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Beginner brake pad mistake.. is it fatal?
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Knucklekopf
User
Apr 30, 2017, 4:42 PM
Post #1 of 16
(2390 views)
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Beginner brake pad mistake.. is it fatal?
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Greetings all.. my first post here..
I just changed front pads and rotors for 1st time.. one side was done correctly.. but I flipped a brake pad the wrong way on
the passenger side. of course it was making a loud grinding noise on my shiny new rotor..but I only drove it
maybe 4-5 mi.. before I decided to check it.. inexperience again...
The metal side of the brake pad was pretty badly scraped, and the rotor was scraped and scored to ugliness,
I switched it the right way..and all seems well.
Is my brakepad dangerous now? It appears ok... and the rotor is worse for wear.. but again.. seems to be ok..
should I try to replace them? I don't care to buy a whole new set again just now...and I doubt they can be
purchased singly? i.e. one brake pad and one rotor ?
thanks in advance for your considered reply...
Knucklekopf
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 30, 2017, 4:55 PM
Post #2 of 16
(2386 views)
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Re: Beginner brake pad mistake.. is it fatal?
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Looks like you'll be buying a pair of rotors.
If you wait long enough for the groove to wear into the pad, you'll be replacing the pads too.
Brakes is not the place to experiment with auto repair. The person you hit may not be so lucky.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Knucklekopf
User
Apr 30, 2017, 5:30 PM
Post #3 of 16
(2381 views)
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Re: Beginner brake pad mistake.. is it fatal?
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thanks for the reply...
I'm not remotely planning on hitting anyone..and the brakes work just fine on test drive.. going from 60 mph to stop just fine
with no judder or drift...or grinding...
there are not deep grooves in the rotor.. but yes circular scratches.. this is enough to ruin it completely?
what about getting the rotor resurfaced?
(This post was edited by Knucklekopf on Apr 30, 2017, 5:34 PM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 30, 2017, 5:32 PM
Post #4 of 16
(2377 views)
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Re: Beginner brake pad mistake.. is it fatal?
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If it dug any grooves, yes.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Knucklekopf
User
Apr 30, 2017, 5:37 PM
Post #5 of 16
(2374 views)
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Re: Beginner brake pad mistake.. is it fatal?
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thanks again...
if I may... I saw this on yt.. hard to imagine how this could even go for so long without some dire consequence..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuxTgopzkx4
(This post was edited by Knucklekopf on Apr 30, 2017, 5:39 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 30, 2017, 11:13 PM
Post #6 of 16
(2350 views)
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Re: Beginner brake pad mistake.. is it fatal?
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Forget damn YouTube for learning how for something that can kill especially!
Quote Hammer Time's first comment ">
Brakes is not the place to experiment with auto repair. The person you hit may not be so lucky.<"
Redo this job or send it out. Brakes are not for learning by trial and error. Your mistake was so egregious just bite the bullet and start all over again with new stuff. You messed up and are risking others never mind just yourself,
T
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Knucklekopf
User
Apr 30, 2017, 11:56 PM
Post #7 of 16
(2346 views)
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Re: Beginner brake pad mistake.. is it fatal?
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OK i get it... I'm looking at getting a new rotor.. which I can buy just one... and I realize brakes are extremely important..
but why the dire urgency.. when they are working for now, and working fine.. will they just suddenly fall apart from being compromised?
sheesh....
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 1, 2017, 12:19 AM
Post #8 of 16
(2340 views)
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Re: Beginner brake pad mistake.. is it fatal?
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Yes you can buy one new rotor. Pads come in full sets almost always.
Point: That's a disastrous mistake. As clever as "on-line" video and watching things done it isn't known if true, accurate and is or can be helpful for the experienced. It's absolutely NOT for learning from scratch.
You should need to ask anyone which direction parts go, tools to use or you just aren't ready. You learn this stuff in schooling, hands on by experienced people. That's a two year program mix of classroom and hands on.
What's next - open heart surgery on line?
You can kill one person by mistake doing surgery but could hurt or kill with an out of control car/vehicle.
