Grinding sound from new brakes?

[QCubed]

Hey everybody: I got all new brake pads and rotors and all new shoes and drums for my 99 Cavalier a couple of months ago. Soon after I began to notice a grinding sound from the front end under braking. I took it back to the shop, and they opened and checked everything and found nothing wrong. They apologised for the problem and gave me back the car, no charge. Interestingly, the sound stopped for a couple of weeks. But, it has now started again! Before I take it back to the shop, any ideas on why new brakes would do this? Thanks!

[rhandwor]

The shop could have dropped a pad and bent the wear indicator. This would rub against the rotor.
Cheap pads will cause a problem.
The brake pads have anti rattle hardware which needs to be installed. Permatex makes a spray you put on the back of the pads.
A bad caliper or caliper mounting hardware can make a caliper stick. Normally after a long drive if you feel the rim on both sides one will be hot. {Caution don't get burnt.}Normally they smoke and stink.
Take the car back to the shop as their many problems to check and find the correct one so the problem can be fixed.

[QCubed]

As an update for future readers of this thread, the problem was that the shop had used cheap pads. (First and last time we use that shop. This was a guy who does business at my wife's workplace and had said to her many times that she should give him a try!)

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by QCubed

As an update for future readers of this thread, the problem was that the shop had used cheap pads. (First and last time we use that shop. This was a guy who does business at my wife's workplace and had said to her many times that she should give him a try!)

with what you stated my guess is this business has incompetent workers. I would not call them trained mechanics.

I have used cheap brake pads before. If you know what your doing It is easy to determine if they will work .

some times the backing plates are poorly stamped . this can cause all kinds of noises and even caliper/rotor damage if too tight.

coating the back steel backing metal with antiseize does help reduce noises and squeeking.

I recommend you do not have any work done there.

the reason I have used the cheap pads from time to time is when rotors are chewed up and the owner does not have the 200.00 dollars for new rotors at this time ..just to get a few months of use till the rotors can be purchased.

[QCubed]

Thanks j cAT. The sad part of the whole thing is, if he would have explained to us beforehand the price difference and the performance difference between the cheapos and the better ones, we would not only have paid for the better ones, we would have respect for the guy as being honest and up-front.

Now we are stuck with the cheap pads until they need to be replaced, and he doesn't get any more business from us.