So I switched out my rotors and brakepads this weekend.

Rotora slotted rotors and Hawk HPS pads.

We bled the brakes and everything works fine.......but when I come to a stop.....the sound of the new brake pads on the rotors sounds like metal on metal. It sounds like it is grinding....you know when you get to the end of old pads and it sounds like you have dug into the rotor??

Is this because the hawk HPS pads are stiffer and more aggressive??

Also I swear after hard braking that I see smoke or steam coming from under the wheel wells.

Has anybody ever switched to slotted rotors and Hawk pads and have the same problems......or am I being overly worried??? and is the steam or smoke natural when braking in new pads and rotors.

Please help. thank you.

 

Afternoon bump....anyone??

 

Did you use anti-seize(greese), and make sure the clips are not touching the rotors at all.

 

You will get a brake smell after install, thats normal. Especially if you didn't clean off the oil gunk they spray on the rotors when they pakage them to prevent rust. As for the brake pads...I would check to see if you put one on backwards...i am not saying your stupid, I ran a few brake and front end shops for years and have seen it happen before. I know those pads do make some noise due to the hard compound....

 

Oh, and yes they will steam/smoke slightly while you break them in...do some hard stops, and longer braking stops for about 30 or so miles..that should cure it..

 

Yes I used some anit-squeak lube on the back of the pads and shims....they actually don't squeak like a lot of people say they do.

I will check to see if that little clip on the brake pad is touching the rotor.

I know you are not saying I am stupid. They are all put in the right direction. I just can't figure out why it would sound like grinding metal......with brand new pads.

Could it be the harder material in the brake pad??

 

depending on the compound, some will sound like a 'grind' until they get hot... work em hard and get them up to their operating temp and see how it sounds.

this is why aggressive race pads will EAT rotors during street use... they never get up to their designed operating temp.

although HPS should be an OK street pad.

 

Hawk HPS shouldn't grind. They are street pads. Check for abnormal scoring on both sides of each of your rotors.

 

I was afraid of that

 

I have used Hawk pads before and they do have slight metal on metal sound and feel. If I remember correctly the hps are very abrasive and will wear out the rotor faster than other pads.

 

^^ HP+ maybe, I ran HPS and they didn't even feel as aggressive as the stock pads...

 

When I first installed my HPS on some new rotors there was a metal on metal sound. It will sound that way until they get broken in. Just make sure and check everything again, as mentioned above. Check out the rotors and if there isn't anything that pops out at you then you should be fine.

 

Check your installation first - if all checks out then read the instructions on the Hawk box for bedding in your pads.

HPS are metallic pads so there will be a different feel to them - but they are not highly aggressive.

There are some incidences of persistent noise - but it seems to more occur with used OEM rotors as there may be some incompatibility with the transfer layer left by the OEM pads. Brembo's are noisy to begin with as HPS are almost always silent - I heard reference that there is even mention of it in your owners manual although I have not seen that myself.