Brake pads & rotors

[pagrunt]

After getting the right coil compressor & the front suspension back together, I'm now running into an issue with standard replacement pads fitting. Fells like a newbie with these simple issues. I'm using stock spindles, calibers, & slotted rotors. The pads are from Autozone (MKD154). The pads don't look like the last set that was used n '03 for the last brake job. The pads have a stud for the wear indicators that catches the spindle when the wear indicator is down, but fits with a little hammer help with the indicator is up, the the rotor won't spin. I still need to check the rotor thickness to compare to stock. After all the A/G bodies I have owned & helped work on, never have I had this issue. Has anyone else run into this problem or just check rotor thickness.

 

[pontiacgp]

if they are not the same design of your old pads why didn't you return them before trying to install them?

 

[Bonnewagon]

MKD154 shows to be the correct Bendix part# for our cars. Picture shows the standard type wear indicator attached with a rivet. Did you eyeball them up against your old ones?

 

[tc1959]

The pads are from Autozone ...

 

[Bonnewagon]

HAH! Yes, I agree. Plus at the factory/warehouse who knows what goes on. Wouldn't be the first time the wrong part came out of the right box. But when something doesn't fit the first thing I do is compare the parts. One should never do this-"but fits with a little hammer help ".

 

[pagrunt]

For years, Autozone has been where I have got my pads & shoes. But I never thought there would be a change with how their pads would be, 24 years of ownership you would never think a place would redesign the pads you use. Just go in, tell them it's an '81 Monte, the give you a box marked 154, & you're good thinking you don't need to look at them. As it proves, going cheap doesn't pay. Open the box & look at the parts don't hurt ether. This really makes me feel newbie after this. Even getting the universal fix-it tool out to make it fit. Any suggestions on a better set of pads to work with slotted/drilled rotors.

 

[DreamRyder1963]

They MKD 154 is a cheap semi-metallic pad. They are good for people that are to cheap to buy real brake pads. I always go with a GMKD series or better. Plus you are running slotted rotors why not not also get good ceramic pads too?

 

[pontiacgp]

I would take a semi metallic pad over any ceramic pad any day.

 

[Bonnewagon]

I have had very good luck with Severe Duty/Police/Fleet/Taxi cab pads and shoes. They last forever on my cars, and even extend the idiot women's brake jobs from less than a year to 2 or even (gasp) 3 years! :shock:

 

[DreamRyder1963]

Severe Duty pads are ceramic 9 out of 10 times. They brake faster, are quieter, and have less dust and last much longer. I only run ceramic if I have an option. I have had several sets of the cheap MKD pads fall apart after a few stops in my corvair (not heavy vehicle).