new to forum... squeeky brakes

[js1268]

hello folks,

well, i'm realizing that i'm not alone here with the squeeky brake problem on our Mazda 3s

when i bought the vehicle new in 2005, it sqeaked a bit...and it was truly tolerable

but, after 48k i finally changed front and rear pads and rotors...so, i got the Wagners from autozone... front and rear rotors, and ceramic pads

it's been 2 weeks and the squealing is unbelievable .... obviously, mostly in the morning... it'll diminish throughout the day, but it's still there

now, i obviously did a bit of research and saw that mazda had released a tech bulletin on the brakes ...something about filing down some edge ...???

my question is, if i buy the OEM pads from mazda will they already have the edges the TSB talks about already filed down to prevent the squealing...or should i remove the Wagners and resign myself to doing it to them?

any help would be greatly appreciated!

paul

 

[GoFast]

You may want to look in to a better alternative tot eh wagners such as hawk hps pads. They are low dust and very low noise.

check out protegegarage.com for some prices.

 

[GoFast]

oh yes...welcome to the forums!

 

[js1268]

thanks, 'GoFast'.....and thanks for the suggestion on brake pads!

i went to the website and they're definitely cheaper than the OE pads... it's a good looking pad, for sure... but is it the material that makes them low noise?.... if the backing plate is designed like the OE and Wagner pads, won't i have the same problem?

the noise is truly driving me bonkers

 

[GoFast]

I am sure the pad backing is slightly different. Have you tried coating it with the anti squeak spray? If not, you may want to pull the pads off and give them a quick coat of that and see if it alleviates your issues.

 

[js1268]

well, i didn't bother with the brake spray because the pads had the shims on them... I thought that's what the shims were for, no?

either way, they're coming off this weekend.... i'm gonna order the Hawk pads, regardless..

will keep you posted

 

[TheMAN]

these cars are really picky about brake pads
wagners aren't really that great, so I'm not surprised it squealed!
the only aftermarket pads I will ever buy for a mazda are akebonos (they are one of mazda's OE suppliers)

you should've brought your car in and complained about the brake noise when it was under warranty.... I got NEW updated pads on all 4 corners of my car because of this! ever since then, I've had zero issues with noise and the performance has been great too!

I'd get the OEM pads if you want to play it safe... you can also check if your car is an early build because the caliper brackets were different too

 

[GoFast]

I have to disagree with you on your limited choice of aftermarket brake pads there TheMAN. I personally have had great success with hawks, ebc's, and certain raybestos. On the 3 specifically the hawk hps' as I mentioned earlier have been nothing short of great. I personally would NOT recommend the OEMs (unless they were free)

I still say the OP tries some anti squeak first before paying any more money though.

 

[TheMAN]

hawks are performance pads

when I say aftermarket, I don't mean performance... they're a totally different category!

nothing is more annoying to me than thousands of people on these boards that think aftermarket = performance
the aftermarket stock replacement parts industry is many times bigger than the performance industry

it's clear this guy doesn't care about making his car fast or driving fast... he is like millions of others out there... he just want to fix the car with stock replacement parts and go on with life! why'd you think he got wagner pads instead of getting some ebc s*** to begin with?
based on that analysis, I recommended him what I thought best for aftermarket stock replacements

 

[GoFast]

hawks are performance pads

when I say aftermarket, I don't mean performance... they're a totally different category!

nothing is more annoying to me than thousands of people on these boards that think aftermarket = performance
the aftermarket stock replacement parts industry is many times bigger than the performance industry

it's clear this guy doesn't care about making his car fast or driving fast... he is like millions of others out there... he just want to fix the car with stock replacement parts and go on with life! why'd you think he got wagner pads instead of getting some ebc s*** to begin with?
based on that analysis, I recommended him what I thought best for aftermarket stock replacements

Hawk is not only "performance" They, like many other companies, have a product line that ranges from street to full on track. The HPS pads are a street pad that are designed to offer excellent stopping power with little noise and low dust. Their performance pads would the hp+ pads.

I can't speak for the guy like you apparently can but, I suspect he picked up some wagners because they were convenient and cheaper than stock. I also suspect he may not have considered a pad like the hawks because he didn't know they were an option.

While your option for OE replacement is a viable one, so is mine for the hawks. Rather than dismiss one because you don't agree with it or it annoys you, throw your option out there, tell him why you think those are good, and let HIM decide what he wants.

