Opinions on caliper bracket wear

[Fastdruid]

Is it me or is this an unacceptable amount of wear to a brake caliper
support bracket?
(Bloody hard to show the damage properly in a picture)



Its already worn and mushroomed the edge of the pad backs in less than a month (I didn't fit them btw).


The entire (very exciting) album is at
https://picasaweb.google.com/105874487340420316431...

I think it is too much wear for <50k, normally I'd just replace the
support bracket as they're cheap, except in this case it isn't as its specific to the MPS so I'd
rather be really sure before I stump out ~£150ea (base model is by comparison about £20ea).

Edited by Fastdruid on Thursday 16th February 11:04

[paintman]

Any braking problems?
Doesn't look like much of an issue.

Edited by paintman on Friday 17th February 18:07

[Fastdruid]

Making nasty noise when braking very gently, brakes work fine though.

[paintman]

Noises may not be due to wear on the pads (pad being the whole thing, not just the friction lining) or the mounting brackets.

What do you mean by nasty noise? EG Squealing, creaking, rattling?
Has it always made this noise or has it only started after the new pads were fitted?

Edited by paintman on Saturday 18th February 11:39

[Fastdruid]

Squealing under light braking and a constant noise plus feeling juddering through the brake pedal.

Only had the car two weeks, it was fitted with new disks and pads mid jan.

Wasn't doing it when we got it, taking it apart, looking at it and putting it back together cured it for about 3 miles, then it was quieter but now back up to original noise again.

I'd normally just replace the support brackets but it'll cost £400 with a new set of pads on this car so want to be really sure...

[paintman]

How much run out do the discs have? (I assume you throughly cleaned mating surfaces)Pedal juddering suggests that the discs are wobbling.
Anti squeal pads or shims fitted? Pad backs copaslip'd?

Sometimes, if all else is in order, squealing can be cured by fitting another make of pads. Been there done that!

[D_G]

Fastdruid said:

The problem you have is the pad needs to run smoothly along that surface, a divet like that could cause the pad to stick to i'd replace it for sure.

[Fastdruid]

That was my thought (and the original basis for the question) £150ea however!

Normal Mazda 6 (ie non-MPS) are about £20...

[D_G]

It's unusual for this to happen, is it both sides? I'd replace them as a first point and then see how the brakes are then, the fact the pad is damaged after such a short time suggests it is being forced over the lip in the carrier. I'd also replace the pads if they don't fit snugly over the new carriers when you get them.

[Fastdruid]

In retrospect and looking again in daylight the pads weren't replaced at the same time as the discs. Plenty plenty of pad material but not new. I've fixed it by filing in the divets with epoxy metal then making some stainless plates to take the wear as I doubt the epoxy would last long by itself.

It is now quiet and the vibration is gone, I should have mentioned that the vibration was only when braking very very gently, I think it was the pads touching, catching, moving and then as they move coming away from the disc, resetting and repeating. Each cycle pressing on the piston each time and so giving that feel at the pedal.

I'll get a full set of new pads and keep a very close eye on it, if the stainless doesn't work or causes problems I'll bite the bullet and get some new brackets.

Just a shame really Ford/Mazda felt the need to save 20p and leave out the wear plates.