OK, here it is, I put new front pads on the 2003 Kia Rio tonight. This had to have been the easiest brake job ever, went together just great, it was easy to compress the piston in the caliper to fit the new pads, all was good...until I drove it. They smell hot and feel like both are sticking. Both wheels are hot to the touch after a 25 mile drive. It stops straight and I don't feel any fade. What the hell's wrong and what can I do about it?

The thing that's throwing me is that the calipers felt great, the pistons were probably the easiest to retract of any I've ever done.

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

Make sure the pads aren't too thick and binding against the rotor. Did you get the parts from the dealer?

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

They're Wagner, from O'Reilly's and they slid right on. I THINK it's the same brand I used the last time...the car has 120xxx miles on it and this is the 2nd set of front brakes...rears are factory and are 1/2 worn.

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

I had one car (van actually) that overheated and ate through brakes until I finally went and replaced both front calipers. I never found a good explanation for why that would be, I just ran out of possible culprits.

Is the fluid level normal?

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

The fluid level is a little above the full mark, I wonder if it would help to siphon a bit off the top.

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

It was well below full on the old pads, the new pads pumped it way up

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

Jack up the front end and spin the wheels - do they drag?

Step on the brake pedal a couple of times and then respin the wheel - is there any change?

THE PROBLEM

Kia brakes have shown numerous problems, leading to frequent repair, inconvenience, safety concerns and other problems. There have been over 250 Kia brake complaints submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Admninistration

CAUSES

At least two causes or defects have been identified. First, the brake pads have shown excessive wear and there is a service bulletin dealing with the material used in the pad. Secondly, the brake height specifics given to non OEM suppliers appears to be incorrect, leading to excessive wear.

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BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

We have an earlier Kia ('99) and there were problems with rotors wearing and warping. The problem was fixed with redesigned rotors and pads, and since then there haven't been any issues. You 'should' be in good shape with a 2003.

I'm a strong advocate of buying OEM brake pads from the dealer.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

It was not. I have an 02 Rio POS. It had a bad vibration since just after new. The ******* dealer skimmed the rotors but said they were fine. Damm thing vibrated badly at highway speeds and felt like you were firing a machine gun whenever you braked. Finally got so bad I had the local Firestone shop replace the rotors nad put new pads on Saturday. So far so good. At least the awful vibration is gone. As far as I'm concerned Kia is **** and the least money sent their way for any reason the better.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S