Did you just push back piston in calipers? Wrong - not the way but it's done and shown all the time. Did you double check flex hose isn't twisted into a pigtail - a possible mistake and brakes might work? Do you know that if you made that mistake you would have a sudden total loss of brakes?
Did you even allow a caliper to hang by a flex hose instead of supporting it so it can't or even know what that means or harm it can do? Probably not if you put a brake pad in metal towards rotor.
Too much to know than some dang video. You learn this from a teacher and have your first learning check by a pro then can begin doing your own and still run into problems.
Plain and simple. Brakes are not for on the job training - period.
Nothing personal just I find so many people thing the whole trade is just a rip off and any twit can do it with a web search of plenty of junk that's totally wrong and you wouldn't know it's even wrong unless experienced in doing it right so distrust those unchecked on line demos as they are frequently wrong and incomplete,
T
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Knucklekopf
User
May 1, 2017, 12:34 AM
Post #9 of 16
(2334 views)
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Re: Beginner brake pad mistake.. is it fatal?
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I did only push back the pistons yes... and then?
cracked the top of the master cylinder too
I did make sure the brake line was not stressed and did not let the caliper dangle on it..
I don't know that I even touched a "flex hose" let alone have any idea what that is.. or if it's in a pig's tail.. or any other kind of tail..
if it's the same as the line hose to the caliper.. it was a short hose and not curled in any way
I was working after dark.. and perhaps should have had more adequate light.. and there are horror stories of people having their
brakes done by "pros" .. who did the same damn mistake.. and they had no way of really knowing if the noise didn't tell them...I flipped ONE pad..
the other was correct.. fatigue and inattention, and both sides are dark in dim light..
I don't have time to go to school. but I can't afford to get raped every time I need something done on my car anymore
and that's what it's coming down to... If I was all that irresponsible I wouldn't even bother to come here and ask.. by the way...
I did just take my old Buick to a pro to do the brake lines that were totally rusted out and leaking.. and he got a cool grand for that
and gave me my car back with the muffler blown.. another $200 for that... I'm not a money pit
So if it feels good to let me know I'm a moron great.. I understand some of you guys are experienced pros and I'm not...
I thank you both for the replies and the insight..
all due respect...
(This post was edited by Knucklekopf on May 1, 2017, 1:09 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 1, 2017, 5:00 AM
Post #11 of 16
(2305 views)
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Re: Beginner brake pad mistake.. is it fatal?
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Got off on the wrong foot for that I apologize. Know something about this site.
We regulars are pros with assorted backgrounds either still working, retired, shop owners or not are doing this for you for free and the site is free.
The trade is nasty costly to be able to be a mechanic at all and harder yet to own a shop. The cost of just that and tools is out of control at best plus the cost of training when you aren't going to make great money while in school for anything taking up that time. Understood on that.
Do know that by odds shops and techs are not out to get you rather do the right things for you, the customer. There are bad techs and bad shops. Most of either don't last long no different than anything else.
Notes on your prior experience, costs etc.: Rusted brake lines are super common where I am - some of us keep total stock of parts and line to do that and you make them up not just toss those in so takes time which is most of the expense usually. In fixing one or more lines I don't consider all other problems a vehicle could have like you needing a muffler something would be something I would point out if noticed just like something else leaking let you know.
Clearly and speak for myself when talking brakes on an open web there's no tolerance for short cuts as they are just too important that they work properly already said for the sake of others and yourself can't allow the car to become a weapon which they are anyway by nature that they move.
Back a bit: I can't find in this what this car is except now a Buick - many models all different so can't know. Rusted lines is just suggesting it's over 5 years old depending.
The flex hoses are the rubber hoses from the body to a caliper in this case. Those can be a real pest to replace if brake lines are already rusted out those are a pest. Letting weight of caliper pull on those when older especially can wreck those right away! A novice error to allow that. Turing a caliper wrong can twist up that line I call making a "pig-tail" out of it and it would rub or pull right off on a turn or some disaster if not noticed and still went back together - some you couldn't the line isn't long enough to do wrong.
Retracting pistons you should if with ABS most vehicles have you methodically open bleeder while pushing back or risk junk fluid going back thru the ABS system now can cost mega bucks for that mistake not mentioned by "tutorial" videos that I stumble across. The flipping web for junk isn't proven that because someone can put stuff out there that's it's true at all and incomplete or everything would be hours long and you wouldn't watch it.
