HOWTO: Install Brake Pads, Rotors, and Lines

[Wild Weasel]

sok07 did a write-up on M3F and, with his permission, I've reproduced it on my HowTo site. Just an FYI for anyone looking for it.

Now it's permanent and easy to find.

http://www.wildweasel.ca/HowTo/Auto/Mazda3/BrakeInstall.aspx

[RX9]

grate write up WW. thanks for sharing.

[Wild Weasel]

I didn't really write it. Just edited it and made it available. Thanks though! Hopefully people find it useful. :)

[theurgy]

Bookmarked...Danke!

[Mike]

Will come handy eventually. That's a great write-up. Thanks for sharing the link.

[thesober]

I used those instructions and pics to do my rear brake pads and rotors, very easy to do by following the pics.

[dsichewski]

Thanks WW......Just a question for you....How long does it normally take to bleed the brakes? I'm gonna have to sandblast my calipers down to repaint them so that means removing them. Just wondering how long I should expect for a proper bleed. Thanks

[Wild Weasel]

Shouldn't take more than an hour or two with two people.

You could probably do it in less than an hour if you were in a hurry, but I tend to do everything slowly and methodically. :)

[theurgy]

Mind if I post a link to your site on our OMC board?

[Wild Weasel]

No problem at all. There's only two items there specific to the Mazda3 but there's a bunch more that are generic. Just like the j-body stuff, I'm sure it'll grow over time.

[Bluemazda3-S]

I vote this thread for sticky status!!! Anyone agree!?!?

Also... anyone have squealing problems? The g/f's car came with new rotors and pads all around (back in march when she bought it) and the squealed ever since, thought it was just break in period, but it didn't go away, in fact got worse. I'm going to try some of that goop you put on the back of the pads to get rid of squealing... waste of time?

[Wild Weasel]

Nah, the goop might help. Let it dry for a few minutes before putting the pads back in.

[Bluemazda3-S]

Well if the goop doesn't work... what next? The pads and rotors are 4 or 5 months old. The only thing I can visually see is that the front rotors are getting chewed up by these pads, maybe they are cheap metallics or something? If so, I'll probably go with ceramics... any other suggestions?

[Flagrum_3]

Well if the goop doesn't work... what next? The pads and rotors are 4 or 5 months old. The only thing I can visually see is that the front rotors are getting chewed up by these pads, maybe they are cheap metallics or something? If so, I'll probably go with ceramics... any other suggestions?

IMHO, putting "goop" on the back of the pads in most cases will not help.If you are going to do it yourself I would suggest buying a good quality anti-seize and also brake cleaner plus some emery cloth or fine grade sandpaper, taking the calipers off lubing the sliders, mounting brackets and calipers and going over the pads and rotors with the emery cloth or sandpaper...On the pads try to cover the complete pad when sanding to keep it even and with the calipers do a cross- hatch pattern and try to sand even across the face, then wipe the rotors with a clean dry cloth.


_3

[Tizmee24]

i like the way he did that ... its look like real manual to me LOL
Very neat and step by step w picture on it ... very nice. thanks WW

[Bluemazda3-S]

pictures are always good :D I usually do lube up the moving parts everytime i have to take brakes apart. I may put a chamfer on the pads as well.

[Bluemazda3-S]

so I got the work done today. I ground a chamfer along the leading edges of the pads, put some brake quiet on the back of the pads, lubed up the sliders and any moving parts. While off, I noticed one of the pads had cracks already, only 5 months old.... gees. Anyway, no more squealing as of yet, but I'm going to be doing the pads soon since that one had cracks in it. Also put on some MS3 rims on it too thanks to alhope ;) Pictures soon? maybe? LOL.. The wife doesn't take much pride in her vehicle, so she doesn't take many pictures of it... now self pictures of herself, she has about 1000!! LOL