Proper brake pad installation ...

GhostFlame · Nov 28, 2010

I just put on front brake pads and rotors. It;s making a noise at slow speeds in the driver side. I took it to a mechanic that said the brake pad is not in the caliper correctly. When I installed it I had to tap it in with a hammer, and it was very snug.

Should the brake be able to move in the caliper when the system is not engaged? shouls I grind a little off the dog ears on the pad to make it looser? I think the pad is hanging up.

Any suggestion

barlowc · Nov 28, 2010

Sounds like the pads aren't the appropriate fit for your vehicle's calipers. What kind of pads did you get and are you sure you got the right part number?

pbm · Nov 28, 2010

I had to grind a little off the dog ears the last time I put pads in my Buick for the exact same reason.
I would prefer the pads slightly loose rather than too tight.

willix · Nov 28, 2010

It should be pretty straight forward replacing frt. pads. You would never have a need modify a brake pad. What vehilce ?

hate2work · Nov 28, 2010

Originally Posted By: willix
It should be pretty straight forward replacing frt. pads. You would never have a need modify a brake pad. What vehilce ?

Yep, I would never modify a brake pad to make it fit. Go back and get the correct pads for your vehicle. What rig are we talking about?

eljefino · Nov 28, 2010

Go ahead and grind a little off. IMO they fit right when you have to tap them in with the butt of a screwdriver or wrench, not a hammer.

sciphi · Nov 28, 2010

A little grinding won't hurt anything. Better to be a little snug instead of OMG tight.

tomcat27 · Nov 28, 2010

if you have to force the pads in place there is a problem. I've had the same issue 3X, all with Wagner Thermo Quiets. either grind them or get a different brand. I refused to grind them and instead used another brand. Wagner would not respond to my repeat requests for comment. poor customer service.

ComfyShorts · Nov 28, 2010

Never had a vehicle where pads take ANY force to put in

SAATR · Nov 28, 2010

Same here, I've never had a vehicle that required more than a little force to install the pads properly, provided everything was clean and correctly lubed. The biggest boogers I can remember were the Ford units with the slide clips that take three hands to keep in. Aside from that, disk brakes are usually a cake walk.

GhostFlame · Dec 1, 2010

Sorry guys, I was away for awhile. Thanks for all the replys.

The pads were a mirror match for the pads I took off. I did notice that the paint was rather heavy on the dog ears. I haven't had a chance to take them out but it's been driving and stopping okay for about a thousand miles... I'm going to take them off this saturday to see what's what.

It's an old BMW x5 3.0. they are after market pads OEM pads on this car sucks with regard to wear. I used this after market brake pad, highly rated.
F CERAMIC PADS EUR681 AKEBONO•LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
•EURO ULTRA PREMIUM CERAMIC PAD
EUR681 AKEBONO

GhostFlame · Dec 1, 2010

TheGreenPiston · Dec 2, 2010

Pads should be a little loose when installed in the calipers. Remember that when you start to use the brakes they can get up to 900 degrees plus during use. And what happens to metal when it gets hot? Yes, it expands, so if you are snug when cold you will be tight when hot. I have always filed all sharp corners and edges so the pad will just wiggle in the caliper when cold.
Just my .02.

KrisZ · Dec 3, 2010

Originally Posted By: TheGreenPiston
Pads should be a little loose when installed in the calipers. Remember that when you start to use the brakes they can get up to 900 degrees plus during use. And what happens to metal when it gets hot? Yes, it expands, so if you are snug when cold you will be tight when hot. I have always filed all sharp corners and edges so the pad will just wiggle in the caliper when cold.
Just my .02.

They can't be too loose as well. I had a clicking sound almost every time I pressed the brake pedal with my Bendix pads. When I put them in they were much looser than the OEM I took out, so they shifted and made the sound.

Funny you mention heat, because the clicking hardly happened when the pads were cold in the morning, but once they were warmed up, they clicked almost every single time. So I don't know about this thermal expansion theory, perhaps it differs from application to application.

I replaced them with Monroe and their fitment was much better and no clicking.

CharBaby · Dec 3, 2010

I've had to do a little grinding on certain pads. No biggie!

hisilver · Dec 3, 2010

Did you replace the snap in metal guide things the dog ears ride on? And did you use brake grease on said guides? I recently did mine and i dry fitted it first and the pads were tight to get in. Once i greased for final install they slid in nicely.

CharBaby · Dec 4, 2010

Originally Posted By: hisilver
Did you replace the snap in metal guide things the dog ears ride on? And did you use brake grease on said guides? I recently did mine and i dry fitted it first and the pads were tight to get in. Once i greased for final install they slid in nicely.

You mean those anti-rattle clip, slider, thingies? I never replace them, I just wire wheel them clean and then lube'em

Proper brake pad installation ...

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