Pads & Rotors & Smoke

[OneEightSeven]

I just got some new rotors from Oreilly's and carbon ceramic pads from NAPA. So far I've done the front as I had a very late start. I used a c-clamp to push the pistons back with the brake fluid cap open under the hood. Everything fit back together just fine.

Started her up and went to pull out, but she didn't roll when I put it into reverse. I added some gas and drove around the lot for a bit. Brakes started smoking up front. Car is braking on it's own. Doesn't pull or anything else.

I've replaced plenty of pads/rotors before and this has me stumped . Did I get the wrong size rotors or pads or something? Any ideas?

[vr4gasm]

Re: Pads & Rotors & Smoke

maybe the pads are too thick? i would have thought you would have noticed when you had to force them over the rotors though so i dunno =\

[97rs4life]

Re: Pads & Rotors & Smoke

your caliper is stuck and holding the brakes on. Time for a new caliper most likely

[T-Mill]

Re: Pads & Rotors & Smoke

97rs4life is most likely right...

also... are you sure the pads you got are considered stock replacements? Some aftermarket pads are designed to be used with aftermarket calipers... not as likely since you got them from O'Reilly's but the person behind the counter may not have known there was a difference... just a thought

[OneEightSeven]

Re: Pads & Rotors & Smoke

I've had a caliper fail on my old ride before. Its odd that both calipers would get stuck though. Also they do brake when I hit the pedal, just feels a bit mushier than before. The car doesn't pull or anything.

Pads were supposed to be stock replacements as were rotors.

[T-Mill]

Re: Pads & Rotors & Smoke

have you bled the brakes?

[OneEightSeven]

Re: Pads & Rotors & Smoke

I'm bout to do that, but I just don't see how air could have gotten in to be quite honest. Would stuck/bad calipers still brake at all? Calipers are cheaper than my pads apparently so it's not a huge deal for me to replace them. I mean if I stomp on em I still trigger ABS and get low traction light on.

[97rs4life]

Re: Pads & Rotors & Smoke

a stuck caliper or calipers will cause them to stay stuck on because the piston can't go back in.

[OneEightSeven]

Re: Pads & Rotors & Smoke

Well I found a problem with the bracket on the left side. The pin that you screw the caliper into pulled out of the bracket. The caliper on that side also now has rips in the grommet thing. So that caliper has to be replaced with the bracket now any way. I'm going to replace calipers/brackets today and bleed all the old fluid out and see what happens.

[cam98aro]

Re: Pads & Rotors & Smoke

god, i hate those things, when i try to get the caliper back in it always spins so i have to sit there with a pair of vice grips keeping it from turning

[OneEightSeven]

Re: Pads & Rotors & Smoke

LOL apparently so.. At NAPA when picking calipers the semi-loaded models that come with the bracket are listed as a "high failure rate item" when referring to the bracket.

[ssms5411]

Re: Pads & Rotors & Smoke

Make sure the pins are greased also on the calipers. The little packet that comes with the brakes.

[OneEightSeven]

Re: Pads & Rotors & Smoke

I have grease I use for greasing the bolts and the backs of the pads, etc.. Turns out the calipers were bad. New ones work fine now. Question is will doing the rears tomorrow result in a similar issue?

[ssms5411]

Re: Pads & Rotors & Smoke

Good deal.

[OneEightSeven]

Re: Pads & Rotors & Smoke

New problem.. Can't fit rear left rotor over parking brake. Took the rotor off now I can't put on the new one or the old one. It just wont fit. Brake isent engaged. Is there a way to adjust it? Chiltons just says pull rotor off, put rotor on and that t he parking brake adjusts itself.