Do Not Do This!
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Joined: May 2003
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From: SOCAL
Do Not Do This!
Did full brake job on #1 daughter's 2001 Edge 4x4 Saturday. Was in hurry to finish, truck needed early Sunday. First lesson learned, NEVER hurry a brake job.
Had already decided on ceramic pads for front and got rotors machined. Std shoes for rear, drums in good shape. Got rotors back and installed front, then did the rears. Time for road check.
Out of garage in reverse, noticed "shudder". New brakes breaking in? Don't think so. Pulled forward. More "shudder". Hmmmmm. Tried it one more time, back/forward. Shudder. Damn.
Popped front wheels off and found left side inboard pad reversed. Double damn. Of course, the small metal guides on the pad for the steel backing plate were obliterated and had created an interesting cavern design on the rotor.
Back to the parts store, 2 rotors (to make sure they matched) and another set of ceramic pads later, the shudder was gone. ALWAYS CHECK THE PAD - soft part goes toward the rotor.
Had already decided on ceramic pads for front and got rotors machined. Std shoes for rear, drums in good shape. Got rotors back and installed front, then did the rears. Time for road check.
Out of garage in reverse, noticed "shudder". New brakes breaking in? Don't think so. Pulled forward. More "shudder". Hmmmmm. Tried it one more time, back/forward. Shudder. Damn.
Popped front wheels off and found left side inboard pad reversed. Double damn. Of course, the small metal guides on the pad for the steel backing plate were obliterated and had created an interesting cavern design on the rotor.
Back to the parts store, 2 rotors (to make sure they matched) and another set of ceramic pads later, the shudder was gone. ALWAYS CHECK THE PAD - soft part goes toward the rotor.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: N. Florida - The "No 4x4
Nice thing about mistakes like that:
They cost so much you seldom forget them.
I had a buddy recently with a ~flawless~ old impala - the ones with the factory 409 and dual 4bbls.
He drained the oil to change it, answered a phone call in the house, came back out and started it up.
Naturally as I was there to see it, he wanted to show me how good it sounded! You can guess what happened.
I'm virtually certain he will not do that again.
FWIW.
They cost so much you seldom forget them.
I had a buddy recently with a ~flawless~ old impala - the ones with the factory 409 and dual 4bbls.
He drained the oil to change it, answered a phone call in the house, came back out and started it up.
Naturally as I was there to see it, he wanted to show me how good it sounded! You can guess what happened.
I'm virtually certain he will not do that again.
FWIW.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 161
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Ranger4by,
I think everyone here would agree with me that catching a big brake job mistake in your driveway is a once in a lifetime shot of good luck! If I mess up on a header install or a gauge install, it can be an inconvenience or a headache.... but I mess up a brake job and things can get bad in hurry.
Now you can enjoy a cold one and a good laugh. Those are the kind of mistakes I can live with!
Spudco
I think everyone here would agree with me that catching a big brake job mistake in your driveway is a once in a lifetime shot of good luck! If I mess up on a header install or a gauge install, it can be an inconvenience or a headache.... but I mess up a brake job and things can get bad in hurry.
Now you can enjoy a cold one and a good laugh. Those are the kind of mistakes I can live with!
Spudco
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Joined: Dec 2003
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At least you found it in the drive way in my 20 years in the shop I have seen an alignment rack,brake lathe, a couple of garage doors a pop machine and not to count a couple of cars totaled all replaceable items but hard to replace no 1 daughter, and as they say education is expensive and I have learned many a lesson the same way you did, no harm done except pride and check book.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 126
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From: kentucky
I'm the type of guy that gets the job done, look around and see a bearing laying on the garage floor. I say next time I'll use the manual. Guess I'll never learn. I still have a habit of not using a manual. Put the kids motorcycles together tonight for christmas. First one with the manual. Second one done by memory. Had to take the second bike back apart because when I was done, I saw two screws laying on the floor.... I'll never learn!