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What to do now: Take rotors in to see if they can be "turned" to match again. Depending on model of this new pads are cheap but should be OE (means original equipment grade) at least. I'm not as worried about the friction side as I am the back side was harmed - any clips or parts on back sides not meant for any trauma like that.
Hey - I totally understand it's expensive to you and most folks. Have just the place to do this is costly - you said little lighting - even that costs quite a bit to be ready to work while dark!
I just ask you please take this seriously to do things right as possible after a mistake or things just routine. If not well equipped for whatever you want to do hunt down the right help - a person well qualified to assist or the whole shop and ask up front what costs are expected or if this was newer exact prices. Rusted it's near impossible to know what snags will not allow the job to be completed without fixing like your rusted lines wouldn't be able to proceed to do the brakes at all.
It's not as easy as the web makes things look and costly even DIY if only to have proper working space.
Last: There's zero motivation here to steer you wrong. RERESH - WE ARE VOLUNTEERS DOING THIS FOR YOU! Not a dime in it for me anyway and not set up to be a profit spot for you from the beginning.
Good luck - try to make the right choices. It's both difficult and costly. When brakes and safety items it's not a choice to have right,
Tom
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Knucklekopf
User
May 1, 2017, 9:25 AM
Post #12 of 16
(2297 views)
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Re: Beginner brake pad mistake.. is it fatal?
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I know it's free to post here.. and you and others are free to reply or not.. I don't know why anyone should have a guilt trip about it too..
other than saying a polite thank you.. I never expect that people are in a forum to get money for a reply...
but some of the responses make me feel like well.. am I in the wrong forum? Did I find an expert's site where you just
trade stories about how experienced and smart you are? And blast n00bs and people with legit, tho dumb or inexperienced questions, out of the water ?
Despite best efforts people still make mistakes.. doesn't mean they are careless, especially when they are seeking to rectify it..
all the same lots of good points and info... but if anyone knows a better forum for DIY stuff with cars.. then direct me there..
I might fit in better..
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 1, 2017, 9:54 AM
Post #13 of 16
(2289 views)
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Re: Beginner brake pad mistake.. is it fatal?
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I'll send you a private message for chances for another forum if you wish just not here to public view.
Best of luck to get this all set to your satisfaction,
Tom
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 1, 2017, 11:42 AM
Post #14 of 16
(2284 views)
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Re: Beginner brake pad mistake.. is it fatal?
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I'm sorry if I just don't have a lot of sympathy for somebody that endangers everyone else on the road by experimenting on their brake system with no knowledge or supervision.
I have no issue with people learning to fix their own cars, even through trial and error IF they are not endangering anyone in the process. Brakes are not the place to experiment.
We are the same people working in these shops that some people accuse of ripping them off when they come here with absolutely no evidence to indicate that so don't be surprised if we are a little offended when people infer they were ripped off when they don't like the price for a job.
We hear this stuff a little too often.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Knucklekopf
User
May 1, 2017, 2:40 PM
Post #15 of 16
(2275 views)
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Re: Beginner brake pad mistake.. is it fatal?
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called my local mechanic who got my last big repair job.. didn't identify myself.. pretty sure he didn't recognize my voice
he didn't even blister my a55, or insinuate I was weaponizing my car, or threatening anyone's life... and imagine that he said it would
probably be .. "ok" just wait to hear if you get any squealing then change them out.. but what does he know..
thanks for the drama guys...
and thanks for the suggesstions Tom
after you see I read the message please delete my profile here...
cheers !
(This post was edited by Knucklekopf on May 1, 2017, 2:40 PM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 1, 2017, 2:43 PM
Post #16 of 16
(2269 views)
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Re: Beginner brake pad mistake.. is it fatal?
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We do not delete profiles. It remains in archives.
Your local mechanic wants your business. Of course he's not going to criticize you. He will profit from your future mistakes.
Don't you think for one second that incorrectly installing brakes doesn't endanger other people on the highway.
Closing it now as no further help is wanted.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on May 1, 2017, 2:49 PM)
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