Every time you press your Honda Accord’s brake pedal, you count on its brake system for safe stopping. Assuming clear visibility and dry pavement, a car traveling 40 miles per hour has a braking distance of 80 feet – and that’s not including your reaction distance. With those kinds of numbers, your 2015 Honda Accord brake pads and rotors must always be in good condition. Knowing when to replace these parts is key to safe driving in any kind of weather.
What Brake Pads Do You Need?
Selecting the right Honda Accord brake pads depends on your typical driving habits and weather conditions. Consumer vehicles usually have organic, semi-metallic, or ceramic brake pads. Each of these materials offers unique benefits. Organic pads contain rubber, glass, or carbon with a natural resin. They’re inexpensive, quiet, don’t produce much dust, and perform well for average commuter driving.
If you need more stopping power or drive in harsher conditions, you may want to consider semi-metallic or ceramic pads. Semi-metallic versions combine iron, copper steel, or other metals with graphite lubricant. They’re noisier and produce more dust, but they conduct heat better and need less braking pressure to stop. Ceramic pads blend copper threads with ceramic particles. They give off less dust and virtually no noise, plus they’re dependable in a wider range of temperatures.
Many auto parts makers offer a large range of brake pads. Duralast’s standard and Gold pads remain popular options. Its semi-metallic and ceramic pads incorporate single-layer steel shims to cut down on noise plus powder-coated backing plates that resist corrosion. Duralast Gold pads also contain ceramic plus noise dampening rubber core steel shims and corrosion-resistant coatings.
How Much Do New Rotors Cost?
While shopping for rotors, you may encounter versions that are drilled, slotted, or both. These performance products are mostly designed for racing, towing, or other situations that can be tough on brakes. But consumer and OEM rotors are blank. These have useful advantages as well – quieter braking, better structure integrity, and even heat dispersion.
Duralast offers many high-quality rotors that pair well with its brake pads. Its standard rotors are fabricated from high-strength alloys that resist warping. They’re also precision-balanced for dependable, fluid stopping. Meanwhile, Duralast Gold rotors withstand tougher conditions thanks to their high-carbon steel composition and protective anti-rust coating. Besides enhanced heat dissipation and significantly less noise, they deliver superior stopping power and come with a three-year warranty.
It’s easy to find affordable brake pads and rotors, especially when shopping a trustworthy parts dealer. Rotors typically cost between $40 and $70 each. Brake pads have a wider price range – starting at around $20 for basic models and up to $85 for premium-quality versions.
Where Should You Shop for Brake Parts?
Depending on your driving habits, you should replace your brake pads every 35,000 miles and your rotors every 70,000 miles. You can also visually inspect your pads – if they’re ¼-inch thick or less, it’s time to swap them out. Reputable auto parts dealers are excellent sources for these parts. You also benefit from their staff’s expertise – a good thing to consider in case you need pointers on how to replace brake pads.
