How-to: Change Brake Pads
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Arizona
Originally posted by yobri
Thanks for the write-up and pictorial. This thread is now bookmarked for when the time comes...
Thanks for the write-up and pictorial. This thread is now bookmarked for when the time comes...
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: NYC
Dumb question of the day: How do you apply the brake cleaner?
Do I just spray it over the caliper and pads and then wipe it off with a clean towel. The shop manual talks about cleaning the dust with a vacuum dust collector and do not blow with compressed air.
It also says to replace shims and shim cover as a set when replacing brake pads. I thought we could simply reuse the old shims on the new pads????
Thanks in advance, guys.
BTW: Great write up. Stuff like this makes this forum a goldmine.
Do I just spray it over the caliper and pads and then wipe it off with a clean towel. The shop manual talks about cleaning the dust with a vacuum dust collector and do not blow with compressed air.
It also says to replace shims and shim cover as a set when replacing brake pads. I thought we could simply reuse the old shims on the new pads????
Thanks in advance, guys.
BTW: Great write up. Stuff like this makes this forum a goldmine.
K just replace the stock brakes with Hawks HPS, can someone tell me why transfer over the old black plates since the new brake pads already have metal plates on them. All I transfer over was the silver plate for the back side, thx.
Originally posted by ricks350z
what happen to the steps where you have to bleed the brake? or did i miss something here????
what happen to the steps where you have to bleed the brake? or did i miss something here????
hawks pad
wtf!!!
I just got the hawks hps and it already has the shim on it...I tried to put the oem shims on it and it wont fit...in addition, I didn't have to put any quiet grease on it whatsoever.
I was kinda confuse at first but after installing the pads, there's no squeaking or squealing sound.
I follow the break-in of the pads as close as possible...and still no sounds or any viberation.....
This hawks pad is awesome!!
I will test it out again Saturday just to make sure.
Not bad for $45 of this front hawks pad
Thank you Rhonda of www.bonesenterprises.com
I just got the hawks hps and it already has the shim on it...I tried to put the oem shims on it and it wont fit...in addition, I didn't have to put any quiet grease on it whatsoever.
I was kinda confuse at first but after installing the pads, there's no squeaking or squealing sound.
I follow the break-in of the pads as close as possible...and still no sounds or any viberation.....
This hawks pad is awesome!!
I will test it out again Saturday just to make sure.
Not bad for $45 of this front hawks pad
Thank you Rhonda of www.bonesenterprises.com
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 52
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From: MA
is there a need to put a thin layer of grease between the small shim and the caliper? I've heard to definetely put between the brake pad/large shim and between the large/small shim, but not sure about between the small shim and the caliper.
Originally posted by droideka
Four things to add...
1. You DO NOT have to remove both slider pins from the caliper. Removing the top slider (bolt) allows the bottom pin to act as a hinge and you can rotate the top of the caliper off of the assembly allowing access to the pads.
2. Before you go pushing the piston in to make room for new pads, thoroughly clean off the piston and dust boot with brake cleaner. Make it look like new. The build-up of brake dust will score the pistons if you go forcing it back in.
3. Step 14 (swapping shims) is NOT optional on the inboard (piston facing) pads. The shim on the inboard pad protects the piston face from scoring when it deflects. The bare backing plates of pads will wear down that single piston face. This is not an issue on mulitple piston calipers (StopTech, Brembo). In addition, when transferring the shims from one set to another they need to be thoroughly cleaned and re-lubed with high-temp grease. I use High-temp Silicone found at NAPA. You should first apply grease to the pad backing plate, put the first shim on, apply another layer of grease on top of the shim you just replaced and affix the second shim. There are two shims on each pad. If you don't re-lube the shims, you should encounter a lot of squeaking because the shims will be shifting on the backing plate.
4. If you want to do all for corners at once, you can lift the entire side of the car on that one jack point. I DO NOT recommend doing so with the **** jack that comes with the Z. Get a good floor jack with low clearance (I recommend the Harbor Freight aluminum racing jack) and lift the car just enough to slide two jack stands under at their lowest height.
Four things to add...
1. You DO NOT have to remove both slider pins from the caliper. Removing the top slider (bolt) allows the bottom pin to act as a hinge and you can rotate the top of the caliper off of the assembly allowing access to the pads.
2. Before you go pushing the piston in to make room for new pads, thoroughly clean off the piston and dust boot with brake cleaner. Make it look like new. The build-up of brake dust will score the pistons if you go forcing it back in.
