New discs, so new pads?
New discs, so new pads?
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Cock Womble 7

Original Poster:

29,908 posts

259 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
So, the Caterham failed the MOT last week due to the rear brake pads (they were waffer thin), with an advisory on the rear discs (corroded).

I got new pads the same day, fitted them and got the retest - all legal again.

Yesterday, I ordered some new discs for the rear.

My question is, will I need to get new pads for the new discs, or will the "old" pads (i.e. a week old) be OK?

mmm-five

12,352 posts

313 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
You'll be fine, just do another bedding in process.

Cock Womble 7

Original Poster:

29,908 posts

259 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
mmm-five said:
You'll be fine, just do another bedding in process.
A few high-speed "emergency" stops?

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

242 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
My understanding is if you replace the discs you should replace the pads, not the other way round. I've got a mate who replaces the discs every time he changes the pads, which I think is a colossal waste of money especially considering it's only a MK1 Focus! If the pads are only a week old though I wouldn't worry.

Jimmyarm

1,962 posts

207 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
Cock Womble 7 said:
A few high-speed "emergency" stops?
Just drive it normally smile

unclepockets

553 posts

195 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
I'd imagine at a week old they'll be ok, just go over the pad friction material with some emery paper.

Have your old discs got massive wear grooves/score marks? what normally happens is that the old pads wear the discs then the old discs wear the score marks back into the new pads and so on until they're replaced as a set but if the discs were worn nice and even then it shouldn't be a problem, as I say just go over them ith some emery paper.

Edited by unclepockets on Sunday 17th July 14:50

Cock Womble 7

Original Poster:

29,908 posts

259 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
Jimmyarm said:
Cock Womble 7 said:
A few high-speed "emergency" stops?
Just drive it normally smile
So, a few high-speed "emergency" stops then? wink

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

227 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
CW, slightly OT, I'd look at your brake balance and/or check whether the rears are binding. Sevens have so little rear bias, and are probably the most frugal cars when it comes to pads. I did dozens of TD in my Westy and lots of hard road miles and never once had to replace the rears. Just a thought.

maniac0796

1,292 posts

195 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
They'll be fine, just give them a rub down with some 80 grit sandpaper if they've picked up any marks from the old discs and put them back in.

Cock Womble 7

Original Poster:

29,908 posts

259 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
rhinochopig said:
CW, slightly OT, I'd look at your brake balance and/or check whether the rears are binding. Sevens have so little rear bias, and are probably the most frugal cars when it comes to pads. I did dozens of TD in my Westy and lots of hard road miles and never once had to replace the rears. Just a thought.
As I understand it, rear brakes on a Caterham do very little work. I wouldn't be surprised if the pads I replaced were the original items - so not bad for 40k+ miles.

unclepockets said:
Have your old discs got massive wear grooves/score marks?
The old discs were very rusty on the edges; no grooving/scoring that I noticed. Definitely needed replacing though.

iva cosworth

44,044 posts

192 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
rhinochopig said:
CW, slightly OT, I'd look at your brake balance and/or check whether the rears are binding. Sevens have so little rear bias, and are probably the most frugal cars when it comes to pads. I did dozens of TD in my Westy and lots of hard road miles and never once had to replace the rears. Just a thought.
Rear discs often need replacing due to lack of use rather than excessive wear on them.

They just dont do enough work and just corrode instead smile

Speed_Demon

2,662 posts

217 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
Only replace pads if discs were scored or heavily corroded. A pad clean up is always a good idea though smile