When I replaced my rotors I left the metal brake pad backing plates out because (1) mine were in bad shape and (2) my friend told me that he doesn't use them and didn't notice any additional noise. Big mistake! The brakes made a horrible screeching noise at anything short of a panic stop. I re-installed the plates and the noise went away. I have seen posts going both ways on this subject, so I wanted to add my experience to the mix.

 

Did you put anything on the back of the pad like the spray or hi temp brake grease. i run axxis metal masters without any shims at all, all i use is some grease on the back of the pad and on the edges of the pads that contack the caliper. I've been doing this for a few years and i have never had a problem with noise.

 

Some pads squeal more easily than others but you're right; that's what the backing plates are for.

 

these are on stock brake pads. You could hear it squealing from down the street, when chris came over to work on fds together, i thought there was a dying pig coming down the hill

 

i dont really see any disadvantage to using them in the first place...

 

Unsprung weight!

But I had a similar problem with my Hawk HPS pads -- the OE backing plates help.

 

Anybody have the part # to order new backing plates? The only way I've seen of getting new ones is to buy new brake pads from mazda.

 

LOL...that was the funniest thing I heard all day...good one!

 

roger that. you can't get them seperately.....have to buy stock pads to get the hardware.

 

Actually, Mazdaformance.com used to sell it, but they are no longer in business.

 

33-29Z0-FDZ3 per Mazdatrix's site. I imagine Ray @ Malloy will have them too.

http://www.mazdatrix.com/j-1brake.htm