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Break pad replacement

Old Oct 24, 2019 | 04:03 PM
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Default Break pad replacement

When replacing brake pads what does it mean to compress the new brake pads?
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Old Oct 24, 2019 | 05:26 PM
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Hey Larry - you have to compress the pistons back into the calipers. The pads aren't compressible. Depending on the tool you use, you typically leave the old pads installed and use a scissor type tool that goes between them and spreads them. If you don't have that tool, you leave the inner pad installed and use a big c-clamp to press against it and compress the piston back in.

New pads and rotors may have specific bed in/seat in instructions depending on the manufacturer. That consists of certain types of slowing/stopping to get a certain amount of heat into the new pads and rotors without overheating them.

Last edited by Ed Ramberger; Oct 24, 2019 at 05:28 PM.
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Old Oct 24, 2019 | 05:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Ed Ramberger
Hey Larry - you have to compress the pistons back into the calipers. The pads aren't compressible. Depending on the tool you use, you typically leave the old pads installed and use a scissor type tool that goes between them and spreads them. If you don't have that tool, you leave the inner pad installed and use a big c-clamp to press against it and compress the piston back in.
So Take the outside pad off and apply pressure with a c clamp to the old pad and rotor?
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Old Oct 24, 2019 | 06:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Larry D Sanders
So Take the outside pad off and apply pressure with a c clamp to the old pad and rotor?
Look for a tool like this at the local parts store. The configuration of the front caliper will make this an easier tool than a c-clamp. With this tool you leave both pads in after removing the caliper.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/w...caAr-pEALw_wcB


Here is another style that would work.
https://www.amazon.com/Five-Bananas-Caliper-Spreader-Accessories/dp/B07TGBN5R7/ref=sr_1_23_sspa?keywords=brake+pad+spreader&qid=1571955079&sr=8-23-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyQTlYREhQSENNS0kzJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDEwNzY3MVpPTEw2QlhPWkRPQiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzYyMTQ0MUhZVTUxM0tLREhXWiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX210ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU= https://www.amazon.com/Five-Bananas-Caliper-Spreader-Accessories/dp/B07TGBN5R7/ref=sr_1_23_sspa?keywords=brake+pad+spreader&qid=1571955079&sr=8-23-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyQTlYREhQSENNS0kzJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDEwNzY3MVpPTEw2QlhPWkRPQiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzYyMTQ0MUhZVTUxM0tLREhXWiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX210ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Last edited by Ed Ramberger; Oct 24, 2019 at 06:12 PM.
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Old Oct 24, 2019 | 06:25 PM
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YouTube will be your friend. One tip, make sure and take the cap off brake fluid reservoir and have a rag wrapped around it. they will compress much easier with the cap off but some fluid may overflow. Don't compress them too fast.
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Old Oct 24, 2019 | 08:20 PM
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Originally Posted by sbo76
YouTube will be your friend. One tip, make sure and take the cap off brake fluid reservoir and have a rag wrapped around it. they will compress much easier with the cap off but some fluid may overflow. Don't compress them too fast.
ok so how do I know when to stop?
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Old Oct 24, 2019 | 08:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Larry D Sanders
ok so how do I know when to stop?
They will stop when they have moved in all the way and are flush. I think you might want to watch some brake jobs online as suggested above. It would clear up a lot of questions you will be asking based on what you have asked so far. There are a lot of fine detail points to properly replacing brakes. It's not that hard, but there are little things that will make or break the result.

Erik the Car Guy will probably have some pretty good stuff. Also the forum will have good answers to specifics. I usually type a search term and then add corvette forum and get more hits than trying to search here.
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Old Oct 24, 2019 | 08:32 PM
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Dont
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The
Brakes
Before
Trying
To
Shift.
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You need to compress the piston all the way until it stops to get the caliper back on with the new pads installed. As mentioned above don’t compress too fast or you will make a mess
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