I had a friend of mine put on all new rotors and brake pads. This guy has done the brakes on all my friends vehicles and not one problem. I bought the stuff on ebay and the seller originally forgot the rear pads. My friend did the front ones, seemed to work great. A few days later when I finally received the rear pads, he then installed those. SINCE he did that I have a very loud squealing sound coming from the back passenger side wheel. My first thought was something is rubbing but I took the wheel off and everything looks to be done correct. I could not find anything that would be rubbing and there are no grooves or anything on the rotors. From the research Ive been doing, Im thinking that the parking brake pads got messed up? It feels like the brake is on even though the release it totally off and the light is not one. Something just doesnt feel right when i hit the gas and the sound is SUPER LOUD. Like it schreeching as I roll. IT DOES NOT do this in reverse. Any of you have a clue? This guy tells me to bring it back to him and he will look at it but at this point Im thinking I got what I paid for and Im not very excited to have anyone but a professional look at it. Ive found other threads discussing parking brake issues but none of them seem to be exactly like mine.

ANY THOUGHTS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. Just trying to avoid huge costs at the dealer or a brake place seeing as I already spent the money on the pads and rotors and paid that idiot to do the work.

Anything I can do as far as trying to confirm its the parking brake, or adjust it? Or should I just bite the bullet and take it in?

THANKS IN ADVANCE FORUM!!
John

 

Have your friend take another look. Could be a seized caliper, something crooked, even a cheap/junk pad since it came from eBay. Don't fret until he sees it again IMHO.

IndyDurango

 

Try barely applying the parking brake, and drive forward slowly. If the sound is different, you know it's the parking brake. If it is the same, then look elsewhere. I haven't looked at the rears on the Durango, but if they are the self-adjusting sort, maybe he didn't back them out far enough when he put the new pads in.

 

Thanks guys, will try both and let you know. I appreciate your help!

 

IndyDurango- You basically nailed it buddy. My friend was being a jerk about taking another look, tried to play the whole "Im pinning everything" on him trick. GO FIGURE, you did the work idiot, whatever. So I got mad and just took it into the Brake shop. The calipers were either crooked or ****-eyed when he put them back on. The sound I heard was the calipers actually rubbing the rotor, sounded horrible to say the least. So basically the calipers were trashed and had to be replaced. Since it was already at the shop I told them to go ahead and do the work. Yea, Im out another $115 but at this point is was well worth it just for the piece of mind and to stop having to hear that damn screaching.....LOL. Next time something like this comes up, Ill find a way to do it myself, or take it to the pros. Its just not worth all the drama of having a buddy do it when things dont go right. I tried to save some money by using him and wound up paying for it in the end. Geez, how many stories like that have we heard???

OH WELL, in the end its all good. THANKS AGAIN FOR THE RESPONSES!
John

 

Well a seized crooked caliper, as predicted, will do it every time. Glad you got it fixed. Bad brakes can be very dangerous. Good call on not waiting to let it get worse, cause an accident, etc.

Happy To Help.

IndyDurango

 

Just for future reference, most people with a simple understanding of how brakes work can change pads and rotors. I bought a brake caliper clamp kit from autozone for 35 bucks, and now I can do brakes on just about anything with ease. You also get the added piece of mind that it was done right.

 

You're 100% correct. From all the research I did trying to figure out what the hell was wrong, Im now convinced that I could have done the work myself. Hell, there is even videos on youtube that show a guy doing the brakes step for step, not to mention a ton of sites that walk you through it. I think Ive read my Chilton and Haynes repair manuals from cover to cover, ha-ha. I was lazy this time and my buddy actually did the work on my truck when I was on vacation so I figured it would work out great. Have fun in Florida and come home to a finished deal. As always, hindsight is, well you know! I also agree that doing it myself would leave me feeling confident that it was done right. Thats the problem with having you friend do repairs. When it doesnt go right, really makes for an awkward situation and hard feelings are inevitable. Kinda sucks because him and I are on the "outs" at the moment. I wasnt so mad about having to pay for it to get fixed, I just wanted him to admitt he did it wrong and just apologize. Stuff happens and everyone is human no matter how many brake jobs he has done before.

In the end, all's well that ends well. I just love having this forum to come to for advice and especially being able to VENT! haha

Thanks again guys!
John