Help Fitting Front Pads - Now With Pics

[2087]

bloody brake pads came today, got the back ones on no problems at all.

then the front......

the inside pad doesnt want to go on and the outside one, although goes on no problems, seems about 3mm too wide for the caliper! grrr

could the caliper issue be that I have not yet depressed the pistons fully?

any suggestions lol?

Oh, 1993 classic GC8 btw, standard calipers.

Pic of caliper closed

Pic of caliper open

Pistons both flush

This is the confusing bit. Does this slide or does the bolt next to the painter part of caliper uncsrew. If it slides its seized, but going by the look of it, doesnt look like it would slide, suggestions?

The last pic, the small bit of metal on the left at the very end has a small 3 mil dia rubber thing in it, does this need taken out etc?

Edited October 10, 2008 by 2087

[johnnyr6]

Has the sliders seized? you may have the piston all the way in but the slider may not.

Johnny

[emoe]

Firstly make sure the caliper pistons are FLUSH with the body of the caliper. If they are not, they will make it hard for you to fit NEW pads.

Ideally, the way to get the pistons back in is to clamp the Hose just after the Banjo bolt, then crack the bleed nipple and push all the pistons back,

this does a few things.

1: its MUCH easier to get the pistons back in without them pushing the others back out!! trust me youll go round and round sometimes!!

2: saves damage to the master cylinder when you push fluid BACK up the system.

3: if you have ABS, you CAN screw the abs system up by pushing the fluid back up the pipes.

You can use a pair of mole grips with some cardboard to clamp the pipe, it doesnt need pinching tight just a little light pressure will do.

You wont need to bleed the brakes either as the air isnt in the system and the brake system will repressure the pistons again. You MUST have the pistons all the way back though.

Once all that is done and the pistons are flush, then fit the pads, use a little copper grease on the edges and backs to prevent squeal and siezing.

If the pads still dont fit, then bang your head against the wall and go make a cup of coffee. then pick up the phone and wail like a stuck pig at the supplier for sending you the WRONG PADS!!!

[2087]

pics added

[emoe]

They are the old 2 piston SLIDER type, there was only one set of pads available for those calipers, unlike the 4 pots that had two different sets.

Firstly, the pistons look VERY rusty although they are all the way in so the pads should have fitted.

Secondly the slider bar, that needs cleaning off, rubbing right down with some 400 grade paper, greasing up well and a new rubber cover fitting.

If the pistons are free, then continue, if the pistons are not free then you need to decide wether to replace, repair or upgrade to 4 pots. I personally would junk the slider type and buy a set of decent 4 pots.

When you fit the pads, make sure the two surfaces on the CARRIER, not the caliper are clean and greased, as from the photo it looks like they are MANK.

and make sure the pads are fitted snugly with the anti-rattle shim in place.

Then you slide the caliper over the pads, and refit the bottom bolt in place.

Then pump the brakes so the pistons come out to meet the pads.

Make sure you run the car easy on the brakes for about 50 miles (thats minimum) to allow the new pads to bed into any grooves in the old discs.