Stage 2 Mod 70% Installed but SUCKS, got trick by some member.

chuson · 08-23-2006, 08:10 PM

Sup all,

I just installed my pullies, RacingBrake Rotor and Hawks HPS brake pad for the front. This time I'm not impress w/ the mod, and the reason why.

1. My mechanic told me (and I saw it too after the installation was done) the brake pad I brought to them, is not a full set of aftermarket brake pad. 1 of the set (the one on driver side) is stock, while the passenger side is aftermarket. I have bought this front set of Hawks HPS Brake Pad from one of the forum member here, name "Paycheck", I paid him on June 21, 2006. Mod can check my PM box if you want.

2. So, I got pissed already. I thought whatever, went to test drive my car. Today is rainning slightly so I didn't even boot it, I feels some power from the pullies but I will test it out later. As for the brake pad, it's terrible. It feels so soft now and can not stop within the distance that I'm expect (compare w/ stock pad). I'm wondering if it's because the brake pad has not break-in yet? Or this set of brake pad really fxxk up.

3. My 2 rear RacingBrake Rotor and the one on the passenger side seems normal, but the one on the driver side, turns blue. I can smell burning and the disc turns to blue. I asked my mechanic and they said since the Rotors are new, it takes time to burn off the oil/coating on the rotor surface.

4. It's a short distance drive from my mechanic to my house (~5km), I felt vibration when I drive. I was in 5th gear @ around 80km/h, the vibration doesn't feels like rattling. It's hard to describe, but feels like it vibrates along when the wheels rotate (rolling forward). I don't know if it's the pullies, or my brake that causes this problem. The vibration is getting so strong that I need to turn into a plaza. After I get into the plaza, I slowly drive around and went home. The vibration is not completely gone, but is not as strong as b4.

5. I'm the third TSX that brought pullies to install @ my mechanic, also I brought the new belt that JTso suggest, so I guess the pullies install properly.

Now, I don't really know what to do. I'm gonna send a PM to the "Paycheck" guy right now and see how he's response. It's a bad day.

chuson · 08-23-2006, 09:14 PM

For those who has Hawks HPS on them, can you take a look if yours look like mine.

Driver Side

Passenger Side

MemphisRheins · 08-23-2006, 09:23 PM

I dont have hawks, so I dont know... did a search for you, and cant find a guy named paycheck... found a "payroll" with a 0 post count... and your pms are private, I cant look at them

LannyMCS · 08-23-2006, 09:42 PM

This went down on the other forum.......

pcdawg · 08-23-2006, 09:46 PM

If i remember correctly on the backs of the pads there are serial #s and the words hawk hps like what you see on the rears.

I cant really see the fronts clearly if they are hps or not. Though it does take alittle bit of time for the pads to break in....but they should not be soft at all. THey should really 'bite' once the car is practically stopped.

What type of vibration did you sense?

AS for the vibration while you drive, it cant be the pulleys as I never had that feeling. It cant be the brake pads either since they are not applied. Perhaps the rotors are on contact with something. Better bring it back to the mechanic to double check it tomorrow.

chuson · 08-23-2006, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MemphisRheins

I dont have hawks, so I dont know... did a search for you, and cant find a guy named paycheck... found a "payroll" with a 0 post count... and your pms are private, I cant look at them

Sorry Memphis, paycheck is on the other forum, not on this I hope. I'm just too lazy to type everything again so I just copy & paste. Thanks for your help.

Anyways, after a 45mins test drive, this is what I experienced from the car.

1. The vibration comes on above 60km/h. At lower speed, the car seems normal. Above 60km/h, it started to vibrate as speed increased. The vibration is an obvious one, I have a Seiko Watch on my left hand and it shakes too.

2. After breaking in the brake pad @ slow speed for about 20mins, it feels a bit better now. But I'm still not impress about the fact that one set of the pad is stock. I still can't get a solid answer right now if really one of the set is stock, but my mechanic works for a lot of Acura (Even doing mechanic or body work for the dealership Acura Woodbine), so I take his word for now.

3. The pullies really helps the low end. Even having the Header and High-flow Cat installed, it still makes some "struggling" sound due to the lost of torque @ low rpm. After the pullies install, the sound is gone. It feels much more solid. I still don't have a chance to boot it but will find out after the vibration problems fixed.

