Early brake pad failure

[Overkll]

I saw your car sitting at the dealership... $2975 and STILL not fixed? Not good...I have had my car in for squeaking brakes 2X,third tomorrow. First time they said they took apart and reassembled the brakes (didn't look like they touched a thing). Second time they didn't hear the squeak, I took it out for a test drive w/ a tech and it is still there.Goes back tomorrow @16 000 KM, I HOPE they TRY to charge me, already wasted my time after I TOLD them what the problem was. Probably a loose or defective pad, noise starts when the car is warm, stops when brakes are applied, is noisier when the brakes are lightly applied, pretty obvious I think... but what do I know since I basically assembled my Civic from the frame up...Still giving them the benefit of the doubt, I am pretty easy going and have been lucky to not have any problems with the car yet. That and they probably know about the message boards, so I <3 Overseas :thumbup:Hope they fix it AND give you some money back!

[Francesco]

I've had a brake squeak since about 15K, too. I was told by more than one expert (Fast Eddy, MB Tech Neighbour) that the pads likely need the "edge" sanded off them. But over the last couple thousand Kms I've noticed the brakes are getting "grabby." No pulsing of the pedal, just just the brakes themselves, like there's a grease spot on a disk.

[booneylander]

Mine squeal pretty bad in the rain, but are fine in the dry.That's a ridiculous story, napaj! I get frustrated just reading about their incompetence, and I don't even have anything to do with them or have to deal with it.

Edited September 18, 2008 by booneylander

[lebikerboy]

After hearing all the brake pad problems awhile back, I ordered EBC pads from the UK which didn't cost much more than buying new OEM pads from smart.Much quieter braking and no fear of the delamination that so many have experienced. Plus the fact that there is so much less dust and what little there is washes off.

[Francesco]

Yeah, I'd like to switch, but it seems a shame to have to do so before I even hit 30K. On the Golf they lasted about 65000, on the VW van they were closer to 85000. I've never had a set go before 60K.

[42Kruiser]

There will be no shame when the oem pads stick on the rotors, keep your wheels covered in brown dust, and seperate from the backing plates and start clunking. Throw the trash parts away and put the ebc pads on. I've had 2 years with no brake problems after a year of dealing with all of the above on the oem pads.

[lebikerboy]

Amen!!! I'm all about preventative maintenance and this just seemed to make sense to me.

Edited September 18, 2008 by lebikerboy

[Francesco]

28000 Kms and I guess I'll prevent getting a useful life out of my parts! :DWhat's the best price on them?

[lebikerboy]

$67.39 Canadian delivered to my door in North Van...

Here's the link...

http://www.ebcbrakesdirect.com/default.asp

This compares to an online shop in Canada where the OEM pads are $61.00 plus taxes plus shipping plus you've got the same old pads...

Or if you prefer you can get the greenstuff pads which are totally dust free and are good enough for racing...$123.18.

This compares to the same online shop in Canada where the same greenstuff pads are $130.00 plus taxes plus shipping etc.

Edited September 19, 2008 by lebikerboy

[Francesco]

OK, ordered. oanda.com says my total should be about $107 for the Green Stuff pads, delivered to Montreal. I'll likely hang on to them until there's an acute problem, but it'll be good to know they are at hand.Wouldn't delaminated pads be a warranty issue?

[MikeT]

I think it's rust from road salt.....

[Francesco]

Yeah, me too. I asked Eddy at the Pitt event and he agreed that the corners of the pads need to be sanded or ground down. According to Neighbour, they tend to swell in our humid weather. The uneven feeling is recent, however.

[Overkll]

Yeah, me too. I asked Eddy at the Pitt event and he agreed that the corners of the pads need to be sanded or ground down. According to Neighbour, they tend to swell in our humid weather. The uneven feeling is recent, however.

