The small springs between the back brake pads .....

[Ireland]

I have a rattle under the back of my car for the last couple of days.

I decided tonight to see if I could find what was causing it.

It turned out it's the back brake pads rattling.

I fitted new pads last week and it turns out the small springs on the split-pin on the LHS ones have both broken.

I'll source some springs locally but it got me wondering if the sole purpose of these springs is to push the pads away from the discs to prevent the rattling or are they there for some other reason?

Anyone know?

[VPower]

A motor factor should have a range of these anti-rattle springs.

Yes they are there to keep everthing aligned, not just stop rattle but hold the pads in place so that depending on the design when you press the brakes it all moves together and does not bind.

[SI-PEN]

Clever Trevor sell them...part number JO425 at £6.38 per 4-off (they are called return springs).

Si