Replaced front brakes, now grinding when stopping

Mossyoakglock · July 16, 2012

We replaced the front brakes on my dad's 07 Avalanche yesterday. We used the AC Delco Advantage pads and rotors and everything went smoothly. We torqued everything to spec and used grease where needed.

There is no binding or grinding or anything when turning by hand or driving, but it makes an awful grinding noise when stopping. The truck stops 10x better now but now grinds.

Do the Advantage pads have a breaking/friction compound or not? I'm hoping that with about a week of driving and braking that they will set and be ok. If they are not, I'm going to take them off and regrease everything.

Any have any idea what it could be that is causing the grinding? I also blew everything off with air before putting everything back together.

Z45 · July 16, 2012

Take is back apart and check that everything is installed properly.

Mossyoakglock · July 16, 2012

I'm going to take them back apart tomorrow and regrease and check everything but I'm 99% sure that everything is installed correctly. In addition to regreasing everything, is that an anti-squeal spray/lube that you recommend?

There is no pulsing when stopping and no grinding or squealing while driving, just grinding while stopping. I made sure the new metal clips where not rubbing anywhere and double-checked all clearances.

If everything is ok as far as installation, could it be just that they need time to break in or could they be defective from the factory?

nGAbear · July 17, 2012

Use brake cleaner and not air to clean the area.

Yes, use antisqueal, or anti-squeak... whatever it is called... Put it on the backside of the pads (must not come in contact with the rotor side of the pads).

wages999 · July 17, 2012

I don't know if this will help, but I had one of my front brakes make some grinding noise and the truck was pulling a little to the opposite side a little. When I took it apart, everything visually looked okay. I decided to add a little pressure to the brake pedal to see if the caliper was working correctly. I found that only one of the two pistons in the caliper was actually working. This was causing the pad to hit too much on the front edge and make the grinding noise. I replaced the caliper and everything has been good since.

Mossyoakglock · July 18, 2012

Went back and re-greased everything and put it back together. Everything was together correct.

I went to drive it again after putting everything back together and the neighbor was outside talking to my dad and noticed the grinding. They said it sounded like it was coming from the rear. Took a look and it was infact coming from the rear brakes. So now we are going to be replacing the rear this weekend. When you are driving, everything points to the noise coming from the front. It even feels like the front brakes are the ones grinding. I guess the vibration and noise travel up the frame or something.

I got home and did a little research and found something interesting. Most people were saying that on the Avalanche, the rear brakes tend to go quicker than the fronts.

Some said it was because the rear pads are thinner and other say that when driving slowly and lightly using the brakes, the rears do more of the stopping than the fronts. Is that true? I was always under the impression that the stopping was about 70/30 front/rear as far as braking goes.

Has anybody heard of the two instances above?