4. RPM @ idle seems normal (rest @ 800rpm), with full A/C on, Heated Seat, turn up the stereo, HID w/ fog, etc.

I'm thinking if this is a mechanic problem on the installation of brake disc. After the 45mins drive, my rear brake rotor is still cool enough to touch it w/ my hands, while the front has alot of heat coming out from the brake area, can feel it from far away.

pcdawg · 08-23-2006, 10:52 PM

You mean the steering wheel shakes or the whole car vibrates over 60km/hr?

Most likely alignment?

chuson · 08-27-2006, 01:01 AM

OMG~ It's da fxxking Brake pad~!!!

It's my first time to work on my car by myself. I jacked the car, took the wheels off, and change the Brake Pad myself. Yeh, so proud of it~

Anyways... here's my initial thought after swapping to stock brake pad.

1. Right after I changed the brake pad, I rolled it off my driveway. Somehow my brake didn't work (didn't bite on it), I got scared and I stepped on it a couple more times, then it responded. I took it out to the side street first, o my god, the bite was so much stronger than the "???HAWK???" pad. The stopping distance were shorten then b4 too.

2. HEAT. The last two days, after I parked my car, whenever I walked close to my front wheels, it felt like there's an engine on each of the wheel, so much heat. Today, after swapping the pad, it's much much cooler after long drive. Only some (regular heat dispite) heat were there.

3. High Speed Vibration was GONE~!!!! I took my car on the highway, testing the speed range @ around 120km/h to 160km/h, no vibration found. Brake @ those speed range, no vibration detected as well. So far so good.

4. My car pulls MUCH MUCH stronger today. I guess it's suppose to be like that since I have pulleys install. I'm guessing the last couple of days my brake pad is touching my rotor so it needs much more force to roll/accelerate. Fuel usage were alot lower than the last couple of days too.

5. The brake pad is UGLY. As I mentioned before, and examined it today, only the top half of the brake pad is used, the bottom part still looks new to me. I did more research and most of the Hawks HPS brake pad has 2 slotted vent (I'm not sure if it's the case for the Hawk HPS pad for TSX) on the brake pad, but the one I has looks like stock, only 1 vent in the middle.

6. I drove for 5 mins right after I swapped the brake pad, my whole rotor has a nice full sweep by the brake pad already in circular way. Only about half a inch is untouch.

I'm really impressed w/ the Pulleys right now, it works so well w/ all my other engine mod so far. The only engine mod left for me is Hondata ECU reflash, hope they release it sooner.

code85 · 08-27-2006, 01:14 AM

wow congrats chuson, glad you fixed the problem...

pcdawg · 08-27-2006, 04:14 AM

Yup.....surprised how the shop did mention about the pads and didnt call u to let you know of hold off until you came in to check out the pads yourself.

Nice now time for the dyno eh LOL

chuson · 08-27-2006, 06:01 PM

tell me if this is Hawks or NOT~

pcdawg · 08-28-2006, 12:55 PM

Hmmm you are right chuson!!! The pads was only worn partially.

One question, did these pads into the slot correctly? If it did, even if they are not hawks you should not encounter this problem. For that to happen where its worn out funny or get the vibration, its either the pads dont fit or was installed improperly by the mechanic!!

From the pics, these are not hawks

and chuson...clear ur PM box!

TSXDude · 08-28-2006, 01:11 PM

My hawks don't have the middle slot.

Noel · 08-28-2006, 07:43 PM

Kindly address your concerns with other members on relevant forums, as for technical advise ... I'm probably would've told you never to buy used braking components especially brake pads and rotors. You simply don't know how they've been used.

From what I can tell, your mechanic should/would have told you this (If he hasn't, I'm going to start to doubt his competency. In fact, I wonder why he went ahead to install what you brought in regardless.) Those pads look like complete rubbish, uneven break-in, unproper surface braking probably attributed to no proper break-in and you won't obtain optimum braking unless you surface all the rotors and pads to match their even thickness and depth.

H8TKTZ · 08-28-2006, 08:16 PM

Noel said: From what I can tell, your mechanic should/would have told you this (If he hasn't, I'm going to start to doubt his competency.

I am with Noel on this one!