Exactly what the problem is, as soon as the brakes get up to temp, the squealing starts. I will be switching out the pads, but with only 16 000 KM on the car, I think the pads should at least be used up before replacing. Just dropped the car off an hour ago, I hope they figure out how to fix the problem. It sucks TELLING them what the problem is and then getting the car back unfixed. They started saying something about the exhaust (Blindschleide) making noise, but I cut that off VERY fast. The car was originally brought to the dealer pre-exhaust since I somehow knew that would be brought up... so predictable.

[Francesco]

I ordered the pads last night, TD's security system popped in and tried to get me to fill in some details, then told me they didn't match the records. After trying a couple more times I gave up and surfed a different tab. When I went back, the TD page had timed out and the EBC page said my order was placed! This morning I got an email from EBCDirect asking if the 21287 pads are the correct ones for my car. I answered yes.I too will likely wait until at least some real issue starts (wear indicators grinding, or a dragging pad like Mike had) before swapping them.

[bilgladstone]

...They started saying something about the exhaust (Blindschleide) making noise, but I cut that off VERY fast. ... so predictable.

Yeah, any excuse to shift the responsibility onto the owner!

[Overkll]

Not fixing the brakes, would need to replace pads and rotors for $620, although there is nothing wrong with them? Was told all MB cars have noisy brakes... I thought they were LUXURY cars, not $10 000 Neons.smart will not warranty the 'wear' items. A 1550 lb car that wears out brakes in 16 000 KM? Defective from the start I think?I will try grinding down the edges of the pads myself or buy the EBC pads now... thought I was finished wrenching on a daily driver (except for self-induced modifications ); I guess not.At least the dealership recommended NOT changing the brakes out... and is not charging me for the inspection. Glad they did not even TRY to!

[Overkll]

I was looking at EBCbrakesdirect. Is the shipping really $36 to Canada? Still only $97 delivered... not bad at all.

I ordered the pads last night, TD's security system popped in and tried to get me to fill in some details, then told me they didn't match the records. After trying a couple more times I gave up and surfed a different tab. When I went back, the TD page had timed out and the EBC page said my order was placed! This morning I got an email from EBCDirect asking if the 21287 pads are the correct ones for my car. I answered yes.I too will likely wait until at least some real issue starts (wear indicators grinding, or a dragging pad like Mike had) before swapping them.

[Francesco]

Just over GBP 20.00 to Montreal by "scheduled" (ie. surface mail). A rip, considering FedEx will second-day air a 1.3 Kg package back to England for about $60.

[lebikerboy]

I used EBC mountain bike disc brake pads long before we got the smart. I immediately noticed how much less "grabby" they were and I noticed the same on the smart variety.They are also much quieter.

[Francesco]

I split off the OT posts from napaj's "Starter Problems" thread. Continue brake discussions here...

[plaincorgi]

Mine don't squeak, but ever since my first winter, i can hear them grinding whenever i brake. Also get a clicking sound sometimes right after the car stops, almost like a pad has delaminated, but they have checked and no such issue.

[Francesco]

Holy crap! I ordered on the evening of the 18th, which was Friday morning in the UK. They emailed to have me confirm the pad selection, and I emailed back Friday afternoon. Shipped out from Coventry on Monday, Canada Post just pulled up and delivered! Wow!

[TrishM]

Holy crap! I ordered on the evening of the 18th, which was Friday morning in the UK. They emailed to have me confirm the pad selection, and I emailed back Friday afternoon. Shipped out from Coventry on Monday, Canada Post just pulled up and delivered! Wow!

That is great shipping/service!

[lebikerboy]

Yes, they're pretty damned awesome company to deal with. I find mail service from the U.K. faster than the U.S. and sometimes even Canada!Install the pads and you'll be even more impressed!

[MikeT]

When my second set of pads started to come unglued from the backing plate at 45,000 km, I talked to the technician about it.....he said that the reason is the smart has no splash guards behind the discs so what happens is the front wheels blast salt and slush and water onto the opposite wheel and its brakes....Exactly why the smart doesn't have brake disc backing plates is a bit of a mystery, my M-B B 200 has them, as did my 405.