The goal of all dealership service dept is to get you to buy a new car. If not, at least make serious bank on your presence in shop. High pressure to reach a set $ amount for each visit.

Its like restaurant where they need every table to meet a $ goal.

Hope is you'll think your old car is becoming money pit due to all the expensive repairs. Worst part, if they seriously break your car, they're rarely in trouble. Dealer will make it your fault, and now you're buying new car even sooner. Goal achieved!

They don't care there isn't an equivalent new car in lineup to entice S owner.

 

I've had a service manager send a salesperson over to discuss trade-ins while waiting for my car to be worked on. Every opportunity.

 

Always good to post the final problem resolution on the thread.

Will help others in the future

 

Depends on the driver. My S is 21 years old and has 82k on it and I have the original brakes on it right down to the pads. Fluid is not original of course.

 

I'm scheduled for next Wed to have brakes looked at. Local mechanic with a good reputation.
Will post results!
Thanks everyone.

 

We are eagerly awaiting his words.

 

Well, the diagnosis is what we expected. The front left caliper is the culprit. It was riding against the rotor, hence the very hot wheel.
I took it to (don't dis me please) a Honda dealer!!! Same dealer we've bought our cars from the last 20 yrs. Good reputation, svc dept., etc.
They want $3,400 to replace both left and right rotors, calipers and pads and flush the brake fluid. This price is for genuine Honda parts.
So . . . my questions: is it necessary to go with Honda parts? Does this price sound too high?
There are 2 local mechanics with good reputations. I will check them out but wanted your feedback first.
Thanks guys!

 

It’s such a simple (and rewarding) job that 3.4K is hard to swallow.

 

I bought Brake Disc and Brake pads from my favorit (Euro) Brands ATE and Ferodo and was about 400 complete / front axle if i remember corectly.
Honda offers rebuild kits for the Caliper, they are about 100 Each. Rebuilding the calipers is a easy job. 1 Hour per Caliper. 3400 Seems way to much for me. Main Culprit is maybe that they simply use brand new Honda Calipers for 1000 / Each instead of the overhaul Kit for 100 / each + Labour (1 hours each?) for rebuilding the Calipers.

You could source overhauled- remanufactured calipers, Overhaul kits, Caliper pistons from a lot of brands and OEM Honda. Get annother Qoute from a different shop.

 

Prolly just needs freeing off,as all brakes do if not maintained correctly