P5er

I got a new set of pads for my 2002P5 after 33K miles stock pads were 80% done.
I have bought HAWK street pads at tirerack and my mechanic did put them on and after a few minutes of driving I have noticed a quiet metal to metal noise right before car came to a full stop, next morning after driving 10 miles with new pads I took it to my mechanic and we noticed right away there was a groove about 1/8 inch wide and maybe 1/64 inch or less deep on both rotors in the same place.
We lifted the car and after taking the wheels off my mechanic told me that Hawk pads are a pefrect fit except the squilers should be cut off, so that's what they did and since than in 3 days of braking them in everything works fine.
My rotors were skimmed before installing new pads I hope that grove will not mess them up.
What do you think?
I guess I will have to keep the close eye on them right before they will ware-out sometime 20-30K+ miles from now.

thewrench

I just installed some Hawk HPS pads this weekend. They fit fine, but they are left/right inside/outside specific. Sorry to say but there was no need to cut the clips if the job is done right. Other than the clips the pads seemed to look the same. They do make a raucous sound until they're bedded in. You did take the time to follow Hawk's bedding instructions, right?

proman

What are those clips for by the way? what purpose do they serve?

thewrench

Wear indicators.

proman

thanks for the info

P5er

if it was my mechanic, where did he made the mistake?
Do you think my rotors will be OK?

I'm breakin the pads in carefully and with 350 miles on since the change I'm starting to put a little more pressure on the brakes.

thewrench

The clips (indicators) go towards the bottom on the inside and outside. The pad with the short clip is the outside pad and the long clip goes on the inside. It's the only way they'll fit in the caliper bracket. It's a tough fit with the anti-rattle clips, but they WILL fit. I doubt you're hurting anything, I think the pads otherwise are all identical. There is an excellent brake tech article here:

http://www.protegeclub.com/forum/sho...threadid=17195

Look at the top of the second section for a good brake-in procedure.

James