canooten

'07 Accord EX, 4cyl

Replaced my pads and rotors recently and within 100 miles started noticing a knocking/popping sound when braking.

It seems to be coming from the back and the speed/repetition of the sound correlates to speed of the vehicle....volume of the noise correlates to how hard I'm braking.

A normal, gradual stop may have no or very little noise. Harder braking is fairly pronounced. I've think you can make the noise out on the recording at the link below -

http://chirb.it/48kPps

It seems most pronounced from about 20-40mph. Below 20 it starts to really die out...seems to be tied to wheel RPM.

The only thing out of the ordinary with the brake job is that the rotor screws stripped on the rear passenger side. Had to drill them out and had no replacements. From what I understand that's not a big deal.

Could it be pad movement? I used Duralast Gold so maybe they aren't an exact fit?

BLKFLSH

Did you get any fluid or grease on the brake pads or rotors? My father's car had a wheel cylinder leak, and the fluid leaking on the brakes made the pads jump and make a noise like that.

canooten

Not that I'm aware of.

canooten

Had someone suggest checking to be sure the rotors were flush against the hubs as that could possibly be the culprit, so took the back wheels off last night. No issues with the rotors, but I did notice that the pads have a good bit of wiggle room inside the brackets.
Without the ebrake on I can move the pads laterally inside the bracket. I know the pads should be so tight that you can't slide them in and out of the bracket, but should there be enough room to move them around like that and could that be the cause of the noise? Possibly the pads shifting around inside the bracket during a stop and hitting the sides?

94vtecmn

You did keep the little retainers in there that hold the pads tight in the caliper, right? Just asking.

canooten

I did not remove anything but the pads and shims (new pads had their own shims already attached).

No spare parts when the job was done either.

VeeSykkz

not shims or spacers...CLIPS! Granted ive never done my own brakes, but arent there clips that hold the pads? If you took out thin pads, and put in thicker pads....they SHOULD have LESS room to wobble. so you missed something in the mix

canooten

Clips on the pad side tabs are there all around.

The movement is lateral. Side to side...nothing to do with the pad thickness.

BLKFLSH

Maybe the Duralast backing plates are smaller? Did you check them against the originals? Sure you got the right part #? I always use OEM pads, so I know they will fit right.

canooten

Winds up that both back rotors I put on were warped out of the box.

BLKFLSH

So what brand were they? I bought NAPA UP (raybestos) replacement rotors, because I wanted the coated hat and vanes, and OEM rotors prices are outrageous for what you get.

canooten

I got what I paid for....Duralast. I'm a brake noob so live and learn.

I did like the fact that they were black coated and wouldn't rust near the hub and at the top edge.