Do the front calliper slide pins need to be hammered in? I saw in videos people just slide it but looking at the existing pins that are on the vehicle, it seems more protruding outwards.
Noticed on new pins there is a sort of tapered collar ring meant to be seated. Any ideas?

The pins exit by punching them in the direction center of the car , a huge force is required as they seize into the alloy body of the caliper . You may need to heat the caliper and / or freeze the pin . Putting new pins back needs just a small tap as the collet goes in . Plenty of copper grease !!!!!

I got the pins out very easily.
But putting new ones in is a pain. Small tap did not work and I spent a lot of time on it. Ruined the calliper paint work by sometimes missing to hit the punch tool. However, the two videos I saw online, none tells you to tap/hammer new ones in...

LOL You are going in the direction of the center of the car to the outer side ? The cotter should just tap in . Have you got LR part No LR 016682 ?

I hammered it in from inside towards outside. I did that part right.

The pins are identical to the ones I hammered out. Used one made by PAIGD.

The only other thing i can think of of is to ream the inner hole in the caliper to make sure its clean and free , maybe a rolled up wet and dry followed up with copper grease .

jackcramerr : Did you sort this out ? what was the cure ?

Hammered them. No other way.

See these guys just slide them in and never hammer... I think they are wrong here...