Help!

I tried to replace my brake pads last night, but gave up before I damaged something... Removed wheel, removed wire clip holding pins in, removed bendy thing, removed pins, tried to get pads out.

Couldn't do it. Am I missing something? One solution would be to slacken off the calliper (thanks P20SPD!) but I couldn't find the right tool so couldn't shift the bolt...

Any advice?

Ta,
Nick.

 

You did push the pistons back in didn't you? Once the pistons are back in the pad should be loose and slide out.

 

Check that there isn't a little lip round the outside of the discs that is preventing the pads from sliding out. Open the pistons out and they should just pop out.

 

I've always removed the brake fluid resevoir lid first then once the springs 'n' things are removed, use G clamps against the pad backing plates to push the cylinders back in.

Et Voila!

The pads drop out.

You could substitute the G clamps for a *cough*Screwdriver*cough* instead.

 

Right, really daft question time...

Do the pads come out towards the hub, or away from the hub?

Assume you're speaking to an idiot. From this admission, you can see it's just about the right assumption to make

 

Nick,

I'll expect some pics and a set of DIY instructions after this

Is this of any use to you.

Stefan

 

Chiark,
The pads come out away from the hub, however, if there is a lip on the disc the pad will not come out, therefore you'll need to push the pad and therefore piston back into the caliper in order to get the pads out, do one pad at a time, put a screwdriver or similar in between the pad and disc, and ease the pad away from the dosc, till it stops, you will then be able to get the pad out, and the new one in, repaeat this for the other pad, and then put all the pins etc back, then put you foot on the pedal, it'll go to the floor, this is normal, repeat until it doesn't, then do the other side of the car, it's godd idea to have the bonnet open whilst you're doing this, just so you can check the fluids not pi55ing out of the reservoir while you're pushing the pistons back, it can, and if it does, you may lose a little paint, if it does spill, you can kill the effect of the fluid with water.
Hope this helps.
Ron.

 

Ron, Stefan, everyone - thanks!

I was trying to get the pads out by pushing 'em towards the hub. Naturally, they wouldn't go. D'oh. I couldn't make 'em move outwards at all, and I guess this was indeed due to a small lip.

I'll get on it tonight, and I might as well take some pics as this really should be simple for anyone

Cheers all, most appreciated once again
Nick.

 

Nick,

Out of interest, what you replacing them with?

Stefan

 

OEM quality brake pads. Less than 50 quid inc vat from AS Performance... Money is tight at the moment, due to the bathroom, and to be honest I'm not a heavy braker as I've done 32k miles on the originals...

 

Yeah, you do brake like a girl

Compared to £99+VAT my dealer was asking for them, those are a bargain.

Good luck tonight if you swap 'em.

Stefan

 

if you dont manage, give me a bell and i'll run thro' it with you.....
alyn - as performance

 

Thanks again Alyn, I will hopefully get around to fitting tonight. The weekend was taken up with fitting the new bathroom - still! Arggghh!

 

Nick,

Can you let me know what you think of the new pads as mine are due to be replaced and at £50 they appear to be good value for money.

Thanks mate

Guy

 

EBC green stuff can be had for aboot £70 IIRC - ideal for gentle brakers - no good for hooligans like me - mine nearly caught on fire

 

Will let u know when they're fitted and bedded in. As an aside, I thought that the green stuff were not up to the task of stopping an impreza and that EBC recommended red stuff?

Anyhow, I'll let you know

 

Finally fitted them on Wednesday night - sincere thanks to all for advice and help . It took me around 40 minutes to do everything and really is a simple job!

Didn't bother with photos, sorry, and instructions here are already spot on.

Initial thoughts are that Alyn's pads are good. Already they're working as expected of OEM brakes, and they've only got 300 miles on them. For 50 quid, they get my vote.

I'll be changing discs and pads in a few months to go for something like the pagid discs and RS 4 2 1 pads. Will definitely document that.
Cheers,
Nick.