Hi, I'm afraid if there's anything stuck on brakes.

It sounds a lot after cold start, goes away in 5 mins.
Happened after my pad change.
​​​​​No bind when lifted front and turn.

I noticed my 2.4i changes 2ns gear around 5mph , 3rd on 15mph, 4th on 30mph or so. I think it's too tight, might it lead to a problem. What do you guys think? (it's automatic.)

 

which pads were changed - front or rear? If the brakes were binding (ie like driving with the parking brake on) I'd think the car would rev higher before changing gears due to the extra engine vacuum created by a more open throttle. On the cold start, a more common problem is a brake booster vacuum problem - where the engine vacuum is not enough to power the brakes. Not sure about the Gen2s but the gen1s have a vacuum pump that comes on at start up to build up booster vacuum immediately - otherwise you will get a hard pedal until you start driving a bit. So what does all this have to do with gear shifts? One theory is that its possible that you may be leaking vacuum out of the booster which in turn fools the transmission to thinking your just driving slowing thus the slow speed shifts... As far as brakes sticking goes, front brake pads should float and assuming you don't have a stuck caliper or binding pads, the wheels should turn moderately easy (keep in mind you need to spin the axle and some of the transmission to rotate the wheels on a jack (also make sure both wheels are up when testing). In the rear, the calipers have to be manually retracted to insert the new pads and its conceivable that either the pads are binding or the ebrake needs adjusting after the new pads. I'd think that the pads wouldn't fit over the disk if the caliper didn't retract enough.

 

thanks for revival. Rear pads are replaced and adjusted. (too much maybe, I retracted until it clicked.) Front pads are checked and adjusted. (due to squeaking sound.)

What I think is, it's changing gear too fast actually. kicked in 2nd gear on 5mph, 3rd in 15mph. isn't it too fast?

 

yes the changing at 5 and 15 MPH are too early (confusing to say fast) - that would suggest a possible vacuum problem or some speed sensor issue. Are there other indicators like a blinking tracs or up arrow ? Almost sounds like the car thinks its in winter mode (check the switch on shifter) or the tracs is kicking in (ie like a wheel sensor got wacked during the brake repair). You may need to have the car scanned for OBD codes (a high quality scanner is required as not all scanners will read the ABS codes).