v6 wagon 80K

I replaced the pads & rotors on the front axle

Before: I had warped rotors and worn pads with usual symptoms/sounds, no wobble.

When replacing the rotors I cleaned a significant amount of compacted rust 'shim' of both hubs.

First drive out, there's a chirp/squeak when the breaks are lightly applied from front passenger side. A steering wobble which is significant at 60mph (I notice it starting at 45, just) Steering runs true, braking is clean and solid.

I took everything off and inspected. Cleaned the crap out of the hubs thinking that I missed some rust and the rotors were not seating properly. This made little or no difference.

The problem is not related to wheels - I first rotated the tires (no difference) and put on two new tires (bulges in tirewall) which also made no difference.

Pads & rotors are generic Napa parts. The holes for the two retaining bolts do not match my mazda. Also, when I try to seat the rotor on by hand I cannot seem to get a happy fit, there's a little longitudinal play around the studs - and, I could be wrong - but seems to be some lateral play on the hub seat. I did not investigate this much as I needed to get back on the road asap after last inspection, if I pushed the rotor on flat and then gave it a little more pressure on one side versus the other it seemed to have a tiny bit of play. I dont know if this is normal and due to dynamics of the small surface contact area between rotor & hub compared to the leverage I was giving it from the edge of the rotor (hope that makes sense?).

I'm 99% sure the issue it not related to wheels or alignment - no wobble before I replaced rotors/pads, wobble did not change when wheels were rotated & tires changed.

Has anyone received the wrong rotors from Napa (or any flaps) when doing this job, i.e. are there very similar parts that I may have accidentally been given? Do any brakes experts have any advice? This is the first time I've encountered this and cant figure out what could be causing a wobble when it wasnt there before and tires/rotors/pads are all new.

cheers!

 

There will be a bit of play in the studs but to see if it is the rotors take the wheels off and put the lug nuts back on and get a dial indicator to check the run out of the hub and rotor and it is possible that the rotors were machined wrong. Rear drums and rotors right out of the box are warped all the time. Or if you have to bang on the rotors to get them off you could damage the Hub

 

Thanks for your help, seems the rotor was machined wrong, clamped a screwdriver to a stand and turned the rotor on the hub, about 1mm of throw. While I did have to bang the old rotor to get it off the hub, there was no perceivable play on the tire with the car jacked up.

Rotor is back at napa getting turned (I bought them a year ago, needed to do the rear axle at the time and only just got to change out the front axle... so I'm out of warranty )o;

cheers!