A few days ago out of no where when I was driving slowly down a street I heard a very loud sound which was much like a metal on metal dragging. It has happened 2 times since then, and as I pulled into my garage today it seemed to not stop. My brakes never squeaked so I was not thinking it was warn down brake pads, there should be an indicator on them? Maybe it broke off? I have been thinking about throwing on some Hawk HPS to get rid of brake dust, just want to make sure it is not something more serious!

 

Seeing as though you have a '03, and assuming you've never changed the pads, my guess would be that they're worn down to the warning indicator or worse, they're down to the metal studs that hold the pad to the backing plate.

 

That's right and it's possible that the inner pad is worn more than the outer.

 

Sounds just like exactly what happened to my girlfriend's civic, it just started making a metal on metal noise out of the blue. I checked the brakes, and the pads have a little less than 1/8 inch, so I bled the lines which helped brake feel, but not the noise, and told her she needed new pads.

 

but it only happens every now and then, I just ordered some pads but its my daily.

 

Yeah, just happens randomly. She said the sound went away when she braked. So I'm 99% sure it's pad wear, because i could clearly see how thin the pads were.

 

You should have changed the pads at the same time

 

To be honest I'd have loved to, but I'm a newb and don't know how to get into the rear drum brakes. (front disc brakes no problem) I just figured they should all be changed at the same time, and since I didn't know how to do the rears, I thought I'd better just leave it up to the dealer or whatever.

 

If its Metal to Metal your going to have to take the car to a brake repair shop to have the rotors machined. After you have metal to metal contact on the rotor they can get damaged. You just cant slap pads on it and be done with it, when you get that metal/metal griding noise.

Me personaly, every 3 months i visually inspect my car for worn pads, fluids, and so on.

 

I heard changing the pads on the brembos is a pain in the a$$, is this true?

My friend has a shop that can machine the rotors, so I will deff do that.

 

On the contrary, changing pads on the Brembos is a piece of cake. Just pull the pin and spring and you can remove the pads. You need to push the pistons back in and then insert the new pads. For the non-brembo's you have to remove one caliper bolt, pretty easy also.

 

Well that is good to hear!

Another thing I though was wierd, is the metal on metal sound NEVER happens when I am pushing the brake, only when I am driving at low speeds with no brake applied.

 

git - r - done already

 

Rears are no different than fronts as far as Pad replacement. Unless u drive with ur emergency brake on ALOT !!! the E/B shoes will survive a half dozen pad changes and if u never drive with the E/B on they will prob last for the life of the car. Dont mess with them, just spray them good with Brake-Klean and dab a little Brake assy Lube on the threads of the self adjuster.
Its self explanitory as to how u disassemble them. DONT mix up the top and bottom spring,but thats obvious by the design of the two.DONT reverse the position of the self adjuster. And put a little hi temp brake lube on the threads of it on reassembly.
Spray everything down good with Brake-Klean. After u do it once u'll be able to do it in ur sleep.
Course if ur power slidin with the E/B or just plain abuse the hell out of them u better learn how to initially adjust the replacements---No big deal but im tired of typing.

 

not here today, looks like I will be waiting till monday!

 

Thanks, but I was referring to the rear drum brakes on a honda civic, not the rear e-brake drum on the 350z which I know how to get into.