Odds are your customers have no clue what we mean when we talk about doing a “pad slap”. Heck, odds are pretty good some of our younger techs don’t know what we mean by that either, and that could be a good thing!

A “pad slap” is a reference to the removal and replacement of a vehicle’s disc brake pads, without performing any additional procedures. The rotor, hardware and bearing assemblies are left untouched. In most cases, you only have to remove one caliper bolt (once the wheel is off) to do the job. This is by no means a professional way to perform a brake service, however, and hopefully no one reading this will be guilty of performing this antiquated task!

At the very least, such a short cut will result in brake noise and reduced brake pad life. At the worst, pedal pulsation and decreased braking ability will be the final outcome. To do a thorough job, every component of the system needs to be inspected and restored to OEM specifications.

In this addition of the Trainer, I’ll share tips and techniques that will help you eliminate noise and pulsation complaints. I’ll also show you how to inspect and service system components so you and your customers can be assured of a brake job that will perform as it’s supposed. In the end, you’ll spend a little more time doing the work than a “pad slap” would require but the end result will be a professional service you can be proud to sign your name to.
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