Just changed front brake pads, now car won't move.

[doorsx11x]

Guys...I just changed my front pads. Car moved fine prior to changing. Now it won't move. Feels like the brake is on. It's not like this is a complicated job and everything looks like I've done it right. Pads are right where they are supposed to be. Maybe my caliper(s) have seized up???? Anybody have any ideas on how to fix? Anybody know how to tell if the calipers are working right?

[BlkdoutS4]

are your wheels hitting the caliper now? i have heard of people having clearance issues with certain wheels after replacing pads...

[orttauq]

Do you have someone there with you? Check to see if the calipers are compressing when someone steps on the brakes.

Also, did you loosen the cap on the brake fluid res when you changed the pads?

[doorsx11x]

Yea...I completely took off the brake fluid cap...I will check to see if they move when I press the pedal. Thanks.

[doorsx11x]

That was a problem at first but I got spacers so it is fixed now. Thanks.

[Audiophyle]

Have you tried jacking up the car & manually turning the wheels?

[mholme]

^He got it "fixed". New pads push the calipers out and they hit the aftermarket wheels. Pretty common.

[Audiophyle]

Says he will go check to see if the calipers are moving, and comes back 2 minutes later
with wheel spacers & fixed the problem?
Last post sounded to me like the car already had spacers put on it.

[doorsx11x]

Have you tried jacking up the car & manually turning the wheels?

i haven't tried it, but I will try in the morning....so each wheel should be able to turn, right? If so, then that would tell me which caliper was the problem I suppose.

[mholme]

Hmm, I don't know, says it's fixed now, but if new pads were just installed and now the car doesn't move, that's most likely the issue, it's pretty common. Unless he put longer wheel bolts in too, that's the problem.

[blmlozz]

^He got it "fixed". New pads push the calipers out and they hit the aftermarket wheels. Pretty common.

All floating calipers work this way. The HP2 is a pretty big caliper.. so it can be easy to encounter this.

[doorsx11x]

Hmm, I don't know, says it's fixed now, but if new pads were just installed and now the car doesn't move, that's most likely the issue, it's pretty common. Unless he put longer wheel bolts in too, that's the problem.

The wheel spacer wasn't an issue today....I figured that out a couple weeks ago, then realized I needed longer wheel bolts and just got them in recently so I am now doing the whole job. So yea, I did put in longer wheel bolts...that's the problem?????? why?

[old guy]

Because the back side of the lugs are hitting the hub carrier.

[doorsx11x]

Says he will go check to see if the calipers are moving, and comes back 2 minutes later
with wheel spacers & fixed the problem?
Last post sounded to me like the car already had spacers put on it.

I said, "The wheel spacers were a problem at first." "At first" meaning not tonight, I figured out that I needed the wheel spacers, ordered the wheel spacers, then realized I needed longer wheel bolts, got the longer wheel bolts, went to do the whole job tonight. So now someone is saying the longer wheel bolts are the problem?

[mholme]

The wheel spacer wasn't an issue today....I figured that out a couple weeks ago, then realized I needed longer wheel bolts and just got them in recently so I am now doing the whole job. So yea, I did put in longer wheel bolts...that's the problem?????? why?

It's one of the two or both. If you've been running the longer wheel bolts with the spacers up until you decided to change the pads, without issue, then the problem is the new pads are pushing the caliper onto the back of the wheel. Just take a look, it will be obvious. If you're doing all of this at the same time, spacers, bolts and pads, you need to look at all of those as the cause. Too long of a bolt and they stick too far out of the hub for it to rotate clear of the wheel bearing housing.

[doorsx11x]

Because the back side of the lugs are hitting the hub carrier.

I can't remember all the measurements exactly, but I think if I remember I added up and with the wheel spacer and the new lugs, there was like an extra 2mm, so I guess that means I need to cut down the lugs so that they are even with the stock lugs plus the wheel spacers, right?

[doorsx11x]

It's one of the two or both. If you've been running the longer wheel bolts with the spacers up until you decided to change the pads, without issue, then the problem is the new pads are pushing the caliper onto the back of the wheel. Just take a look, it will be obvious. If you're doing all of this at the same time, spacers, bolts and pads, you need to look at all of those as the cause. Too long of a bolt and they stick too far out of the hub for the wheel to rotate clear of the wheel bearing housing.

It's definitely going to be the longer wheel bolts because I put my old pads back in when I realized I needed a wheel spacer. Then when I got the wheel spacer and realized I needed longer lugs, I put the old ones back in again. I will double check again but I'm pretty sure the caliper isn't touching the wheel. So I would think though the solution (assuming it's the lug nuts) is going to be to cut them down so they are the same length as the stock lugs plus the wheel spacer, right? I think maybe there is an extra 2 or 3 mm, I have to find all the measurements again.

[old guy]

So I would think though the solution (assuming it's the lug nuts) is going to be to cut them down so they are the same length as the stock lugs plus the wheel spacer, right? .

Correct. However an extra 2 or 3mm shouldn't be enough to cause interference. Sounds like you have more than that. Pull the wheel off and see if you can turn the hub. That will confirm the lug bolts as the problem.

[mholme]

Just verify everything visually to find the problem. Jack up the front of the car, cut the wheel to the side and try to rotate the wheel. See how far, if at all you can move it before it hits something and then check both the front and back side of the wheel to see if the contact is at the caliper face and back of the wheel, or the bolts through the hub hitting the housing.

[doorsx11x]

Correct. However an extra 2 or 3mm shouldn't be enough to cause interference. Sounds like you have more than that. Pull the wheel off and see if you can turn the hub. That will confirm the lug bolts as the problem.

Yea, I think it is actually 3 mm. I think stocks are 35mm then I have a 7mm spacer I think, and then the new bolts are 45mm. Hopefully you're right and it's something else because cutting 2 or 3 mm is going to be a pain.

[doorsx11x]

Just verify everything visually to find the problem. Jack up the front of the car, cut the wheel to the side and try to rotate the wheel. See how far, if at all you can move it before it hits something and then check both the front and back side of the wheel to see if the contact is at the caliper face and back of the wheel, or the bolts through the hub hitting the housing.

I am going to check it in the morning...thanks everyone for the help!

[old guy]

Yea, I think it is actually 3 mm. I think stocks are 35mm then I have a 7mm spacer I think, and then the new bolts are 45mm. Hopefully you're right and it's something else because cutting 2 or 3 mm is going to be a pain.

I am not that familiar with the length of the B5 lug. I know the B6 stock lug is 27mm so 45mm sounds a bit excessive.

Good luck!

[doorsx11x]

Ok guys...it's definitely my lugs being too long. I pulled out each lug bolt 1 turn and the car now moves, so I am going to have to shave off a few mm on each lug bolt. Thanks for all the help!!!!!

[quickaudi]

take the lugs to a shop that has a chop saw that can cut them off straight
BTDT