3. Step 14 (swapping shims) is NOT optional on the inboard (piston facing) pads. The shim on the inboard pad protects the piston face from scoring when it deflects. The bare backing plates of pads will wear down that single piston face. This is not an issue on mulitple piston calipers (StopTech, Brembo). In addition, when transferring the shims from one set to another they need to be thoroughly cleaned and re-lubed with high-temp grease. I use High-temp Silicone found at NAPA. You should first apply grease to the pad backing plate, put the first shim on, apply another layer of grease on top of the shim you just replaced and affix the second shim. There are two shims on each pad. If you don't re-lube the shims, you should encounter a lot of squeaking because the shims will be shifting on the backing plate.
4. If you want to do all for corners at once, you can lift the entire side of the car on that one jack point. I DO NOT recommend doing so with the **** jack that comes with the Z. Get a good floor jack with low clearance (I recommend the Harbor Freight aluminum racing jack) and lift the car just enough to slide two jack stands under at their lowest height.
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Boston, MA
Bump! I would like to know the answer to this too...
Originally posted by pargion
is there a need to put a thin layer of grease between the small shim and the caliper? I've heard to definetely put between the brake pad/large shim and between the large/small shim, but not sure about between the small shim and the caliper.
is there a need to put a thin layer of grease between the small shim and the caliper? I've heard to definetely put between the brake pad/large shim and between the large/small shim, but not sure about between the small shim and the caliper.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Philadelphia
Originally posted by MikeW
Thanks for the lesson. I've got Hawks still in the box and will be installing soon.
Thanks for the lesson. I've got Hawks still in the box and will be installing soon.
The technician at the dealership said it might (they are slightly incompetent there!).
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From: Richmond, VA
Originally posted by roydiculous
Bump! I would like to know the answer to this too...
Bump! I would like to know the answer to this too...
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From: Richmond, VA
Won't void your warranty. They won't do any harm (unless you enjoy washing your wheels of brake dust every day, then you won't have that pleasure. ) and the dealership would have the burdeon of proving that they somehow caused whatever damage resulted in the required warranty service.
) and the dealership would have the burdeon of proving that they somehow caused whatever damage resulted in the required warranty service.
Glad I read this thread all the way thorugh.. Forgot about the shims when I did the front, so I did the rears and was thinking I was going to have to do the front again with the shims, but you're all saying the hawk HPS pads come pre-shimmed?
Did you all follow the break-in instructions ont he hawk pads, i.e bunch of moderate stops from 35, then a few hard stops from 45...
Did you all follow the break-in instructions ont he hawk pads, i.e bunch of moderate stops from 35, then a few hard stops from 45...
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From: Richmond, VA
You do need the shims. Otherwise the backing from the pad will dig into the piston and damage it. The piston will also damage the backing of the pad and potentially weaken it.
I did follow the break-in instructions. I was squeak free for about 6 months and then the squeak showed up. I bedded them again and it went away for another 6 mo. Well worth it to not have all the dust. Much more gradual take-up on them (no hard initial bite at low speed like the old ones) which I like, some don't.
So yes , you do still need the shims from the stock pads (at least you did when I did mine).
I did follow the break-in instructions. I was squeak free for about 6 months and then the squeak showed up. I bedded them again and it went away for another 6 mo. Well worth it to not have all the dust. Much more gradual take-up on them (no hard initial bite at low speed like the old ones) which I like, some don't.
So yes , you do still need the shims from the stock pads (at least you did when I did mine).
Originally posted by Dissident
Glad I read this thread all the way thorugh.. Forgot about the shims when I did the front, so I did the rears and was thinking I was going to have to do the front again with the shims, but you're all saying the hawk HPS pads come pre-shimmed?
Did you all follow the break-in instructions ont he hawk pads, i.e bunch of moderate stops from 35, then a few hard stops from 45...
Glad I read this thread all the way thorugh.. Forgot about the shims when I did the front, so I did the rears and was thinking I was going to have to do the front again with the shims, but you're all saying the hawk HPS pads come pre-shimmed?
Did you all follow the break-in instructions ont he hawk pads, i.e bunch of moderate stops from 35, then a few hard stops from 45...
Actually, I did go back and look, and the Hawk pads I got had a shim on them already.... What is the "traditional bedding in procedure"? I just did what the hawk pads said and they seem ok for now... Guess we'll see how they hold up...