 

[js1268]

alright... after some thinking i've come to a few conclusions

the OE pads really served the vehicle well up to 48K miles... i mean, i ground these things into the plates and like i said, they squeeled, but ONLY in the morning and while braking out of the driveway... other than that, no problems

so, i've decided to go with the OE pads.... and rotors

i called a local mazda dealership and asked the service manager about the TSB on the pads... he said that the rear pads being sold now have been corrected and no filing is needed ... granted the OE pads are more expensive, but i don't want to take a chance on anything in the aftermarket, again.... especially with the experience i had with the Wagners- which are going back to Autozone

incidentally, TheMAN... vehicle has a date of 11/04... would this be considered an 'early build' for 2005? ....if so, what would it mean if I have the early caliper brackets?

 

[Speedkid]

Welcome to the forums.

 

[js1268]

thanks, "Speedkid"

i just picked up the OE rear pads and rotors this morning....doing the job saturday

will keep everyone posted, of course

 

[TheMAN]

Hawk is not only "performance" They, like many other companies, have a product line that ranges from street to full on track. The HPS pads are a street pad that are designed to offer excellent stopping power with little noise and low dust. Their performance pads would the hp+ pads.

I can't speak for the guy like you apparently can but, I suspect he picked up some wagners because they were convenient and cheaper than stock. I also suspect he may not have considered a pad like the hawks because he didn't know they were an option.

While your option for OE replacement is a viable one, so is mine for the hawks. Rather than dismiss one because you don't agree with it or it annoys you, throw your option out there, tell him why you think those are good, and let HIM decide what he wants.

they are a small company and even their street pads are "performance" compared to what you find at vatozone... they're probably better in terms of heat tolerance than many OEM pads too

so I will still consider any hawk pad performance pads

 

[TheMAN]

alright... after some thinking i've come to a few conclusions

the OE pads really served the vehicle well up to 48K miles... i mean, i ground these things into the plates and like i said, they squeeled, but ONLY in the morning and while braking out of the driveway... other than that, no problems

so, i've decided to go with the OE pads.... and rotors

i called a local mazda dealership and asked the service manager about the TSB on the pads... he said that the rear pads being sold now have been corrected and no filing is needed ... granted the OE pads are more expensive, but i don't want to take a chance on anything in the aftermarket, again.... especially with the experience i had with the Wagners- which are going back to Autozone

incidentally, TheMAN... vehicle has a date of 11/04... would this be considered an 'early build' for 2005? ....if so, what would it mean if I have the early caliper brackets?

yes you have an early build... keep an eye on your motor mount because the production didn't change to a better one until 1/05
the new pads should have special springs/clips at the back of it to help reduce squeeling... pad material have also changed to prevent noise... the updated pads produce less dust also

 

[uwtriguy]

So if I'm reading right the Hawks arent' going to work so well with an early '04 build? I bought it 6/04. Ir really just want to get these changed but there are so many damn choices. I don't know whether to laugh or buy one of the sets on ebay that is slotted and comes with pads (for the hell of it). I really just need to replace my pads and rotors for normal street driving to and from work.

Any help is grand.

Thanks in advance.

 

[GoFast]

So if I'm reading right the Hawks arent' going to work so well with an early '04 build? I bought it 6/04. Ir really just want to get these changed but there are so many damn choices. I don't know whether to laugh or buy one of the sets on ebay that is slotted and comes with pads (for the hell of it). I really just need to replace my pads and rotors for normal street driving to and from work.

Any help is grand.

Thanks in advance.

Not at all. The hawks will work great. The debate that myself and "THEMan" are having really about semantics on what is considered performance and what is aftermarket. Either way you will get good brakes that work quite well. If you want the hawks get em. The HPS are geared more for the street. I'll compromise with "THEMan" and call them aftermarket performance street.

 

[TheMAN]

cool! that's how I like to call them anyway

if you have an early 04, there is MORE the reason to check those caliper brackets.... if they don't have the extra damper taps on them, they will squeel no matter what pads you put in! the TSB will show you how to look at this... since the car is out of warranty now and if you have the craptastic brackets, there's nothing you can do other than to buy new ones at the dealer... it'll be hard to find these at any junk yard because the car is so new!

also, your car might not have those A/C defusers installed either, so the A/C might work poorly for you.... it's just an excuse to install cabin filters to your car! that'll make you feel better and cooler

 

[js1268]

TheMAN, do you know where i can find the TSB on the caliper brackets, or any direction on how to rectify the situation?

 

[GoFast]

check here...

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123744807