Strong Vibrating / Grinding When Braking

[KingPin]

Hi all,
This is my first post to this forum and about this issue. I hope that someone here might be able to help me with this one.

I have a 2005 Pontiac Montana SV6. I recently did a brake job and installed new pads and rotors (ceramic cross drilled and slotted for the wife who likes to drive indy style). We replaced factory with R1Concepts Eline Cross Drilled and slotted.

Just after the brakes were installed there was some grinding and vibration (the vibration actually shook the vehicle). This stopped for a while and then came back some weeks later. It only seems to happen when the brakes are hot. I'll kind of put into point some things ...
1) seems to come from rear passenger side

2) have taken off pads and rotors and reinstalled after going over with Brake Cleaner. Also checked for wear and grooves - nothing.

3)checked over mounting points and checked for play (bearings) nothing noted

4) I thought it was the air ride shocks so shocks were upgraded - no change

One thing to note .. when I put the calipers back on (and I cant recall which wheel it was) one of the caliper pins slipped out freely. I cleaned it and was able to get it seated back in place ...

Bear in mind this vibration is loud and strong enough to vibrate the vehicle and feels like it is coming from the rear and possibly passenger side tire.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[Steelcity]

is it possible that one or both caliper bolts are stripped out and are not tight ? also sounds like you have discs in the rear if so maybe the rotor is not tight but that would do it all the time and I guess you would realize that when putting it back together. or how about a bad wheel bearing ? pretty much guessing , keep us informed

 

[melsg5]

reinstall the factory rotor and see if the problems stops.

 

[KingPin]

Thanks -

Thanks for the replies. I picked up a set of all metal brake pads. Going to try those over the ceramics. However, when I went to take off the locking nut of one of my rear tires, the locking nut sheared off. I'm without air tools or a way to get the remainder off. So until I get my hands on an air chisel or something of the sort I'm going to have to live with the sound.

I'll post if / when it gets fixed.

______________________________

 

[KingPin]

This is solved. After finally getting the rear wheel off.

After a bunch of mucking about I and my brother in law found that on the back of the new pads there was, of all things, a metal rivet sticking up from the pad. Normally I'm sure this isn't an issue but the placement of this rivet against the braking mechanism caused the brake pad to be misaligned against the rotor and cause the vibration. We ground the rivet down on both rear brakes and the sound has all but completely disappeared (still need to do the fronts).

So -- to make a long story short the very strong vibrations caused by a rivet from the brake pad contacting the brake mechanism first and holding it against the rotor at strange angles (apparently).

 

[melsg5]

They were definitely new pads not used and relined?

 

[KingPin]

new right out of the box...not relined.

I'm assuming this rivet might be for shims? I'm not quite sure.