Found that grinding noise

"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit) 02/22/2016 at 12:51 • Filed to: notacamry, mazda3, mazda

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I had an intermittent rotational grinding noise in the 3 lately, sometimes when driving at low speeds, sometimes when braking, sometimes both when I had more than myself in the car.

I knew the front pads were getting low when I bought the car, and noticed the rears were low when I changed the shock mount last month.

Problem is, just the RIGHT REAR is worn low enough to concern me, and the fronts looked okay so I thought the rear was the culprit.

So I took all four wheels off, and found the INNER right front pad to be metal-on-metal. Strangely it wasn’t making noise all the time. The inner left front was nearly as worn as well. But the outers still had some life in them. Meh.

I started with spreading the caliper:

Then removing the retaining spring clip:

Then using the wrong type of tool (Torx instead of hex head) to remove the slide pins. But it worked, so NYAH:

This is what I found when I pulled the inner pad out:

Now here’s the part where you all point and laugh at me.

When I bought the car I had them replace the left front wheel bearing. In doing so they had to destroy the rotor to get it off, so I got a new one of those.

In my pile of belongings I took with me when I left the Mazda dealer was half a set of pads...

See where I’m going here?

Yep. I did a “pad slap”. And not only that, I ONLY replaced the front inner pads on both sides.

I know, I know, I’m a cheap ghetto bastard. But I don’t know when I’ll have time to work my car again, and I didn’t feel like running to the parts store for pads Saturday afternoon. And you know what? It drives and stops just fine. No more noise.

I’ll replace them with new pads, and a new right front rotor (I might even cut the left front!) eventually. Add that to the list that’s no including rear brakes, parking brake cables (stretched & only the right rear grabs... probably why those pads are worn but the left rears), rear shocks (weak), left front axle (torn boot), and motor mount (leaky and noisey).

BeaterGT > Takuro Spirit 02/22/2016 at 13:02

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Another rotor gone...RIP

EL_ULY > Takuro Spirit 02/22/2016 at 13:03

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Yay, bad rear brake bros :]

StoneCold > Takuro Spirit 02/22/2016 at 13:03

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“But it worked, so NYAH”

Best feeling in all of shade tree mechanicism. You want me to use this specific not-very-common tool? Screw that, I’m going to use a hammer, a 10mm socket (3/8 for old cars), and vice grips, and fix anything I damn well please! XD

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > EL_ULY 02/22/2016 at 13:18

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I had bad rear brakes only about two weeks ago. Inside pad, metal to metal. Seems like there’s a lot of that going around. :)

Takuro Spirit > EL_ULY 02/22/2016 at 13:19

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My rears still have some life left.... SOME.

Algimantas > Takuro Spirit 02/22/2016 at 13:59

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If you’re getting uneven wear like this, either your guide pins are rusted on to the caliper, or if it’s a two piston caliper, one of the pistons might be sticking due to rust or such. Or both, actually.

Torx work fine on hex, same patch of contact essentially. Though probably officially not recommended

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Takuro Spirit 02/22/2016 at 14:01

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I’m guilty of a pad slap or two in my time.

My policy is normally to always have the rotors and use them if I feel I need them. It’s tricky when it’s the inside pad that goes bad.

Never do the only replace 1 of the 2 on a brake though man, that’s nutty.

Takuro Spirit > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 02/22/2016 at 14:06

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I’m as nutty as a PayDay bar.

Takuro Spirit > Algimantas 02/22/2016 at 14:08

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Single piston. I’m going with un-lubricated pad slides. The car had no dealer history in the 92k miles its been with the original owner, and I’m a firm believer in the “30k Brake Service” to have them taken apart and lubed. I doubt anyone’s been in there since the pads were last replaced. Everything was pretty dry and crunchy.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Takuro Spirit 02/22/2016 at 14:08

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You’re nuttier than squirrel poop!

Algimantas > Takuro Spirit 02/22/2016 at 14:23

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Judging from the amount of rust and crust you have on it and given the mileage, it probably sees a healthy dose of salt, right?

Takuro Spirit > Algimantas 02/22/2016 at 14:42

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Of course! I’m in Wisconsin.