ROAR! bad brake pad install

[hungryjoseph]

I just replaced my front brake pads (first time attempting it...) and now whenever I brake, they make a grinding noise, and there's a grinding feel to the pedal. It's like two rocks rubbing together... and when I'm driving, I can hear something scraping on the rotor. I'm pretty sure I did everything right... pulled caliper off, put the pad on the outside, put it on the inside, clamp on the caliper, put it back on, 14mm bolts in, wheel back on... did I skip anything?

[Chukidori]

you have to follow the manufacturers recommended break in procedure.

Which is usually ...."perform X # of Hard braking maneuvers blah blah"

Anyway..im sure the grinding will diminish with use unless you DID do something wrong. And it sounds like you didint.

[skydragoness]

Did you grease the back of the new pads before putting them in? And did you use the new clips that should've came w/ the pads?

[hungryjoseph]

oh **** i'm suposed to grease the back of the pads? um there were some clips on the pads that just "plugged" in, if those are the ones then yes. but i didnt know about the grease...

[srpowered240sx]

its a silicone that stops squealing (fast vibrations between caliper and pads/back of pad) as pressure is applied. yours sounds more like a heat shield dragging on the rotor. also, check your torque on the caliper and on the wheel. my buddy just came to my shop with his infiniti asking why it was making grinding noises......i reached down and handed him his lug nut, they were less than hand tight.

[hungryjoseph]

hmmm i didn't torque it with a torque wrench, i just hand torqued it, so i guess that might be my problem... GRR! brake + strut + final exams = bad =( "10. Put new pads on. The pad with the metal piece sticking out of it goes on the inside and the plain pad goes on the outside. Note, it may be a little PITA to get the inside pad on..." i found this through a search, and it looks like i might have put them on backwards. i'll grease them up tomorow morning or tonight, what grease should i use? i just put it on the backside of the rotor?

[srpowered240sx]

no the back of the pad. not any of the brake to rotor contact surfaces. the back of the pad. (part that touches caliper).

[hungryjoseph]

what grease should i use

[srpowered240sx]

its called "disc brake quiet". go to a parts store, ask them for the equivalent.

[My RB25]

Even if you didn't grease the back of the pads it shouldn't be making a grinding noise. If anything it will squeak. I haven't done a brake job on a 240 yet, although I will soon, my pads are some what low. So I don't know what kinda set up it is, but make sure the sliders move smoothly (usually on the retainer). Also, idk if torqueing it will have anything to do with it, I've never torqued brake parts, unless I'm specified to (which I've never been). Just don't over tighten!

Make sure the rotor surface is smooth, clean and there aren't any fresh scrapes on it (indicating something was grinding). Once you have the caliper bolted up, spin the rotor by hand, if it spins and you don't hear that grinding sound or anything intefering with the rotor, your fine (you may hear a slight 'rubbing' of the pads on the rotor, thats normal). What kind of pads are you using? Make sure the new pads look JUST like the old ones.

[srpowered240sx]

Also, idk if torqueing it will have anything to do with it, I've never torqued brake parts, unless I'm specified to (which I've never been). Just don't over tighten!

do you know what a torque wrench does?? you should research that before telling someone not to over torque, by not using a torque wrench.

[hungryjoseph]

I should buy the torque wrench tomorow... everytime i do something to my car, i always have a new tool lmao

[hungryjoseph]

what do i torque the 14mm caliper bolts to?

[Dattebayo]

Dude, you probably just need to grind the rotors or something. When you go to a dealer or a service station, sometimes they grind the rotor if there are any deep grooves in it or if there is uneven wear on the surface. That sure would make a grinding noise if it was time for that...

[hungryjoseph]

it wasn't grinding before i changed my pads...

[Dattebayo]

It may not be your issue, but if so, the pad will eventually grind itself down till it mates with the grooves in the rotor. Then the noise would disappear, but the problem would still be there. How many pad changes have your rotors been through already?

[My RB25]

No

do you know what a torque wrench does?? you should research that before telling someone not to over torque, by not using a torque wrench.

