hello all,
i have a 2010 hhr lt 2.2 with 78,000 miles. few weeks ago noticed a low hardly noticeable squeal coming from front brakes.
today, went out, jacked up the hhr and changed the pads.
i used some wearever gold ceramic pads purchased at advance auto parts.
brakes "feel" differently than the old OEM pads.
is this due to the pads being new? or does Ceramic have just a different feel.
i checked brake fluid resivior, all is well, fluid is not low.
i don't have to go all the way to the floor or anything when braking, but the pedal doesn't seem as firm as it used to be.
it's hard to explain but i figured i would post and see what ya'll think.
thanks!

 

The fluid would have been low before your pad change, that's why you should not "top off" the brake fluid it is an indicator of pad wear.

Should have been ceramic OE pads. New ones will feel different until they seat into the grooves on your rotors. Even if you can't see grooves they are there.

 

ok thanks. no didn't top off any fluid.

 

I had Les Schwab do one of my vehicles with Raybestos Ceramics and the Mechanic said they require and short break in procedure to seat them properly. They did it before they gave me the van back.
It's an important step.

SF

 

Yeah any new pads should be bedded in, just a few good firm stops spaced out so the pads don't overheat. As long as no air gets in the system the pedal travel should not increase. I do notice that the new ceramics don't grab as much as the original metallic pads, but that means they are easier to modulate.

 

ok thanks everyone.