caliper
replace pad
put caliper back in place
tighten bolt
replace wheel


so basically a c clamp and a wratchet/socket set are all you need.

 

Just go to Midas, they offer lifetime pads. That doesn't mean you never have to pay for brake work again, just means you don't have to pay for the parts again.

Here I even found you a coupon in Philly:
up to $50 off, $25 per axle

I've DIY'd my brakes for many years, but the last time I did have them done was at Midas, no complaints really, reasonable price, quick work.

You don't need to turn your rotors, the pads will conform to the rotors by themselves. Don't let them charge you extra for that.

 

i recently had the dealer replace front pads and turn the rotor on my 09 with 33K miles. i have the tools and means to do it at home, but just didnt have time since ive been working on modding my '12 GE and other projects around the house. dealer gave me a discount too since i combined it with the major service.

i usually dont have them turn the rotors but for some reason on the 09, it was rusted pretty badly on the inner surface and was only getting about 80% surface contact area so decided to have them done.

 

It's very easy to replace the pads even using the factory scissor jacks. I've did that and described it here: https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/fit-...ds-rotors.html

The most difficult thing is to break the lug nuts with factory provided tire wrench and then raising the car one side at a time using the scissor jacks. You only need to loosen one of the caliper bolt to raise the caliper to pull the pads.

 

it's extremely stupid to work on the car only using the scissor jack. that thing is a piece of shit and should only be used in an emergency

 

QFT.

when that thing falls over sideways when the wheel's off the car you're going to be replacing more than just a set of pads.

If you use the scissor jack to lift the car at least put it down on a legit jackstand before you take the wheels off and start working on it. A pair of jackstands is not a big investment, probably cheaper than the pads you got.

 

if any of you guys are wondering where to get decent hydraulic jacks, go to harbor freight. search "racing jack."

 

Don't blame you if you do not want to do the brakes yourself. There are somethings I have done at local shops. Recently had stainless steel brake lines installed at a local shop after I installed the performance pads and rotors on my Miata myself. The only problem you do run into is some shops will not install aftermarket or parts they do not sell. So you may have to shop around to find a shop that will. Probably not a problem in the Philadelphia area.

 

I've always taken my civic to a certain Honda dealership in town when it comes to regular maintenance. They seem to understand that they need to be competitive in pricing. They treat me good and always offer coupons they've advertised even if I didn't know about it. It also helps that they have an express service line. Naturally, I will be taking our Fit there too when it comes time.

 

^^ yah, i found some shops like that pretending to be in with the big leagues. i say f- them. unless it's a speed shop dedicated to handle modified cars, or private shop willing to help, i just take it to the dealer. the dealer is more than capable and convenient. plus, most of the work i can do in my garage.


yep, i found that my local speed shop would charge me about the same using identical oem parts for the brake service as the dealer. why not just take it to the dealer for oem maintenance?

 

The hardest part is sometimes finding a reputable garage, not only small local but also some dealers. That is what started me learning and doing some of my own work. When I had a garage that supposely replaced a brake master cylinder and did not hook up the warning light and I had brake failure without warning.

 

this is true, some areas are harder to find good shops.

it's great that you do your own work. i too have tools to do most maintenance and bolt-on mods, but sometimes (like the last 3wks) ive been so caught up modding my '12, i just let my dealer do the major service on the '09. the best part, i didn't break a sweat.

 

My problem now is I have a small garage good for the Miata but small for the fit.

 

As a follow-up getting my brakes done, I just had a consumer experience that was like night and day... or... more extreme than that... but I don't have a good enough metaphor. So, after doing a little bit of research I went to Monro in Stratford, NJ thinking that there was a $99 brake deal per axle type thing, with lifetime guaranteed pads (for the record, I believe most Monros are franchises, so your experience may vary.). Well, they tried to scam me in a dozen ridiculous ways... labor is this... the pads are that, that deal is only good for the metallic pads and we can only get the ceramics for your car... and these are the extra costs for x, y, and z. All in all, they wanted WELL OVER $300 for the brake job. Even with cutting out some of what they suggested it was still over the quote I got from the dealership so I told them no thanks, it was over my budget, and left. So, I wound up going to TIRES PLUS in Mt. Laurel, NJ. They also had a $99/axle deal on brakes currently, with lifetime guaranteed ceramic pads (I believe they use the Wagner ThermoQuiet brake pads(ceramic) that BlueCell mentioned/recommended above). While they did perform a courtesy check and found a few things (non-brake related) I might want to do on my car soon, they did not try to upsell me on additional items/costs or things I had to do, or charge me for what should be included in the brake job. The total with taxes, shop supplies, etc? $110.60 Note: Tires Plus are all as far as I know corporate owned, not franchises,.. so I expect people should be able to get the same level of service, politeness, HONESTY, and respect at any other Tires Plus locations.

 

Just to let you know, my dealer charged 199 for new pads and turning the rotors.
They threw in lots of extras free of charge when I did the 30k major service on my '09.

Just go to your dealer and use stock parts if you don't know what your doing.
On my '12 I think I'm going to swap to better biting pads. This I will be done in my garage.

 

For the record, that $110.60 TIRES PLUS charged included turning the rotors.