Different brake pads?

[Wannaberepairman]

Hello, one day my friend and i were looking at the brake pads, and discovered that some pads have those "dots" on them, and some dont? Why's it like that?
Can anyone explain? Here's a picture too


Thanks!

[Ellb123]

I could well be wrong, but rear pads like that on certain cars will "locate" in the groove in the piston, e.g. where the wind back tool would sit when you change pads.

Or it could just be a locating pin.

[Wannaberepairman]

Yes, but can i put brake pads on a car that requires those "dots" without dots pads?

[Dave Brand]

Those spigots are there for a purpose!

[GreenV8S]

You'll see those on calipers with a built-in handbrake which has a mechanical self-adjuster. The spigot stops the piston rotating in use. If you fit a pad without a spigot the foot brake should work but the handbrake self-adjuster may not. Obviously that's something you will want to avoid.

[paintman]

Wannaberepairman said:

Yes, but can i put brake pads on a car that requires those "dots" without dots pads?

No.

[Mr2Mike]

Wannaberepairman said:

Yes, but can i put brake pads on a car that requires those "dots" without dots pads?

No, it will prevent the handbrake from working correctly. The spigot stops the piston from turning, if it is allowed to turn it will backs off the handbrake adjuster which is why the pistons have to be screwed back into the caliper when fitting new pads.