new brakes problem

[1quick6]

I am hoping someone here is familiar with changing front brake pads and rotors on a 2002 Regal GS. I thought I was doing everything right, but I ran into a snag. I took the calipers off by removing the two bolts, removed the pads, drove the piston back in with a C-Clamp and then set the new pads in place in the caliper. The caliper went on fine and it seemed like things spun freely. When I test drove the car, everything seemed great. It didn't pull to either side and the brakes worked like they did when they were new. I was happy until I parked the car and noticed smoke coming from both front wheel wells, obviously because the pads were still making contact with the rotor. I was thinking back to the brake pads themselves. When I removed them, there were no clips or springs holding the pad in the caliper. They just "set" in the caliper. I put the new pads in place and made sure they were in place properly, just like the ones I removed. The car has 50k miles and has never had brake work done.

From what I tried to describe, did I do something wrong or miss something?

Thanks. I really don't want to go to the brake shop with my tail between my legs.

 

[Evaddave 87gn]

Brake Job!

Should be fine, most of the time there is a coating on the new rotors that protect them fro m rusting on the shelf, even after cleaning it of you will get some smoke while all the coating is burning off. Very common, if you had a sticking problem you would have felt it when you drove it. The smoke may continue for a day or two, until all the coatings are burned off.

Dave

 

[wileecoyote]

Yep

I'm with Dave. Because of the high content of metal in todays pads they are coated pretty heavily with a film to prevent rusting. This will at times prevent the pads from setting in initially and sometimes you need to make some "aggressive" stops to burn it off. Sounds like you have already started burning it off. It should be just fine.

 

[EdMacKenzie]

you could have used some brake clean and cleaned off the rotors before you put them on to advoid that problem ... not a big deal, you will remember for next time

 

[1quick6]

Thanks for the replies, guys. The car hasn't been driven more than a few miles, so I probably just need to get it out on the road and get things broken in some more. I was just afraid I did something wrong and I couldn't figure out why since the car braked so well after the initial install. I didn't drive it much because I was afraid they were getting hot and warping the new rotors. In retrospect, the front rotors were no hotter than the "still original" rear rotors after driving.