I am looking for some advice. I am a newbie at vehicle repairs. I can do woodworking pretty good but I am trying to expend my horizon a bit.

I changed my brake pads and disc last weekend on my own. 2 days ago I was on my way home and noticed a burning smell and smoke coming out the driver side front wheel. Sure enough, brake pads and caliper are done, I think the rotor is OK, just some surface scratches.

Now, I got a new caliper and pads and I am ready to get going. I watch on YouTube how to do it so now I am an expert...right?...LOL

The only thing I can see I did wrong the first time is I did not lubricate the area where the pads are resting and I did not install the small metal clips that came with the pads. I had never seen those before I did not think they were necessary. The new pads I got actually don't have these small clips.

Any ideas where I might have gone wrong or was I just unlucky and my caliper was bad already and the brake change ended it's life?

Thanks for the replies!


Pierre

 

Job is done but I think I may have to resurface the disc.