Hi,

Can brake pads be properly removed from the front Brembo calipers and replaced again [quote]without actually removing the calipers, for the purpose of cleaning and re-greasing the pads?

Thanks.



Last edited by pld118 on 11th Jul 2014 5:23am. Edited 2 times in total

yes they can..

Thought so on looking at the caliper set up this morning but thought I'd check. Brilliant that diagram too, thank you very much Stan

you're very welcome mate..  ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Since also found a very helpful and straightforward you tube video of someone removing brake pads from a similar type Brembo brake caliper, purely for the purpose of re-greasing the brake pads and so he left the calipers on the Evo as he did this.

It's called "how to change brake pads on Brembo system"

Worth a look if - like me - you've not done such a simple task before.

No brake sensor wire to have to disconnect on the video though!

Should only need removing to replace the discs

The full fats have a pad wear sensor on each axle, front right and rear left if memory serves me right.

When your ready to replace the pads (one of the easiest diy jobs you can do on a FF), take the two pins out and use a pair of pliers to push the pistons back into the calipers and replace that pad and repeat for the other half of the caliper.

Don't try this if you already have one pad out as there's a danger you could push the opposite pistons out of the caliper.

Also keep an eye on the brake fluid reservoir as you're pushing fluid back and there's a danger of overflowing fluid.....very nasty stuff!

You can reuse the pad sensor if it hasn't worn through, but be careful removing it from the pad as they get very brittle with the heat they're exposed to.......and don't lose the tiny steel spring that holds it in place on the pad.

Whats the best way to remove the pins?

Sledgehammer and poor unsuspecting soul to hold the pin  MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

Compress the steel spring before you try to knock it out with a punch  Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

Compress it with what and why?

Once you get the wheel off, you'll see that the pads held in place by sprung steel "springs", these are described in the above diagram as "anti rattle springs". Keep in mind these don't look like coiled springs.

This sprung steel spring keeps tension on the pins, so if you don't relieve this pressure, 2 things can happen :-

1. it will be more difficult for you to get the pins out.
2. Once the pins are pushed out, the springs can "ping" anywhere, even hit you on the face.

The easiest way to remove the tension is to push the in towards the pads with a screwdriver, which isn't easy when you need both hands to knock the spring out  Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

Thanks Alan

#LoneRanger!

I see you were a boy scout!  Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

Probably going to try and do this later today.

Only things that I'm a bit wary of are:

1. Reference to 'pushing back the pistons into the calipers' - Hopefully not much pushing pack will be necessary because on each wheel, I plan to take the inside pad out first, copper grease it and then slide it straight back into the caliper before then taking out the outer pad, copper greasing that and refitting; and as these pads are almost new (as opposed to taking out worn thin ones and then refitting newer thicker ones?) I'd hope that the pistons wouldn't move or need to be moved too much. However, if the pistons do move and the fluid reservoir overflows, where will the fluid come out of and what do I do then (how can I maximise my chances of this not happening)?

2. On Stan's supplied diagram, when putting the 2 pins back in the caliper after taking out and refitting the pads, are the pins refitted by knocking them in from the same direction as I knocked them out (i.e from the outside of the wheel arch towards the inside of the wheel arch) it's just that I've watched a great YouTube video of an American imprezza owner fitting new pads to a Brembo caliper and he knocked the 2 pins out from the outside of the wheel arch towards the inside of the and then refitted the 2 pins afterwards by pushing them back into the caliper from the inside of the wheel arch towards the outside (i.e he put the pins back in the opposite way from taking them out).

Apologies for the daft questions, just trying to understand the finer details before starting what does sound like a straightforward thing to do

Thanks in advance. :thumbs: