Hawk HPS rear pads don't fit

[sic_mic]

I ordered some Hawk HPS brake pads front and rear for my 2004 Mazda3 and when I went to the shop to have them intalled the rear pads did not fit. From what I understand there are two different types of rear pads for the Mazda3. One type has a clip and the other has a spring. Does anybody know which years have the clip type and which years have the spring type? The part number I have is HB478F.605. It seems pretty much all the websites list this part number for the Mazda3 rear pads but very few mention the alternative HB571F.605 which Hawk also lists which I guess was what I should have ordered. Hawk's website also lists both part numbers as fitting for 2004 with a note to specify whether it is the spring type or clip type. Does this mean that the same year Mazda3's could have either type from the factory and you can't tell unless you take the pads out and look? Anybody looking for rear pads?

[CanadaGTO]

The HB478F.605 is the correct pad for your vehicle. The HB571F.605 is incorrect on the Hawk site. I've sold over 30 sets of these, and only ran into a problem once, when a mechanic was trying to install them backwards (inside on the outside and vica versa)

[WeatherB]

I think the one with the spring at the top are the new types. That is what I used on my 07.

http://www.istop.com/~fbiglar/Mazda/IMG_1648.jpg

[thesober]

I have an 05 and my stock rear pads had the clip, i swapped it for the ones in the above picture, it fits no problems. Not sure why your mechanic is having problems installing it.

[sic_mic]

My Hawk HPS's looked just like the picture above where as the OEM one's the mechanic took off had a clip on the back. Just to confirm from the previous post, it should not matter if the old OEM pads had the clips and the Hawk's had the spring? They should be interchangeble and these pads should have fit?

[thesober]

Yeah, i thought the same thing you did when i saw the difference but once you put the pads in place correctly, and slip the caliper back on, it should be fine. I think the spring is there for tension so there wont be any squeaking.

[karsia323]

It is a well known issue for Mazda 3 built in 2004. Even when all Mazda 3 have the same part numbers for all rear pads from the dealership, the earlier models have different pads than the later year model which share the same pads until now.

[doughboyr6]

mine were installed recently and look like the top set in the pic above.

not sure if its just me....but i haven't found any braking improvements with the Hawk pads, infact, it feels like i'm not stopping as hard/fast for the same amount of brake pedal pressure.

[blam]

I just bought some from tire rack and received the ones above in ceramic. HB478Z.605.

i was going to return the, but if everyone here has no issue installing them on cars that had the retaining wire then I guess I will go ahead and put them in

[Xerox]

I'm no expert but I think the spring allows the piston to hold the pad so it can push AND pull (so that it doesn't rub against the rotor which can cause wear and cause rotor to heat up). The other style with the "butterfly" springs won't be able to do that. I think the "butterfly" springs is just to push against the inside top of the caliper to hold the pad in place (not that it has any room to fall out or anything).

[Wild Weasel]

Calipers do not pull on the pads. They either put pressure on them, or they don't. The pads don't really move except as they wear.

[Xerox]

Calipers do not pull on the pads. They either put pressure on them, or they don't. The pads don't really move except as they wear.

Other than the very basics of the braking system I don't know much so please forgive me.

So I understand what you mean by "either put pressure on them, or they don't" but technically the pistons will retract even just a bit when there is no pressure wouldn't it? If they don't retract AT ALL then wouldn't there be constant pressure on the pads + rotors?

Edit: So any thoughts on pros/cons of clip-on spring vs butterfly springs?

[Gods Son]

Whoa Whoa Whoa. I had a set of Hawk pads installed on my car and two weeks later I kept getting this squealing sound. Up till now I still get it intermittently. So is there the possibility a spring or something was not installed properly on the caliper?

[Fuman]

Whoa Whoa Whoa. I had a set of Hawk pads installed on my car and two weeks later I kept getting this squealing sound. Up till now I still get it intermittently. So is there the possibility a spring or something was not installed properly on the caliper?
FYI: Jimmy told me HPS pads squeal (although, most members here don't have this issue).

[Gods Son]

FYI: Jimmy told me HPS pads squeal (although, most members here don't have this issue).

While driving at low speeds?

[LockOut]

FYI: Jimmy told me HPS pads squeal (although, most members here don't have this issue).
He told me the same thing... but I haven't heard anything. Maybe a LITTLE BIT at light pressure, but nothing to complain about. I think Jimmy was just covering his ass, in case something squealed... :chuckle

[Fuman]

While driving at low speeds?
driving or braking?
I get mine at slow speeds, (I got EBC Reds though).
If squeals exist, then most ppl get them under braking at slow speeds

[Gods Son]

Its annoying though. And I actually have the opposite problem of most people. When I press the brake the noise goes away.

[Fuman]

Its annoying though. And I actually have the opposite problem of most people. When I press the brake the noise goes away.
wtf, pads shouldn't make noise if they aren't touching the rotors.

[LockOut]

wtf, pads shouldn't make noise period

FYP :chuckle

[Gods Son]

wtf, pads shouldn't make noise if they aren't touching the rotors.

Can anyone recommend a brake shop? I had my Hawks installed at a shop out in Markham (McCowan and Hwy 7). I bought the pads from the store (Can't remember off hand the exact name, but it was recommended by ppl off this board) and they did the install at a shop near by. I guess they were never installed properly if Im still hearing this noise intermittently.

[Fuman]

Can anyone recommend a brake shop? I had my Hawks installed at a shop out in Markham (McCowan and Hwy 7). I bought the pads from the store (Can't remember off hand the exact name, but it was recommended by ppl off this board) and they did the install at a shop near by. I guess they were never installed properly if Im still hearing this noise intermittently.
street performance, contact Jimmy
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=17212

[Gods Son]

In case you guys were wondering the shop was Speedtech Performance Innovations and they arranged for the install.

[KenYork]

Just got mine done at Wild Weasel's.

[Wild Weasel]

Other than the very basics of the braking system I don't know much so please forgive me.

So I understand what you mean by "either put pressure on them, or they don't" but technically the pistons will retract even just a bit when there is no pressure wouldn't it? If they don't retract AT ALL then wouldn't there be constant pressure on the pads + rotors?

Edit: So any thoughts on pros/cons of clip-on spring vs butterfly springs?

No, there's really no retraction. There's just no friction without pressure. The rotor is spinning beside the pad so unless pressure is applied, there's no friction or wear.

I suppose if you want to get down to the molecular level, then any slightly higher bits of the friction material on the pad may impact any slightly raised bits of the rotor, slightly deflecting it away, but for all intents and purposes, it doesn't move. There is no mechanism to retract the pads from the rotor. Nothing pulls back the caliper piston or any such thing.

This is in contrast to how a drum brake works, in which the shoes are pressed against the drum when you brake, and then pulled back by springs when you release the brake.

[wingnut12]

Just to carry on the discussion, my HPS are clicking softly at low speeds which related to the rotational speed of the wheels. Above 50k, it gets fast enough that I can't hear it anymore.

1-2 of them also squeal at around 1/4 peddal pressure. My installer says (and showed me) that at least one of them is creating a lip at its outer edge. He machined it back, it sounds like another one is now doing the same.