[Chris C]

I've got a 2008 Ridgeline with over 200,000 miles under it. A good 80,000 of that have been while pulling a 17' Casita travel trailer........and the majority of those miles were in the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico. I'm pretty careful with thinking ahead about braking, but sometimes hills are too long or emergencies come up too quick. I use reduced gearing for most of my downhill jaunts, but brakes get hot holding back weight. Are there any new refinements for the older Ridgelines? I've heard mention of some ceramic pads, but haven't checked into them. Anything in that area? Or is there a total upgrade that would be far superior to even a newer technology pad?

 

[Chris C]

I've replaced pads once. Had to replace the back brakes before the front ones needed it. I think the dealer flushed the brake fluid once. I'll check my records. Might be due a repeat.

 

[Chris C]

You could consider going to brake calipers and rotors from an 09-14 pilot. Direct bolt up (with the brackets) providing larger diameter rotors and greater pad surface area. Search the subject if you like.

Re: Pilot Brakes... Thy this?

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59970

Thanks guys. Interesting.

 

[Chris C]

Just because my brakes have lasted a long time doesn't mean I've had "great luck" with them. It's mighty scary to be coming down an incline and have a car jump in front of you or a deer try and cross the road. Brakes already plenty warm when you slam on them and they can fade out fast! I'm just trying to brake more safely and efficiently. No more, no less.

 

[Chris C]

I've put 210,000 miles on my 08. Ever since my OEM's wore out I've been using EBC slotted and dimpled rotors and their Yellow Stuff pads. I think I have better braking with them and I like the fact that they are made in Europe mostly Great Britain with the rotors finished here in THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Thanks for the tip.

Very true.. before considering bigger brakes check to make sure what you have are at least adequate to start with.

Makes sense but Honda said my Ridgeline was up to my little Casita travel trailer's weight, both tongue and total.............so I assumed that included the size of the brakes.

 

[Chris C]

Chris, member "feelmuhpino" just did the Pilot upgrade, I think he stuck with stock Pilot Pads and ordered all OEM parts. I believe he has all the part numbers, if your interested I think he's the most active member who has completed it.

I was considering this upgrade but I'm going to wait til a caliper needs replacing. If I had gotten my dad's travel trailer earlier this year, I would have gone this route. For now I've placed this on the "back burner". I do have a spreadsheet with a bunch of notes, it's incomplete but, I'm attaching it with my research, I'm not confident it's complete and there are some conflicts within it?

Here are a bunch of helpful links for Brakes

Pilot bigger brakes on the RL

Pilot brake swap, Bigger Calipers,Rotors, Pads

New EBC rotors, Pads and Calipers and brake lines etc fitted

Brake Fluid Change See Post 34

Rear Rotor's FWIW

Yes, that's two of us, for sure, who thank you for this post. It will help me immensely.

 

[Chris C]

Question: One of the reasons I'm wanting to upgrade to a larger brake is that I'm always driving around with a warped rotor. And when I had the rotors turned and new pads installed, it didn't take but one trip pulling the trailer to warp the rotors once again. I'm sick and tired of that "jerky" stop caused by that. Will these larger, dimpled and slotted rotors stay much cooler so I don't have to fight that?