Brake pads too tight? Here's a solution!

Have you ever tried to put a new set of brake pads on your vehicle, only to find that they're too tight? I have had this problem quite a few times. Early on, I was afraid to do anything about it, assuming that they were "supposed to be that way."

I have learned a lot since then. The pads are NOT supposed to be tight. They are supposed to float in between the mounting guides so they can slide in and out as you apply and release your brakes.

Now, when my pads are tight, I get a file and file down the contacting surfaces just enough to allow the pads to move freely. It usually doesn't take a lot of filing, but the difference is monumental. Then I paint the filed surfaces to help prevent rust. After all that I install everything as normal.

I hope this is helpful to people. Good luck and be brave!

[arran]

Spent hours last night trying to get brake pads to fit when they shouldn't have been that tight in the first place. Good tips. Cheers mate.

[darylg.]

I just decided to do this tonight. Now I decided to look up if what I had done was safe or not. Lol thank you for helping me feel relieved.

[rithy]

I appreciate the video. Filing down the brake pad ear for my 2005 Honda Civic is necessary for it to fit properly. I have changed many cars, no problem until now.

[joepeters]

Clay Thank You So Much For The Vidoeo!! I was in garage all night going nuts!! God Bless You Buddy, You are DEFINITELY AN ANGEL TO HELP US!!

[nickolastrainer]

Great video . It's the only video Iv seen on this problem. And it's a problem iv ran into in the past thanks for sharing and making this video

[spacestationfour]

Thank you my brother. Worked like a charm. At first I hit them in with a good deal of effort. I got them on despite being way to too tight and just thought "man, this can't be right." Took them off, filed them down. Much better. Super easy!!!

[milypr]

Never used to have this problem til the last few years. Very annoying, manufacturers doing things cheaper im guessing. Thx for the tips man!

[godin]

Thank you so much for that, I bought brake pads and it is the first time a do that, but I am a handy person that as play with many things. When I start to install the pads they were so so tight that I taught that doesn't sound right I google the question how tight they should be and I find your video. Now I am confident about what I'm going to do. Great video.

[AlexWatso]

Sure do appreciate your straightforward explanation. You saved me a lot of self doubting. Thank you

[paulmackilligin]

That's good. I just yesterday changed my rear pads and discs (rotors) in a 2003 VW Golf. Never done the job before and I didn't know they were supposed to move that freely. There's like a spring clip that they slide on, and that holds them in position, but the new ones I had to really force in place. After a 10 mile test drive one of them was really hot. Could be a number of reasons for that I know, but but tomorrow I'm going to take them out and file them to make sure they slide nicely.

[Dsajest]

I was scratching my head and fighting for a couple of hours last night trying to get one pad in.
Thanks for the tip! Harbor Freight here I come! Great video!

[themechanic]

100% right, took me a while to understand this, and file the pad ears down so that when things are hot they slide easily, also be sure to lubricated the mating surfaces with caliper grease (silicone based)

[betabandits]

Was having this exact issue, they appeared exact same dimension as old pads so I was baffled why they weren't just sliding on and other install vids had folks just popping them in no problem.

[buckylong]

Really good tip. Used my neighbors grinding wheel.

[jh]

Thanks, I found somebody with same problem! Yeah, i ran into this on my 2003 lexus rx300, I cleaned and sanded and finially got the new pads in, but the didn't float. and began squeaking down the road about 1/2 mile. Tomorrow i get to try again.

[glennwilcox]

I just changed my brakes. The pads fit a little too tight. So I put back on both tires. But I think in about 5 minutes I'm going to go out and seeing them and do what you did in the video. If I'm able to go do that you saved my butt.

[packersprik]

Thank you very much. At last someone with some useful information! Great job!

[abdangry]

thanks this fixes my issue, I was having to put new disc brakes every year because one side turned out to be too tight, after replacing guide pins and filing down the new brake pads the wheel spins freely now. problem solved.

[redsandevo]

Went to do mine tonight and had the same problem, the inner pads on both sides were so snug after I got them in that I had to tap them out with a mallet. I just put a shop rag around them and in my vise and used my angle grinder to remove some excess.

[jessicapetrin]

Ty so much!! I could not, for the life of me figure out what was going wrong.