[reldridge]

Last summer, I did a front brake job on my Focus. I used the Raybestos Nascar Performance pads and ATE Premium One rotors (mildly slotted) from Canadian Tire. About two weeks later, I started getting a weird intermittent brake 'grinding' feel. It's a vibration/noise, coming from the front end only. It is completely intermittent, but seems to depend more on speed and heat in the brakes. The brakes don't seem to 'bite' as well as normal when I get the vibration/noise. I happens more when slowing down from speed (80+ km/h), and barely happens around town, unless there is heat in the brakes already.

I have since re-lubed the sliders multiple times, and it seems to help for a week or so. It could be just the taking them apart/putting them back on that helps. I have checked the pads (still lots of meat, no weird heat scoring or anything) and the rotors (no excess wear grooves, etc.). All of the slider pins look straight, and since it happened right after a brake job, I tend to think either the pads or rotors are at fault. I'm pretty sure it's not a warped rotor, as it would be happening at all speeds/temperatures, and I'd feel more of a pulsation back through the pedal.

I'm getting stumped trying to wrap my head around it. I basically have 3 options I figure...

1) replace the pads (They are damn hard anyway, and I'm not that impressed. This is what I am leaning towards)
2) replace the rotors (I'd like to avoid this, as they were freaking expensive, and are still straight/true, with lots of life left)
3) replace the slider pins and boots (Assuming one is bent and I can't tell, causing the caliper to bind on the hub)

I called NoLimits (performance store here in Ottawa), and Scott has some damn good prices on Eurorotor stuff. It might be worth swapping the whole shebang just as an experiment.

Anybody think of anything I'm missing? Opinions on where I should start? Has anybody tried the Eurorotor F1 Friction pads?

Thanks guys!

-Ryan