This is about a 2001 Chevy Malibu base's brakes..

[MaraSport]

A friend of mine has a 2001 chevy malibu... She has replaced the rotors and the pads a month a go and now she has the caliper hitting the rotor but the pads and the rotor are okay but the rotor and caliper didn't seem to be contacting each other but now they are... What is wrong and how might she fix it...?

thanks...

[MaraSport]

Come on yal... Someone has to have a solution to this... Because since she has gotten the car... She has gone through brake pads and rotors like a baby that loves to drink milk...

So I would at least like to help her...

Thanks...

[fastTa]

Re: This is about a 2001 Chevy Malibu base's brakes..

Originally posted by MaraSport
A friend of mine has a 2001 chevy malibu... She has replaced the rotors and the pads a month a go and now she has the caliper hitting the rotor but the pads and the rotor are okay but the rotor and caliper didn't seem to be contacting each other but now they are... What is wrong and how might she fix it...?

thanks...

I would like to help but that doesn't make sense. How can the caliper be rubbing the rotor with new pads?

[Detroit_Bird]

Can you post a pic?

Did whoever changed the brakes make sure the rotor was the same size as the old one? I would think this would be noticed immedieately, but I guess you could force a larger rotor on and have it rub the inside of the caliper.

[fastTa]

Originally posted by Detroit_Bird
Can you post a pic?

Did whoever changed the brakes make sure the rotor was the same size as the old one? I would think this would be noticed immedieately, but I guess you could force a larger rotor on and have it rub the inside of the caliper.

Would a larger rotor be able to even have the same lug pattern?

[MaraSport]

The people that changed the brakes and all... Well they didn't bolt the caliper up right and the bolt fell out yesterday and this morning we are having a friend with a Torque rench torque it up there properly...

Thanks yal... Though for trying...

[pete]

Whatever was replaced, may not have been re-assembled properly, or incorrect parts were used. A bolt comming loose is NOT a good sign that they knew what they were doing.

If its been eating pads and rotors, possibly the caliper or the piston in the caliper is "hanging up".

Brakes are sorta important (if you want to stop), if you cann't get them right, you should take it to another shop ...... or if all else fails...... the dealer.

[Rob]

I have a 2000 Malibu LS and can tell you the front brakes wear out in less than 25K miles. Figure 20K miles should be the max life out of the pads.

When it was still under warranty, I had the rotors replaced once and pads replaced 3 times before 36K miles. Aftermarket pads last longer than original pads but they dust more.

The drums and shoes have no wear at all at 100K miles. So most/all the braking occurs from the front. Guess that's why they wear so fast.