Nope 13 months of schooling and 2 years in the field and I have no idea what a torque wrench does. I've never torqued anything on brakes before (And nor has my boss who has over 35 years experience). No need to, dealer might because their by the book, infact I'll verify it, I'll call my friend at Honda later. But if you go to a majority of shops I'll put money on it that atleast half don't. I've personally never heard of anyone torquing brakes, unless you look at the FSM.

Maybe to the average joe doing his brakes, might be a good idea, since he may not know the feel of when a bolts tight. But if caliper once bolted up slides fine by hand, there's no problem. It's not like a head gasket or oil pan. Its brakes.

[srpowered240sx]

No

Nope 13 months of schooling and 2 years in the field and I have no idea what a torque wrench does. I've never torqued anything on brakes before (And nor has my boss who has over 35 years experience). No need to, dealer might because their by the book, infact I'll verify it, I'll call my friend at Honda later. But if you go to a majority of shops I'll put money on it that atleast half don't. I've personally never heard of anyone torquing brakes, unless you look at the FSM.

Maybe to the average joe doing his brakes, might be a good idea, since he may not know the feel of when a bolts tight. But if caliper once bolted up slides fine by hand, there's no problem. It's not like a head gasket or oil pan. Its brakes.

for someone thats new, telling him to not overtorque but not to use a torque wrench is ludacris. some one new at wrenching on cars may not know what 80foot pounds feels like, let alone some 30 foot pound setting that can snap a bolt off if tightened too much. i dont doubt you dont use it everytime, hell, i dont use it everytime; but telling someone to just guess because "its just brakes", isnt good advice. they are kinda important.

[My RB25]

The only time I ever broke a bolt on the brakes was my first brake job and the tech had me use anti-seize/brake grease on the caliper bolts, the only reason I broke it is because it acted like a lubricant and the bolt never got tight (hence the breaking).

I agree telling someone new to working on cars to tighten it only so much is dumb, but IMO and trying not to sound like an ***, if you don't know how to tighten a bolt, you shouldn't be doing your brakes. But again I've never heard of brakes grinding from not torquing the bolts, if he hand tightened em, and didn't break em he should be fine. Only time your gonna get grinding is if you have metal on metal contact or something is dragging on the rotor.

And btw hungryjoseph, usually when you replace your pads you either a)change the rotors also or b) get them resurfaced. But if you feel your rotors are smooth enough and don't think their warped or out of round, you should be fine.

[srpowered240sx]

But again I've never heard of brakes grinding from not torquing the bolts, if he hand tightened em, and didn't break em he should be fine. Only time your gonna get grinding is if you have metal on metal contact or something is dragging on the rotor.

when the caliper starts rattling loose because the bolts backed themselves off, you'll get all kinds of grinding/rattling/squealing/screaming-as-you-fly-off-of-cliff noises. im not trying to argue here, we've both done lots of brakes, youve broken bolts, ive done a lot of full brake jobs, we're both just trying to help the kid out.

[My RB25]

I don't have a doubt in my mind if the bolts come loose all hell will break loose (No pun intended). I'm just sayin this is the first time I've heard of torquing the bolts on the caliper. I mean in reality you should, but again who has torque specs on every car out there (Unless you have Alldata).

BTW it was one bolt, first brake job with about two weeks experience in the field (same time I started schooling). I would also tell him to either clean the clips in the retainer or get new ones and re-lube the sliders, but I don't want him breaking any boots.

I try not to argue, I really do, but sometimes I just can't help it.

[hungryjoseph]

found my problem, had the inside pad on the right wheel on backwards.. the one that my friend was showing me how to do... anyway I flipped it around (the rotor is now warper like a mofo) and the grinding/squealing went away, and the stopping difference is TREMENDOUS compared to before, but my rotor is effed up the ***, so i'm ordering oem brembo's tomorow, all 4, with hawk pads. thanks guys! time to install my stance coils tomorow...

[Jackiesh]

So, this is why. I got the same query when I installed new Nissan Brake Pads ( http://www.shopnisparts.com/nissan-brake-pads/ ). I thought it’s on the quality or something. Anyways, good enough that there’s such thread like this. This would absolutely help me.

[chetacheese]

how do the rotors look?