Bendrx
New Member
- Messages
- 7
- Location
- Indianapolis, IN
Hey all, I've recently installed new rotors, Baer Holdings drilled and slotted with Advanced Auto store brand pads on all corners. I was going to get the EBC pads but since I decided to do this at the last minute on my vacation I was short the money so got the cheapos. I'm wondering if the pads are just a bad part or if it's me here. Round 1: Crazy loud brake noise but excellent and firm stopping. I remedied the noises by getting a new fitting kit, I think they're as quiet as they used to be. There was always some noise from the suspension. I had damaged 2 of the lower clips on the fitting kit that keep it quiet. Round 2: Quiet but clearly unsafe. With the new fitting kit the inner pads don't seem to fit in the bracket with the replaced clips. I wasn't able to get them in all the way by hand, and since it was getting dark quickly (I don't have a garage or even a drive way to work on, just the back yard) I slapped the caliper around them and used the brake system to push them into place. I assume they are in, but since they brakes feel very spongy now, maybe not. I will tear into it again after work to see for sure. My thoughts right now are to grind down the ends (not the friction material) of the pads so they fit like the OEM ones, but I wonder if I'm just doing something wrong. As another note, the sponginess isn't consistent, at first they were very spongy then slowly got a bit firmer. Under medium (and I assume hard, but haven't tried) braking they are simply beautiful. The issues are just with low force. I also hear a drone sound once in a while, I'm assuming this is the pad rubbing against the rotor. If it matters, when I took my rotors off the 2 retaining screws on the front rotors were missing, they've been this way I would assume for at least 4 years. I ordered 4 new ones at 2 bucks a pop, got the first 1 in 3/4th and it stopped treading and stripped the head all to hell, this was me using one hand with a screw driver. It took a drill to get it out. Anyways due to that experience I'll be leaving them out, and possibly even removing them from the rears when my stainless brake lines get in. Also, I've been doing my own brake work since I was 18 (so 7 years), on various cars to include my old AW11 (MR2) so this isn't my first time working with brake systems. Any suggestions/thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Forgot to mention the car - '94 LS400
Forgot to mention the car - '94 LS400