What Causes Difficulty in Acceleration After Replacing Brake Pads?
3 Answers
It is likely due to continuous friction between the brake disc and brake pads, which prevents acceleration. Here are the relevant explanations: 1. Break-in Period Required: The brake pads and brake discs in a car need a break-in period. If the brake pads are newly replaced, unusual noises may occur due to poor break-in between the pads and discs, resulting in noises when the brakes are applied. 2. Usage Cycle: Brake pads are consumable items that require replacement after a certain period of use. Of course, this depends on the vehicle's usage conditions. Generally, during vehicle use, front brake pads wear out faster than rear ones. The service life of front brake pads is approximately 30,000-50,000 kilometers, while rear brake pads last about 100,000-150,000 kilometers.
I'm familiar with the issue of struggling to accelerate after changing brake pads. My car had the same problem recently—despite installing new parts, it felt like it was being held back. After some thought, I realized that both the new brake pads and the rotor surface need a break-in period. Initially, uneven contact surfaces can cause slight friction. More likely, it's an installation issue, such as a rusty caliper piston that wasn’t cleaned properly by the shop. Another possibility is insufficient lubrication on the guide pins, preventing the pads from retracting smoothly. Once, a friend’s car had an even scarier problem—the mechanic forgot to properly install the brake pad retaining clips, leaving metal pieces constantly rubbing against the rotor. Such issues not only waste fuel but can also overheat and warp the rotors. Get it checked immediately: make sure the caliper moves freely and the wheel spins smoothly when lifted off the ground.
Over the years in auto repair, I've seen too many cases where cars lose acceleration after brake pad replacements. Most are due to poor caliper retraction—rusted pistons or dry guide pins causing constant pad-disk contact. New pads need about 200km to bed in, but persistent dragging means installation issues. Last week, a customer complained about humming during acceleration—turns out the caliper bracket was misaligned. Another common problem? Torn dust boots during pad swaps go unnoticed, letting debris seize pistons. This leads to overheating hubs, 20% higher fuel consumption, and metal shavings damaging tires. The craziest? Once found a live wrench left behind the rotor—sounded like a train pulling in!
