I've done plenty of brake jobs on various cars, including GM products, but this was my first one on the vette.

My 05 Z51 has 67,000 miles on it with the original brake pads. I removed the old pads and these things are still in GREAT shape! The rears look practically new. I still changed them out since I had the car apart, did the brake job and now have a problem.

When driving, I'm hearing what sounds like something rubbing each revolution. It's not a constant grinding sound, but a pulsing one like something is rubbing a slightly high spot each revolution of the rotor. My question is, what could it be? I don't want to tear everything apart again if I don't have to.

Is this just the new pads wearing themselves in to where they are supposed to be on the rotors? I've never heard this noise with any other brake job though. Could it be the pad retaining clips rubbing on the rotors? Any help is greatly appreciated although I have a feeling it's going to take me pulling each wheel apart and checking everything again.

Also I put anti-squeal on the back pads of all the wheels and the front pads of the rear brakes only. (I forgot about the front brakes, front pads) could this be the problem?

 

First off, did you turn or replace the rotors or did you just swap pads? If you didn't turn the rotors this might be the cause.

Another thing I like to do is replace (or clean very well) the clips that the pads slide on. Then add some synthetic grease for brakes. This will make the pads slide like butter.

 

I just swapped the pads. They are the cross drilled rotors (I'm not sure they can be turned). I replaced the pad clips with new ones so there was no need to clean them.

If it is the rotors, wouldn't I have heard the noise with the old pads on too?

 

Well I figured it out. The pad retaining clips (the new ones) that came with the pads were rubbing up against the top of the rotors (the outer edge). It was all 4 of the rear clips, so I pulled out a pair of pliers and bent them so that the gap matched the original clips, and viola!! Rubbing sound is gone. So if anyone replaces their pad retaining clips when they do a brake job, be sure that they aren't rubbing against the rotors!! It sucked having to tear everything apart again.

 

Good job. I agree with you on not turning the rotors. The Z51 rotors can be turned but if there not warped there is no reason to. Even slight groves is not a reason.

 

I don't know how your rotors are still good! Mine has 40k miles and the pads were just about gone and rotors too. Did all new rotors and pads, and it stops like a beast.