Brake pad question

Miskatonic · 03-23-2007

When putting brakes pads into the caliper how easily should they slide in? Should you have to tap them into place? Also, do all cars come standard with the spacer pieces? When I took the pads off the front brakes on my GT they didn't have spacers. One of the rotors was messed up bad so I had to take one off of one of the other GT's and I noticed that it had spacers in alongside both brake pads.

BQS4 · 03-23-2007

Originally Posted by Miskatonic

When putting brakes pads into the caliper how easily should they slide in? Should you have to tap them into place? Also, do all cars come standard with the spacer pieces? When I took the pads off the front brakes on my GT they didn't have spacers. One of the rotors was messed up bad so I had to take one off of one of the other GT's and I noticed that it had spacers in alongside both brake pads.

Those are not really "spacers", they're anti-rattle plates.

namba209 · 03-23-2007

Because the disc brakes are self-adjusting, when changing the pads, the caliper pistons have to be reset to allow the thicker/new pads to be installed. This means pushng them back into their bores, to allow the new pads to be slid in place. This can be done with a C-clamp or by carefully levering them back with judicious use of a pry bar. When the pistons are forced back in their bores, brake fluid may overflow out of the brake master cylinder. HTH.

73Manta72gt · 03-23-2007

on some of the cheap pads I have used I had to file the edges to slide them in the caliper

hrcollinsjr · 03-23-2007

Originally Posted by namba209

This can be done with a C-clamp or by carefully levering them back with judicious use of a pry bar. When the pistons are forced back in their bores, brake fluid may overflow out of the brake master cylinder. HTH.

My tool of choice for squeezing the pistons back in is a small pair of c clamp vise grip.

The pistons should be clean before squeezing them back in.

Harold

namba209 · 03-23-2007

Originally Posted by hrcollinsjr

The pistons should be clean before squeezing them back in.

Harold

Another good point, Harold. My USAF training has me automatically wipe the polished surfaces with the material used to actuate them. In this case a rag moistened with brake fluid.

Miskatonic · 03-24-2007

Thanks for the help guys, I'm waiting for the cross-shaped retaining pieces to get in at the parts store tomorrow so I can put the brake pads back in and secure them. After that is checking all the lights.

Speaking of which, on the dash panel there's like 5(?) circles that are supposed to light up, some with different colors. What do these indicate?

BQS4 · 03-24-2007

The 5 little circles are two rows, upper having three and lower having two. The upper outside two are for you turn signal indicators, they are green. the middle one is white, indicates when your headlights are not correctly closed or open. The lower row, the left side is blue, for your hi-beams, and the right is red for e-brake/low brake fluid/clutch adjustment.

03-23-2007	#1 (permalink)
Miskatonic Opeler Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Washington Posts: 94	Unanswered: Brake pad question When putting brakes pads into the caliper how easily should they slide in? Should you have to tap them into place? Also, do all cars come standard with the spacer pieces? When I took the pads off the front brakes on my GT they didn't have spacers. One of the rotors was messed up bad so I had to take one off of one of the other GT's and I noticed that it had spacers in alongside both brake pads.

03-23-2007	#3 (permalink)
namba209 6,000 Post Club Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Imperial Beach, CA South of San Diego Posts: 6,054 Provided Answers: 6	Because the disc brakes are self-adjusting, when changing the pads, the caliper pistons have to be reset to allow the thicker/new pads to be installed. This means pushng them back into their bores, to allow the new pads to be slid in place. This can be done with a C-clamp or by carefully levering them back with judicious use of a pry bar. When the pistons are forced back in their bores, brake fluid may overflow out of the brake master cylinder. HTH. __________________ Ron 72 GT 3.4L V-6/T-5/ZF posi - almost done - Just need AC installed. 75 Chevy monza 5.7L/TH350/Auburn 3.08 posi - Next

03-24-2007	#8 (permalink)
BQS4 Southern Red Neck Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Snellville, GA Posts: 6,027 Real Name: Gene Provided Answers: 12	The 5 little circles are two rows, upper having three and lower having two. The upper outside two are for you turn signal indicators, they are green. the middle one is white, indicates when your headlights are not correctly closed or open. The lower row, the left side is blue, for your hi-beams, and the right is red for e-brake/low brake fluid/clutch adjustment. __________________ "Yes, I do have a rifle rack in my Sportwagon"

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03-23-2007	#4 (permalink)
73Manta72gt Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 341	on some of the cheap pads I have used I had to file the edges to slide them in the caliper

03-24-2007	#7 (permalink)
Miskatonic Opeler Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Washington Posts: 94	Thanks for the help guys, I'm waiting for the cross-shaped retaining pieces to get in at the parts store tomorrow so I can put the brake pads back in and secure them. After that is checking all the lights. Speaking of which, on the dash panel there's like 5(?) circles that are supposed to light up, some with different colors. What do these indicate?

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