this post was submitted on 16 Aug 2025
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Brake job help? - Solved (hexbear.net)
submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by LaGG_3@hexbear.net to c/cars@hexbear.net
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Tried to do my brakes for the first time and I think I fucked something up. When I tried to drive for a second in the neighborhood, it sounded a bit grindy, and the rotors had these black streaks on them (picture above). Can anyone help figure out where I messed up and suggest steps to sort it out?

I did front rotors, pads and a brake fluid bleed today on a 6th gen Fiesta. The back are drum brakes, so I left them for now.

Edit: Some air in the brake line was keeping the caliper from closing right. Bleeding the brakes a second time, but with help, sorted the problem out! Thanks for all the help.

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[–] Vingst@hexbear.net 11 points 11 months ago (2 children)

First off I'm not an expert at all so take what I say with a grain of salt.

I haven't changed rotors but i have replaced pads and it was a little weird feeling at first (including feeling like it was wanting to pull steering a bit) because the pads and rotor mating surfaces aren't perfectly mated, but the pads will get ground into shape just by driving some more.

I think I'd drive it some more. If your brakes do fail for some reason, i believe the parking brake will still grab your drum brakes. I'd be wary of using brake cleaner since it's all assembled, I've heard you don't want that getting on pads.

[–] PaulSmackage@hexbear.net 13 points 11 months ago (1 children)

This is basically the answer. As long as the calipers are properly expanding and retracting, it'll be fine. Always service your calipers when you do your brakes.

[–] LaGG_3@hexbear.net 10 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Always service your calipers when you do your brakes.

I cleaned the contact points for the brake pad clips, put brake lube on the caliper guide pin bolts, and bled them - is there a possible step I missed?

[–] PaulSmackage@hexbear.net 9 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Doesn't sound like it, but it's one of those things where i wouldn't know what you missed unless i was there. You'll be fine.

Edit: i think the only addition to my steps that you don't have here is that after i sand away at the clip contact points on the bracket, i spray some enamel engine paint on it, but that's just more how i do it myself at the shop then it is a really crucial step.

[–] LaGG_3@hexbear.net 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I'm wondering if I got some air in the brake line. If that was the case, then the calipers would struggle to compress and might explain the pad seating issue?

Either way, I think driving it a bit on safe roads will help me sort out if there's a real problem or not.

Thanks a lot

[–] PaulSmackage@hexbear.net 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

That's possible. Did you do the brake bleed in the correct order? Typically you start it by bleeding the caliper furthest from the master cylinder, which is typically the right rear one. Then left rear, front right, front left. Air in the system would make your braking feel spongy and have a longer distance before the brakes engage. Also, was it a gravity bleed, vacuum bleed, or did you have someone stepping on the brake pedal while you watched the stream? I do vacuum bleeds, but that's just because i have the tool. Finally, make sure your brake lines in each caliper didn't kink or start to leak. That banjo bolt on the caliper could also be just worn out and need replacement.

[–] LaGG_3@hexbear.net 2 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Did it in the right order (surprisingly). I tried to use the solo method from this video, but I'm thinking the tubing I had didn't seal well enough on the valve. I might try a hand vacuum pump, or get my partner to pump the brakes while I adjust the valve (we got her a new car recently, so hopefully she'll have patience for my goofy home car maintenance aspirations).

I think you've caught the sloppiest part of the work I did, so that's probably the problem (if there is one). I'm hopefully learning not to try too much for one day in the hot ass summer lol.

[–] PaulSmackage@hexbear.net 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

In my experience, i've always had a helper in the shop to push the brake pedal. How you do this is pretty straightforward: go to the first caliper, and tell the person to start pumping the brake, and after about 4 or 5 full compressions, tell them to hold the brake pedal down. Now, open up the bleeder valve and watch the stream. It should be coming out with a nice consistent and even flow. If its abrupt, starts to pop, or in anyway is inconsistent, close the bleeder and get them to start pumping again. I usually do this around 3 times. Pump, hold, bleed. Continue to do this with every caliper in order. Also, make sure that your resevoir is full, and the cap is on. Don't want to introduce any air in the system. Pump, hold, bleed, close, pump.

[–] LaGG_3@hexbear.net 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

There were some bubbles in the brake line preventing the caliper from compressing. Lesson learned: brake fluid is a two person job!

I bought two quarts of brake fluid yesterday, so it wasn't a big deal to keep running fluid through. The pedal was super responsive afterwards and I was able to break things in pretty well.

[–] PaulSmackage@hexbear.net 2 points 11 months ago

Happy to help. I've been working on cars since i was a kid, and i can hate them so much. Moved up to HD stuff and it's even worse lmao. Makes things a bit cheaper when it comes to day to day stuff, though.

[–] HexReplyBot@hexbear.net 1 points 11 months ago

I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:

[–] 30_to_50_Feral_PAWGs@hexbear.net 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, might just need to bed them in. And there could still be manufacturing/protective lubricant on the rotors if OP didn't blast them with brake cleaner before reinstalling the caliper brackets. That should wear off pretty quickly too, though.

[–] LaGG_3@hexbear.net 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I blasted both sides with brake cleaner and rubbed it down with those fancy blue paper towels, then changed gloves since I was paranoid about having greasy stuff on my hands lol

[–] 30_to_50_Feral_PAWGs@hexbear.net 7 points 11 months ago (1 children)

catgirl-salute

Not only did I fuck that up the first time I did a brake job, but I also didn't fully seat one of the pads on its clips. It fell out on one side, and was just sort of dangling there for a couple of weeks before I realized what had happened. I did not notice a change in stopping power because, well, it was an early 90s Chrysler and it never had all that much to begin with.

[–] LaGG_3@hexbear.net 2 points 11 months ago

That's horrifying lmao.

It's good to remember that people goof up on this kind of stuff when they're new to it. At the end of the day, this is just an old second car that can be fixed when I give it some more time!

[–] LaGG_3@hexbear.net 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

My first guess is maybe some of the brake lube I tried to apply to the points where the caliper and pad contact got onto the braking surface. If that's the case, I hope a quick clean on the rotor should fix it?

[–] PaulSmackage@hexbear.net 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

How long did you drive it for after you installed them?

[–] LaGG_3@hexbear.net 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Less than a few minutes. Heard some grinding and thought "oh fuck," and figured it was a good point to take a break for lunch.

[–] PaulSmackage@hexbear.net 5 points 11 months ago

Unless you installed the pads backwards, that's pretty normal. Just shaping the pad and surfacing the rotor.

[–] plinky@hexbear.net 5 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

seems like not full contact either from bad sitting or they are just uneven and will fix themselves. or they don't fully close. (my experience is from bike tbh)

[–] Sickos@hexbear.net 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Think you can get a picture of the calipers?

[–] LaGG_3@hexbear.net 3 points 11 months ago

It's hard to get a decent picture of them with the wheel on. I'm planning on getting my partner's help with bleeding the brakes (to eliminate possible air in the brake line as a culprit), so I'll try to snap a few pictures then.

[–] SorosFootSoldier@hexbear.net 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

b