Brakes are thumpy!!! Brand new brake job!!!

[dmorlow]

I did the brake job myself. I put brand new rotors and pads on. Before putting the rotors on, I cleaned them off with brake cleaner to get rid of the guey stuff that comes on them out of the box. I was very careful not to touch the rotors or the surface of the pads. I heard that could cause the brakes to glaze if you get any kind of oil from your hands on them. It's only been a few weeks since I've done the brake job and I can feel the brakes getting kind of thumpy when stopping, like the rotors are getting warped already. What could I do wrong putting the brakes back together that would cause this?

[treeboy38]

just a guess here, but did you clean where the rotor sits on the hub? Sometimes rust can get in there and cause the rotors to loosen ever so slightly.

Stupid question here, but did you put the rotors on the right sides of the car?

[dmorlow]

Ok, maybe I'm really stupid, but I didn't think that it mattered if a rotor went on the left or right side of a car. I thought the rotor for the front could go on the left or right side. It didn't matter. Maybe I'm wrong. But I didn't clean inside the hub. I never thought of doing that. Maybe I'll take them back off and do that.

[Autobanaurora]

I just put new rotors and pads on mine and within 5000 they are sqeaking. Last time I turned the old, I got vibration. Seems these cars eat rotors and pads. Bleeding the system and replacing the fluid always helps but if you think rebuilding the rotors and pads are going to help, this car is hell on brakes. I used dealership parts and they work great but sqeak. Even took it back for maintenance and guess what, same problem. Bottom line, brakes on these models are problems. At least you are not vibrating. Change your fluid and see if that helps, it helped mine.

[Sweet William]

It's very possible that the rotors are warped. Hard stops with these heavy cars will do it. It's even worse if you heat them up and then sit with the brakes on.

[GuMan]

I am using, and recommend, Raybestos BruteStop
pads. See this page and scroll down to find them.
http://www.raybestos.com/usa/brakepads.htm#

They are available many places, and aren't overpriced.

Also, most rear pads will chatter, causing squeaking
prematurely. I have been using CRC Disc Brake Quiet
for quite some years now. Go to this website and
enter product number 05016 into the search field to
see the datasheet.

http://www.crcindustries.com/crcweb/

This stuff is also available all
over the place. If used correctly, it eliminates the
premature brake noise issues and has no side effects.

I always recommend doing a FULL system flush if you
are going to be changing the pads anyway. Start on
the rear passenger side and run it out until the fluid
is clean. Do the rear driver, front passengers then
the front drivers.

Always clean the hub underneath, where the rotors
contact the hub, when chaning the rotors. Rotors and
hub metal start to rust together, and when you pull
an old rotor off, you typically will have rust build up
enough in spots to cause an uneven footing for the new
rotor. I usually just take some stainless wool and buff the
hub out before putting the new rotor on.

Using the Raybestos pads I mentioned before, I have about
45k miles on the pads, driving in stop and go, and I am pretty
hard on brakes. They are only down by 1/3. Lower priced
pads and worn or not properly greased brake pins, bushings, etc..
can cause premature wear also.

GuMan

[rodtice]

Ceramics are more prone to squeak, mine squeak after being parked for a week. I don't really care with the stopping power they give. The '97 and on have bigger brakes than the pre '97. I don't consider mine to be a problem.

[waynem451]

There are differing grades of rotors. Mine had the same problem and I replaced the rotors with the best I could find, and it cured the problem.