Auto Zone brake pads won't fit...:?

They won't fit,
they WON'T FIT,
THEY JUST WON'T F***IN FIT!!!X(
Damn ChIndia crap.
Oh, I can get them to fit, after about three hours of filing.
Screw that... Shoulda known....

I bought a set of pads for my midget from AZ with no problems. Take them back they might be a manufacturer defect?

I had same issue. Was a PITA to get pads in. Was having other issues with brakes and had to take the calipers out. Was not gonna put those pads back in!

Called Gordon at B Hive and paid about 30% more then what I paid at AZ for what I thought was a decent set.

Pads were good quality and went in fine. I will gladly pay extra for less knuckle wear. Lesson learned.

Everyone should start a list of the little stuff they'll need. Brake pads go on that list. Then when you actually have to buy anything on the list, order all of it to keep the burden of shipping low. A set of semi-metallic brake pads is $18 and ceramics are $29. But if they cost $9 to ship, you end up paying 30-50% more. But if you also order a cap and rotor or plug wires and points or a gasket set or $25 worth of polyurethane bushings, the shipping price doesn't go up much. Just today I quoted a guy on rings, rod and main bearings and thrust washers. He wrote back and asked me to add a Payen head gasket set and a bottom end gasket set. The shipping cost went up less than a buck with the added items. I know money is tight but getting much locally is tough and paying multiple shipping charges stinks. I even have customers that combine orders with local guys to get everything shipped together! Brilliant. Basil 707.762.0974 basiladams@yahoo.com

You should be grinding, not filing them. I have recently had this problem with brake pads for Japanese cars, and it makes me feel like I'm working on an MG instead of a Honda. I am very tired of dealing with parts that don't fit. It usually is Chinese-made stuff that is of lower quality that presents problems. Given a choice at the local import car parts store, I now opt to pay 2x the price for the Japanese part vs. the Chinese part.

I assume you are talking about the front pads. sometimes it is a trick to get them in but if you have new pads you probably do not have the pistons all the way back. If they are sticking out of the caliper any you will have a very hard time putting in the new one's. Open the bleeder screw and push on the piston in. I'm sure the pads are correct no filing should be done.

I got lucky I guess, with chain store pads. From Bennett Auto Supply, the O'Reilly Auto Parts of Florida; in other words a REAL store. Wagner Power Stop ceramic pads and decent quality shoes; $34 and $23 respectively, and IN STOCK would you believe. (tu)

They're also the only chain around here with LMA brake fluid; they're worth the 15 mi round trip.

Oh, that's copper anti-seize, not rust in the pic hehe. Asked for that at AutoZone - got a "Huh???" It's from Mercury Marine. PLT's part boat :P

Pistons are back. It has to due with the notches or divets on the top of the pad where the pins are supposed to go through. They are in the wrong place and obscure the pin holes completely! Also the radius at the bottom of the pads where they seat in the caliper is wrong. The net result is you can't get the pins through unless you reshape the pads, and even then I have little confidence they will "float" like they are supposed to. The LOOK right, but they must have used a drawing that was a bad zerox of a polaroid of a fax of a correct pad when they designed them.

My friend, I just replaced mine and at first it appears that the notch for the pin is in the wrong place. You have to put the pad in at a 30 degree angle, hold on to the tab that sticks out and then slide the bottom in. You will find they will go in. If you go in straight it will not go in right. Trust me! If you file the pin area out you will get pad chatter, granteed!