After waiting for a break in the weather, I got a chance to install new brakes in my daughters mazda3 as the brakes that were on the car were just too noisy. Noisy, meaning there was always a grinding, or metal to metal noise apon each press of the brake pedal. Really noisy first thing in the morning/evening after the car was sitting for a spell and then quieting down only a smidgen throughout the drive but, noise was alway present.
Often, when the brakes were really wet and sitting a while, there was a LOUD MOAN(ERRRRRTTTTT!) in the brakes until the water was dispursed, often causing a feeling that the car wouldn't stop(usually when backing out of the driveway first thing in the morning). Never caused any issues.
I had already ordered/received the new pad/rotors F&R.
I ordered a whole CENTRIC set up(individualy of course) from R/A.
Centric Premium Rotors with the Black E-Coating F&R
Centric Posi-Quiet Ceramic Pads F&R
They all went together nicely without fuss and I blead the whole system at each wheel, opening the bleeder first while pushing back the caliper piston and then bleeding that wheel/corner, starting the furthest away and getting closer to the master cylinder. One wheel at a time and my back in now killing me.
I lubed everything with PERMATEX Black silicone lube, (sliders, slots where the brakes slid into, backs of the pads). And Never-Seize'd all other bolts and wheel hub where the rotors rest against so the next time brakes/rotors are done again, the removal should be easier. The rear rotors came right off but I had to pound the fronts with a dead blow to get them to break free. Whhhhew!
First impression...Great! From the first stop to the last as I had this car all day/night. We got more rain again throughout the day and into the evening. So the car sat in the rain all day(thunder&lighting).
In the evening, I left my office and headed home. When I first started off from my parking space and headed for the exit of the parking lot, there was no noise from the brakes apon stopping/waiting for traffic. Usually, there is a loud moan/groan and lots of metal to metal noise.
Now, there is just a mild sound of friction; the way brakes are supposed to sound after sitting for hours in the wet. Then they quieted down to nothing. The pedal pressure is the same as it had been, which was very good, and the bite is equal to the semi-met's that I had removed with a very normal, smooth brake feel of assurance.
The pads that I removed still have tons of meat on all of them and the rotors didn't look too bad either. In the junk they will go as I won't even keep them for a few weeks as I sometimes do with others.
Between the previously very loud Dunlop Signature Tires which sounded like wheel bearing noise,(replaced w/ quiet Hankook Optimo H727) and these new Centric brakes, I have now gotten this car as quiet as a mazda3 is going to be without ripping up the carpet and laying down more insulation. It's really a nice car to drive w/nice drivetrain and ride/handling tradeoff.
Often, when the brakes were really wet and sitting a while, there was a LOUD MOAN(ERRRRRTTTTT!) in the brakes until the water was dispursed, often causing a feeling that the car wouldn't stop(usually when backing out of the driveway first thing in the morning). Never caused any issues.
I had already ordered/received the new pad/rotors F&R.
I ordered a whole CENTRIC set up(individualy of course) from R/A.
Centric Premium Rotors with the Black E-Coating F&R
Centric Posi-Quiet Ceramic Pads F&R
They all went together nicely without fuss and I blead the whole system at each wheel, opening the bleeder first while pushing back the caliper piston and then bleeding that wheel/corner, starting the furthest away and getting closer to the master cylinder. One wheel at a time and my back in now killing me.
I lubed everything with PERMATEX Black silicone lube, (sliders, slots where the brakes slid into, backs of the pads). And Never-Seize'd all other bolts and wheel hub where the rotors rest against so the next time brakes/rotors are done again, the removal should be easier. The rear rotors came right off but I had to pound the fronts with a dead blow to get them to break free. Whhhhew!
First impression...Great! From the first stop to the last as I had this car all day/night. We got more rain again throughout the day and into the evening. So the car sat in the rain all day(thunder&lighting).
In the evening, I left my office and headed home. When I first started off from my parking space and headed for the exit of the parking lot, there was no noise from the brakes apon stopping/waiting for traffic. Usually, there is a loud moan/groan and lots of metal to metal noise.
Now, there is just a mild sound of friction; the way brakes are supposed to sound after sitting for hours in the wet. Then they quieted down to nothing. The pedal pressure is the same as it had been, which was very good, and the bite is equal to the semi-met's that I had removed with a very normal, smooth brake feel of assurance.
The pads that I removed still have tons of meat on all of them and the rotors didn't look too bad either. In the junk they will go as I won't even keep them for a few weeks as I sometimes do with others.
Between the previously very loud Dunlop Signature Tires which sounded like wheel bearing noise,(replaced w/ quiet Hankook Optimo H727) and these new Centric brakes, I have now gotten this car as quiet as a mazda3 is going to be without ripping up the carpet and laying down more insulation. It's really a nice car to drive w/nice drivetrain and ride/handling tradeoff.
