I just put in a new set of the Cobalt GTS pads. I am fully aware of the controversy currently surrounding these pads, so I'd appreciate it if it could be kept out of this thread...I simply have a couple of questions about what i should be expecting after the install...

I drove the car with the brakes for the first time today...it's warm but currently raining. Before I left, I pumped the brakes to get the pressure in the lines since I hadn't driven it yet.

I drove the car to my girlfriend's house which is about two miles away...half road, half highway.

My questions are:

1) Are the brakes supposed to sound like they're grinding when they are breaking in? I was expecting a squeeking/screeching sound, but what i'm hearing sounds more like grinding.

2) One of my brakes is dragging on the rotor even when i'm not pressing the brake pedal...it sounds like it's the right rear...what are the possible causes for the dragging? is it possible that one of the pads is slightly thicker than it should be, and it will stop dragging after it's worn down a bit?

This is my first time installing any brake pads...let alone race brake pads. Any direct help with these questions will be greatly appreciated.

 

Did you use the shim? That can cause that drag. Poor clip fitment, piston, air, all can do that to varying extents.

Can't diagnose sound, but cold performance pads can grind, but typically not if break-in has been followed.

 

yeah i'm using the shims...had a hard time fitting them tho...i was thinking of pulling them out all together.

As for sound...they haven't even been broken in yet...so i'm thinking the sound will go away after a little while.....i'm just a little paranoid at the moment

 

I would pull the shim and take a peek at the pad surface. It really just sounds like a cold wear issue and you can "read" the pad thickness for safety with a decent flashlight 1x a week and be fine.

 

cool thx for the info...i'll remove the shims when i get home. As far as the brake sounds...i'll break it in today...then Im taking it to the track tomorrow...so i'll keep a close eye on it.

 

Right rear is the last caliper in the system. Might be the problem. Perhaps a flush is in order.

 

This is common. All disk brake pads lightly touch the rotors once per rev -- there is nothing that pulls them away from the rotors so that's the only thing that pushes them out. However, with street pads you aren't aware of it. With many race pads, you hear it as a once per rev squeek.

Shouldn't really be dragging constantly, though.

 

seems to be dragging a little more than once per rev...i notice it progressively less after the initial start from a stop...but that might just be because of the outside noise.

good info tho...i never knew that about the pads

 

Dude I told you not to use the shim!

Take those off. hehe.