Why is your Honda element bogging down?

Answer 1

Remove your front and rear brake calipers, clean all external components and make certain the caliper pins are free, cleaned and greased. Calipers have to float on the pins to stop the brake pads from dragging causing excessive fuel consumption and a grinding noise heard especially from the rear brakes (Element and Many Vans). The brakes will wear out quite quickly if the calipers are seized on the pins and power loss will be really noticeable. The excess heat generated will cause the caliper piston seals to fail resulting in brake fluid loss and also the heat will eventually destroy the wheel bearings. Realistically this work should be done annually especially in areas with long winters with extreme road salt usage.

The above applies to most vehicles with disc brakes. The power loss is more noticeable with vehicles with smaller 4 cyl. lower HP engines. GM/ Ford /Dodge

Pickups are notorious for calipers seizing.

Dave T.