GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I justed changed the rear rotors and pads with Duralast and their ceramic pads. They only have about 30 miles on them and when my wife came home you could smell them in the garage and the right wheel was quite hot and the rotor certainly couldn't be touched. I jacked the car up and the wheel does move quite freely with some rubbing. I had her push the brakes and release, the wheel acted accordingly. The question is, is this normal for the breakin of the pads/rotors? I know there should be some heat but too hot to touch? PS there was no smoking or blueing of the new rotor. Update - I pulled the other wheel off which wasn't as hot and the rotor spins quite a lot easier than the other side. I'm thinking I might have a sticking caliber...

i take it u out the glue on the back side of the pads correct?

Hi. There is a partial metal plate on the back of the pads. I'm not quite sure what you are referring to but I will check the pads again.

It does have a minimal drag when you lifted up your rear wheel.remember the rear calipers has those spring actuated integrated parking brakes, make sure the piston slot line up with the hole on the pad properly or else it won't self adjust.We have the same rear caliper set up as Flex please take a lookhttp://blogs-test.edmunds.com/....html

Thank you very much. We got the piston to fully retract and "exercised" it a few times so they aren't heating up like they did the first time. However, I do not recall lining up the inner pad with the caliber piston. So I will go back in and check. Thanks@! ps superb pics/descr. on your link!

Eric the car guy he gives us great / very safe technique for retracting the rear brake caliper piston.
We have identical rear brake set up as a 97-02 Accord EX which has no integrated shoes parking brake.
Look at how he does when he retracting the piston and how the pad suppose to line up with the hole/slot. You could forward to the last half of the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kf8C4Qx ... ure=g-vrec


A great website for Sunday Mechanics. That is ideal for trouble shooting.

http://www.brakeandfrontend.com/Search/ ... erm=matrix

1 man bleed job revisited.
Now we know why we need to put silicone lube at the bleeder thread to prevent air gets suck in during pumping.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5O_pbC8 ... ure=relmfu" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;