KWS wrote:

> My '90 developed a "thunk" noise when I initially pressed the brake
> pedal. I finally diagnosed this as my failure to replace the backing
> plates when I changed the pads. The old plates had an impression of the
> piston face in them and, apparently, the location of this impression
> would move around. It appeared that the act of backing up and stopping
> would aggravate the sound as the impression and piston face would
> re-align with a thunk.
>
> Please tell us more about your particular noise, Mark.
>
> Ken

Thanks Ken, I think you covered anything I missed.

Funny, I did the exact same thing on my first pad replacement. The
brakes felt fine, but made a clunking sound. These were some aftermarket
pads that had no hardware, and I had already tossed the backing plates.

I know it is hard to believe, but Mazda does not sell the brake pad
hardware alone. So, a new set of OEM pads later, with all new hardware,
and the noise was gone. I felt better having a new set of return springs
anyway.
The only reason that I used the aftermarket pads is that they were free.
I got a full 2 or 3 hundred miles out of them.

Pat