Brake Sequel after Brake check service

[ddagsyn]

I took my car into brake check to get new pads on the camry. They replaced the front brake pads only. The back didn't need to be replaced. Brake Check also recommended that the hardware that holds the pads etc be replaced. However, I refused that service.
Soon after that I noticed that the brakes made a sequel when stopping. I don't drive this car as it is my wife's.

I dismissed this as normal as I thought that they were breaking in. However, it is still there and is annoying.
I plan on taking it back to Brake check but want to know whether the sequel is due to the fact that I did not have them change the hardware.

Also what do i need to look for so that i don't get ripped off.
Thanks

[hill8570]

Both sides, or can you tell?

The anti-squeal shims may have needed replacing, although they probably should have put anti-squeal compound on the back of the pads during installation even if they didn't replace the hardware.

If the old pads weren't squealing, 'tho, I'd suspect either a botched installation or the pad compound...some pad compounds squeal more than others. Any idea what pads they put on?

[projektvertx]

^ VERY true, some pads just squeal by nature. But here is a theory: Did they grease both sides of the shims before re-installing? I would know, when I did my brake job, I figured it wasn't needed on the piston side of the shim and ended up taking things apart to apply some grease due to squeal.

Dunno, odds are I'm wrong, but I just wanna put that out there.

[ddagsyn]

I will check on the type of Pads they used when i get home. My wife says that the sequel is alot on reverse. Would that tell a differerent story.
Thanks

[ddagsyn]

I took the car to Brake Check. They looked at it for about 3 hrs. Had everyone in the shop around it. Chased it to narrow down the source of the sequel but they could not make it go away. They even had a corporate dude who was visiting look at it. They gave me the option of replacing the front pads and thus re surface the rotors. I did not like the idea of them having to re surface my rotors again. They put some compound on the rotors and told me to drive a week and see if it goes away.
They also assured me that there is nothing mechanically wrong with the brakes. I don't know the make of the pads as it does not say it on my receipt but i know for sure it is not their lifetime pads.
Thanks

[JohnGD]

I'd specify only Akebono ProAct ceramic for this reason (for typical driving these are great and long lasting).

Reusing the old shims is no problem. It's likely the pad compound. Even if the shop takes off the stick-on shims the ProActs will still likely be quiet. The glue of the stick-on shims get messy in cleaning, so in this case OEM style clip-on shims are better, which someone said Akebono is switching over to.

There is NO NEED to resurface the rotors unless you have problems. Metal on the rotor is good.

Maybe ask them to put on Toyota pads? Sometimes you get less desirable pads like NBK from Toyota instead of Akebono, but I'm sure even the NBKs are quieter than what you have now.

Originally Posted by ddagsyn

I took the car to Brake Check. They looked at it for about 3 hrs. Had everyone in the shop around it. Chased it to narrow down the source of the sequel but they could not make it go away. They even had a corporate dude who was visiting look at it. They gave me the option of replacing the front pads and thus re surface the rotors. I did not like the idea of them having to re surface my rotors again. They put some compound on the rotors and told me to drive a week and see if it goes away.
They also assured me that there is nothing mechanically wrong with the brakes. I don't know the make of the pads as it does not say it on my receipt but i know for sure it is not their lifetime pads.
Thanks

[JohnGD]

There are usually printed codes on the back of the pads, traditionally called the "edge codes" from the days of brake shoes where they printed the codes.

You might see something like: AK xxxxx GG, or NBK xxx-xxx FF.

In Toyotas typically you'll see, IMO, cheap NBKs or excellent AKebonos. One TN member got the best GG friction rated Akebonos from Toyota, while another got cheap NBKs. So it's a crapshoot.

If you bring Toyota pads, are they willing to refund the parts and use the pads you bring?? I think many dealers have coupons for brake pads that make them really cheap, but IIRC they list about $45 so it shouldn't be too bad without a coupon.

Originally Posted by ddagsyn

I will check on the type of Pads they used when i get home. My wife says that the sequel is alot on reverse. Would that tell a differerent story.
Thanks