Noise After Brake Job

It may just be the pads and the rotors wearing-in to each other. If it sounds really bad, it could be a pad installed backward (backing plate toward the rotor). If that's not the case, give it a week of driving or so to see if the noise goes away.

Thanks for the reply. A backwards pad is what I'm worried about. My buddy and I are gonna pop the tire off and see whats whats. I'll let you guys know.

Thanks, Matt

My dumb-ass put the pad on backwards.

Thanks for your help.

"MGiannetto" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@localhost.talkaboutautos.com:

I really don't mean any offense, as I am sure it was an honest mistake, but the cars I have worked on in the last, oh, say 15 years, couldn't have the pad installed backwards. How could you even do that?

The last few cars I've owned have had symmetric brake pads. The pads without the wear sensors could be installed backwards. Apparently, that's true of the Elantra's pads, too. Funny stuff! ;-)

Yah, they're symmetric, and there's no squealer tab. Obviously it was the pad behind the rotor.

Gonna cost another $110 for a new rotor.

No offense taken. I know that was really a bone head move. Just a brain fart when I put it in. Thought in my head I had it the right way. That'll school me to pay more attention :P

Brian Nystrom wrote in news:sK0Rf.633$%b.70@trndny09:

Actually I currently have two Elantra's, a 2002 and a 2003, and neither are like that. My Mother-in-law has a 2005. I'll have to look at hers when I get some time.

But I just realized that we are talking about aftermarket brakes anyway, so I guess that point is moot :-)

Yes, funny stuff.

"MGiannetto" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@localhost.talkaboutautos.com:

Well, hopefully you'll never do it again :-P

Well, I was able to find a place with a surface grinder to resurface my rotor for $25. So, not all was lost.

Thanks for the help guys.

-Matt

"MGiannetto" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@localhost.talkaboutautos.com:

A word of caution....if you didn't have BOTH rotors resurfaced you may (or may not) have a problem.

Eric

Why? The calipers adjust automatically to the thickness of the rotors and pads. Besides, I would bet that they took less than .050" off the rotor. Having one rotor that's slightly thicker than the other shouldn't affect braking to any measureable degree.

Brian Nystrom wrote in news:gIySf.4790$hc.1679@trndny03:

To be honest, I've never tried it, but have always been warned against it. In modern cars I guess it would be less of an issue, but I really don't know.

Eric

I dont't see how it could make a difference mechanically. FWIW, I've even replaced a single rotor on a car when it wore through to a porous section and made the brakes grab unevenly. Other than fixing the problem, there was no noticeable effect, despite the fact that the two rotors had dramatically different mileage and wear on them.

Unfortunately, there's a lot of myth and lore in the automotive industry that simply doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

I bet a lot of that lore is for shady mechanics to make more bucks. :)

That's certainly true in some cases. Some of it is just old habits/truisms/myths that refuse to die. Some may have been true at one point, but aren't anymore.