Clunk when braking

[Mtnman]

So my car has this "clunk" sound when i brake. thought it was a lot of things, but i have figured out that it is the inside brake pad. I have akebono euroceramic pads. Here is a pic of the problem.



If you look at the pad on the left, (inner) you can see that it does not appear to fit correctly. Have any of you seen this before? Did i get a bad batch of pads, or the wrong pads? Did i forget to do something? Did I do something wrong? Pls Advise!
Edit: after staring at this all night, could I have somehow reversed the inner and outer pads?
Thanks

[danewilson77]

You could have reversed...maybe. Just do a quick disasseble, clean and inspect. That def is not proper though.

[kayger12]

Inner pad should have the metal clips that push into the caliper piston, correct?

If they are seated, there should be no lateral movement of the pad.

[static667]

You couldn't have reversed them because the inside one has clips to hold it into the piston where the outer is held on by a spring. That gap doesn't look right, though. I've never seen that much play in any of the brake jobs that I've done. It may not be the right pad. I'd go with what Dane said. Take it apart and inspect.

[kayger12]

You couldn't have reversed them because the inside one has clips to hold it into the piston where the outer is held on by a spring.

That's what I was trying to say-- thanks, Kyle.

[danewilson77]

Yeah...static is right.....totally forgot about the construction of a caliper...hehe.

There is a round hole (the piston) that the inner brake snaps into with three metal prongs. Did you at any time loosen the guide pin bushings?

[az3579]

It looks to me like the right-side pad in that pic is crooked. It should be 100% straight and matching the rotor, pretty much sitting on top of it. The problems I see here are the shape of the pad and the fact that there's a distance of a good 5mm between the pad and the rotor. That might be the cause...
Compare that side to the other side and see if they look the same. If not, there's the source of your problem.

[billschusteriv]

Also suggest checking caliper pistons for proper movement... compress with c-clamp when you reinstall the pads. Check for smooth compression. Could have a stuck or sticking piston?

Not too terribly difficult to rebuilt if you have some time and tools. Did it on the e30. May need to find a local metal shop with a parts cleaner/media blasting cabinet you can use to clean up the caliper.

[mimalmo]

If you didn't use anti-seize on the caliper pins, one of them is likely catching and not returning to the proper position so when you touch the brakes the next time, the pads contact the rotor unevenly and you get the noise.

[ZSP-Mafia]

Whens the last time you changed your CAB's?