Brakes Grating/Grinding while driving after pad replacement

[MrMazda92]

Hey everybody, I'm a little stumped and haven't found quite the answer I need yet.

I noticed my brake pads were worn past spec, and had started to grind metal on metal(I stopped driving it immediately), so I picked up some pads and replaced the fronts yesterday. Sunset did not permit me to do the rears, so they are today.

After completing the job, I lowered the car and pumped the brakes lightly to make sure the piston was engaging all the way. It all seemed good, until I started driving home. I heard a grating noise, not so much grinding, from the DS front brake. I can only assume that the caliper is mal-adjusted, but does anybody have any suggestions?

The reason I haven't pulled it apart is simple, yet frustrating.

I live in an apartment, so doing maintenance in the parking lot is a no-go. I have to drive to my parents house to take anything apart. This leaves me in a predicament, as I'd rather not destroy my new pads on the way over there.

Will the brakes suffer greatly from a 12-15 mile limp over there? Thanks!

[Sleeper6]

If you didnt replace your rotors after taking them down that far thats most likely your problem. When the pads go metal to metal they carve into your rotors and the rotors then have those grooves in them permanatly unless you can get them turned out. This can also cause your new pads to stick and not release and ruin your new pads in the process.

[MrMazda92]

If you didnt replace your rotors after taking them down that far thats most likely your problem. When the pads go metal to metal they carve into your rotors and the rotors then have those grooves in them permanatly unless you can get them turned out. This can also cause your new pads to stick and not release and ruin your new pads in the process.

I was worried that this was a probable cause. The rotors didn't appear to have any grooving, and were almost perfectly smooth to the touch. The wear that I DID notice was the finish, it almost looked oxidized. I took it for a brief drive a few minutes ago, and the noise is greatly reduced from what it was last night. It feels like the brakes are partially engaged at all times, so I'm thinking a caliper cleaning is in order as my first step. Fingers crossed that it's just a simple fix, thanks for the input!

[ninjajim4]

If you didnt replace your rotors after taking them down that far thats most likely your problem. When the pads go metal to metal they carve into your rotors and the rotors then have those grooves in them permanatly unless you can get them turned out. This can also cause your new pads to stick and not release and ruin your new pads in the process.

what...? how would bad rotors make your pads stick? the only thing bad rotors do is decrease your stopping power due to less surface area contact and of course carve up your pads to fit the grooves. not that i would recommend this, but i've had friends too cheap/lazy to change rotors after i've done brake jobs for them and they've driven too long on worn pads.. these are not ppl tracking their cars obviously, but you press the brakes and the car stops. you slam the pedal and the wheels lock. even on carved up rotors. it doesn't make a grinding sound. it doesn't make pads stick.

our calipers are notorious for having seized up slides. you should be able to move the slides around by hand, and you should have been able to put the caliper with new pads back on with forcing it at all. i would guess that's the problem you're having

[Ryan]

Our calipers are actually a terrible design. The slides for the pads are open to the elements, and not even made of stainless. Usually, the pad just seizes onto the slide, and is always touching the rotor to some degree. The useless little spring system is supposed to help, but what can a little wire spring do against a pad seized onto the sliders.

You can try taking out the pins and wire brushing them shiny, and then lubing the crap out of them with a graphite based lube, and make sure the little springs are installed properly. Aside from that, I'd just drive with the grating unless the rotors start getting excessively hot. It should tone it down after awhile and eventually be normal.

[Sleeper6]

Yea I would double check the sliders, I just presumed that if you had checked your calipers already after you pumped them up to see if they were moving. Otherwise a wire brush and some good caliper lube goes along way. Last time I changed mine I used a permatex 24110, its a green bottle and they have yet to give me any issue.

As for the rotors though Ive seen them notched so bad where the pads do get caught in them and cause a chatter just and fyi

[MrMazda92]

I actually DID notice the pads binding on those useless pins. Mine had surface rust that shocked me. I DID use brake cleaner and wirebrushed them to a shiny finish

I did NOT lubricate them, I'll check this out when weather permits me to do the work(I hate having no garage/shop)