crud.
I didn't see that mentioned ONCE in the 5+ youtube videos I watched of people doing the front pads.
So, no, I didn't do that.
Hope it's not a problem.
Have only driven it a day since the job, but haven't heard any noise yet.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
No, not a problem if you didn't use any disc brake quiet on the fronts and I'm pretty sure those retainer clips on the front help keep them from squeaking or rattling around. You should be good to go. The rears could use a spraying of disc brake quiet.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>again...crud!
That wasn't in anyone's videos either so I didn't even know about that.
They just removed the wheels, removed the old pads, compressed the pistons (after opening the brake fluid reservoir under the hood, installed new pads and put the wheels back on.
So that's what I did.
Is it important enough that I should (groan) take the front pads back off and add the grease while doing the rear pads?
(please say no, please say no, please say no)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
You are probably okay for now on pulling off the front pads and greasing the slide pins(get them next time) but greasing the caliper slide pins is an important thing to do, because if they dry out enough from lack of greasing, they can "freeze or stick" in place, such as one pin remaining closed (braking) and the other slid back open after applying brake pressure. What this can cause is your pads to wear down on angle, one side wearing out faster than the other. The side of the pad with the frozen pin will keep pressure against the rotor and wear that side of the pad out quickly. I had this happen on my Explorer right after I bought it a year ago on one of the rear pads. It will happen on the inner pad because that is the side the caliper pins and piston are on and the pad they push against when braking. It will also cause your rotor and rim to heat up quite a bit and you may see steam coming from it if it is snowing or raining out if this ever happens. The rim may be hot to the touch as well. Frozen calipers do this as well. I heard mine siziling after a drive to Niagara falls, 22 miles. When I pulled the wheel the next day, I could see the one side of the pad was more worn out than the other side, burnt and scarred from over heating. I replaced the pads and bought a new slide pin kit and re-greased everything. Been fine since. BTW, the slide pins pull or pop right out of those rubber boots they sit in, clean the old grease or rust off of them, re-grease(they sell caliper pin grease) and re-install seating them in the rubber boots at those little grooves on the ends of the pins. Takes only a few minutes. If the pins are really rusted up, buy a new caliper slide pin kit. Good luck.