Home spannering - changing PCCB pads best practice
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I’m changing a set of discs and pads for a family members Merc next weekend, and one area of the job has got me thinking: is there a prescribed method or best practice method for changing pads with PCCB discs?
I’m experienced in doing brake change jobs on plenty of different cars and calipers, and I’m would always use 2 wheel guides for removal and refitting of wheels to avoid damaging PCCB discs. I have all the tools inc (basic type) piston compression tools, but this is the aspect of the job I’m concerned about. Obviously you can’t use the disc to leverage against for pressing the piston back into the caliper, so what’s the factory method or best practice method to use here? Would you remove the caliper completely and work on compressing the pistons with it off the car?
All the back yard “screwdriver against old pads” “block of wood and c clamp” etc metods are fine for an old snotter, but I’d prefer to at least understand how the pro's would go about compressing caliper pistons in a PCCB equipped car! Also any futher tips for 6 piston calipers, would you release the bleed nipple when compressing pistons to release excess fluid and hence stop the other pistons from extending out, or use the method of extracting excess fluid from reservoir as you go? I have heard this method has the potential to damage ABS units etc in some cars?
I know some of this seems basic, but just want to understand what you would do! share your wisdom pls.......
I’m experienced in doing brake change jobs on plenty of different cars and calipers, and I’m would always use 2 wheel guides for removal and refitting of wheels to avoid damaging PCCB discs. I have all the tools inc (basic type) piston compression tools, but this is the aspect of the job I’m concerned about. Obviously you can’t use the disc to leverage against for pressing the piston back into the caliper, so what’s the factory method or best practice method to use here? Would you remove the caliper completely and work on compressing the pistons with it off the car?
All the back yard “screwdriver against old pads” “block of wood and c clamp” etc metods are fine for an old snotter, but I’d prefer to at least understand how the pro's would go about compressing caliper pistons in a PCCB equipped car! Also any futher tips for 6 piston calipers, would you release the bleed nipple when compressing pistons to release excess fluid and hence stop the other pistons from extending out, or use the method of extracting excess fluid from reservoir as you go? I have heard this method has the potential to damage ABS units etc in some cars?
I know some of this seems basic, but just want to understand what you would do! share your wisdom pls.......
I changed the front pads on my PCCB Cayman R last week. The hardest part was compressing the spring plate that holds the pad sensors and keeps the pads pressed into the caliper while extracting the pad retaining bolt. You really need three hands to do all the bits simultaneously.
Regarding the piston retraction into the calipers, I used the old pads and did gently lever the pistons back into the calpiers. They easily slid back with little or no force. I used the pad side against the disc, not the metal backing plate.
I checked the fluid level and after renewal of the front pads, the level was just below maximum which probably allowed for some wear on the rear pads.
The pad sensors may well need renewing. On mine, two had gone brittle and broke while I was removing them from the pad. Not too expensive at about £65 for the pair incl VAT from Porsche.
Hope this helps.
Regarding the piston retraction into the calipers, I used the old pads and did gently lever the pistons back into the calpiers. They easily slid back with little or no force. I used the pad side against the disc, not the metal backing plate.
I checked the fluid level and after renewal of the front pads, the level was just below maximum which probably allowed for some wear on the rear pads.
The pad sensors may well need renewing. On mine, two had gone brittle and broke while I was removing them from the pad. Not too expensive at about £65 for the pair incl VAT from Porsche.
Hope this helps.
London GT3 said:
Regarding the piston retraction into the calipers, I used the old pads and did gently lever the pistons back into the calpiers. They easily slid back with little or no force. I used the pad side against the disc, not the metal backing plate.
Hi, so you levered the pistons with the old pads? How did you do this? I saw a youtube video of a chap chaing pads on a 4.0l RS trackside using screwdrivers to lever the pads back, not something I would be comfortable to do!I Use brake pad spreaders (Amazon £9.45), much much easier, no risk of damaging anything by levering using old pads etc
http://www.amazon.co.uk/NEILSEN-TOOLS-CT2301-BRAKE...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/NEILSEN-TOOLS-CT2301-BRAKE...
Mousem40 said:
I Use brake pad spreaders (Amazon £9.45), much much easier, no risk of damaging anything by levering using old pads etc
http://www.amazon.co.uk/NEILSEN-TOOLS-CT2301-BRAKE...
I have a set of those - but would an OPC or specialist remove the caliper from the hub and then spread the pistons (ooh err missus) or do it on the car with risk of slippage or dropping the tool on the disc?http://www.amazon.co.uk/NEILSEN-TOOLS-CT2301-BRAKE...
Just looking for how you would tackle the job on the 380mm PCCBs
London GT3 said:
I changed the front pads on my PCCB Cayman R last week. The hardest part was compressing the spring plate that holds the pad sensors and keeps the pads pressed into the caliper while extracting the pad retaining bolt. You really need three hands to do all the bits simultaneously.
.
You need to find one of these spring tools if you can find one, sadly no longer available from the original chap, superb thing,.
http://pkvista.com/TraqJunk/Index.html
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