Any fix for noisy aftermarket brakes?
 

Hi, all,

Last summer I had some aftermarket brakes/rotors installs. They were not cheap. The rotors are aftermarket OEM equivalent…supposedly. (Which, they look like OEM, but they rust like crazy…way worse than OEM.) The brakes are hawks…and the rotors may be as well. I need to find the receipt to make sure, but they are sooooooo noisy. They have been since I had them installed. I regret not going to the dealer and getting the real deal. I took it to the dealer and had them check the brakes, and they said they're just noisy aftermarket brakes. I wanted to replace them, and the service manager said they had plenty of life. He recommended using them up and not waisting money, but these things are driving me crazy! They're so embarrassing.

Anyway, every time I barely touch the brake there is a loud "click." (I can touch it over and over and over quickly, and it clicks every time. "Click, Click, Click, etc.) It's loud! Then, as I come to a stop there is a loud pulsating grinding sound. I can't feel the pulsating through the pedal, so I don't think the rotor is warped. This has been the case since these were installed. Anyone ever experience any of this with aftermarket brakes? Is there any kind of fix?

Thank you for your input!

HAWK brakes are unfortunately going to be noisy unless you buy their ceramic street pads. HAWK is known mostly for track application. You may have luck contacting HAWK yourself and asking if they will switch these pads out with their ceramic ones as you're very unsatisfied. Do you have slotted rotors? The click could be the wear sensor indicator clicking on the slots as they rotate. Are you feeling a vibration? How hard are you braking? Is the click rotation or only happen under braking?

-Luccia

see post #30 and check that the lug nuts or bolts are the right length to lock the wheel with no extra play (length too long).
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...Experts-NEEDED!

Luccia, the rotors aren't slotted. I don't feel an vibration through the brake pedal. I only hear the pulsating grinding noise while braking. The click happens every time I touch the brake. It's just one single "click" every time I start pushing the brake. Both of these sounds can only be heard when braking.

minihune, that actually sounds a lot like my situation. I suppose I can remove the rotors, take them to a shop, and have them checked. I'm tempted to just buy OEM rotors and brakes and install them myself. We moved to Oklahoma from New Jersey last summer right after we had these installed, so I first noticed it as we traveled across the country during the move. Of course, at that point it was too late to take it back to the shop where I had it done, so I'm on my own with this. (I couldn't do it myself when we lived in New Jersey, because I didn't have a place to change brakes. Now we have a garage, so I think I can take care of it myself. I've changed brakes before…just never on the MINI. However, it was a pain in the butt when I did it on my previous car, so I'm sure it'll be a tough job on the MINI as well.)

Sounds to me like a caliper is hanging up and nothing to do with the rotors or pads

I'd start by pulling each pin and applying proper lube

if that does not fix it I'd pull the caliper and inspect the piston esp' under the sleeve for a nick that might be causing it to hang up . . .

AND inspect the rotor faces carefully ......

Permatex and CRC both make a product called Brake Quiet. You spray it on the backs of the brake pads and it forms a plastic film that absorbs the vibration made by a squealing brake pad. It won't cure any pulsating, but it will stop the pads from shifting, clicking and squealing.

Did you have a shop do the install on the brakes/rotors. Usually shops provide a warranty with work performed so you may be able to take it back with your complaint and see what they say.

-Luccia

Pin sliders sounds like the issues. Do you have a Gen 1 MINI or Gen 2 ? Which hawk pads ?

The paste works good for the squeal issues.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/ES2677434__ES2594078/

http://c1552172.r72.cf0.rackcdn.com/483082_x600.jpg

As for rust...
Rotors are cast iron....
Different manufactures add different trace elements, some add extra carbon, or even a bit of copper (ebc), but they all rust...
Many offer a "premium" version that usually has painted "hats" and sometimes has a coating added inside the vents...
But brakes rust...go use them...polish them up!!
And as stated above, get them looked at...
Sounds like the combo of lack of lube and hard pads are causing your noises.

p.s.

that brake lube is available at any parts store

either in those little packets or in a tube for 'larger users' .....

EBC pads I've bought over the last few years had a pack in the box.

Point being ... don't order it .... buy it at the place around the corner

NO..... MINI brake lube is NOT special . . . .