Brake pad questions

[simplicity]

Hi guys,

I'm about to work on my rear brake pads but got some questions about the process and which pads to use for least amount of noise, was hoping that someone can confirm a few things for me .

Do I have to release both caliper bolts for the rear pads to come out? And do I need any tools to "push" the piston back in the rear? I heard that you just need to turn them counter clock wise and they will "spin" back.

I currently have brembo sport pads on my front but they have been slipping when I'm slowing to a stop...can't describe the feeling...it's as if the pad is slippery and it sorta makes a squeeling noise...not sure if it's cuz I don't have shims or anti-squeel on the pads cuz brembo didn't pack any shims with the pads I ordered...but does anyone know if brembo pads come with shims or was I suppose to get OEM ones to use with them?

And finally, which pads for the rear? Raybesto ceramics or Satisfied Ceramics or OEM? Does OEM brake pad kit come with shims?

 

[iHazSnail]

just use OEM. anything more would be an overkill imo

 

[NASOHC]

I'm running Akebono ACT - no noise, no brake dust.

 

[ryan s]

you could scuff up the pads with some rough-grit sandpaper since it sounds like the pads are glazed over. i ripped off the oem shims on one side in the front, and scuffed the pads...the squealing stopped.

while theyre apart, throw on some anti-squeal...shouldnt take more than 10 mins per corner.

its been a couple years since the rears were replaced in my car...cant remember about the twist (front are push) but im guessing both caliper bolts will have to come out...

 

[Dracord]

Yes, both caliper bolts have to come out. You will need a wrench (it's either 12 or 14mm) for the top bolts because you can't get fit a socket in there.

Be careful too, I ended up rounding off the top bolt (had a wrench and was pounding it with the mallet) and breaking off the bottom bolt just last week when replacing my pads.

If you have a large flathead screwdriver (the larger, the better) you can turn the piston with that.

 

[simplicity]

Great! Thanks guys...I think I will go with OEM for the rear...

Ryan_s...the pad's outer side is sorta "glazed" (smooth)...did you mean to sand the outside of the pad? Do you think I should just pick up the OEM shims from the dealer and slap that onto the brembo pads with some "Brake Quiet" spray?

 

[cajun]

I know this b/c I'm about to buy the set - the OEM front pads come with replacement shims and grease for the back of the pads and shims. You may have to buy the "kit" if they won't just sell you the shims. Local dealer wants $70, but I've seen them at online dealer sites for $41.

Check with brembo, but I would assume you were supposed to re-use the shims you pulled off of your old OEM pads.

 

[ryan s]

Great! Thanks guys...I think I will go with OEM for the rear...

Ryan_s...the pad's outer side is sorta "glazed" (smooth)...did you mean to sand the outside of the pad? Do you think I should just pick up the OEM shims from the dealer and slap that onto the brembo pads with some "Brake Quiet" spray?

you sand the surface of the pad where it hits the rotor...this will get rid of the glaze on the pad, giving it better stopping power and possibly stopping the squeal.

 

[simplicity]

I know this b/c I'm about to buy the set - the OEM front pads come with replacement shims and grease for the back of the pads and shims. You may have to buy the "kit" if they won't just sell you the shims. Local dealer wants $70, but I've seen them at online dealer sites for $41.

Check with brembo, but I would assume you were supposed to re-use the shims you pulled off of your old OEM pads.

Yep if you purchase the OEM brake pads, they come with the shims and sometimes the anti-squeel paste....I just called my dealer and placed the order for the rear pad set.....but the shims alone might run kinda high since they are priced individually...I might just not have any shims on the front...unfortunately my old pad wasnt OEM and the shim was built in....didn't come off...so I didn't reuse them...

I'll try sanding it down with some sand paper and putting some antisqueel on the back of the pad where the calipers touch...hopefully the sound will go away.....

and I hope the bolts on the rear caliper won't be super tight....otherwise I might end up having to order replacement bolts like I did when I changed the fronts

 

[ryan s]

my advise on bolts that are tight (and cant/shouldnt be stripped) is to use a nice 12" open/closed-end wrench and not a socket. but if you have to, use a 1/2" drive and a 6 wall socket, not 12