How not to change brake pads
Discussion
My son recently bought an E46 320 Cd. He noticed that the brakes were a bit crap and the discs a bit discoloured, so decided to treat it to a disc and pad change. When he started work he discovered that the bolts, etc, were a bit easier to undo than you might expect on a 14 year old BMW.
Having dismantled the brakes he discovered that both discs and pads were barely worn and looked only a few thousand miles old. The reason for the crap brakes soon became apparent - the plank who had assembled the brakes had put copper grease on both sides of the pads...
Now how the f
k can someone who has enough mechanical knowledge to change discs and pads do something as incredibly stupid? 
Having dismantled the brakes he discovered that both discs and pads were barely worn and looked only a few thousand miles old. The reason for the crap brakes soon became apparent - the plank who had assembled the brakes had put copper grease on both sides of the pads...
Now how the f
k can someone who has enough mechanical knowledge to change discs and pads do something as incredibly stupid? matchmaker said:
Having dismantled the brakes he discovered that both discs and pads were barely worn and looked only a few thousand miles old. The reason for the crap brakes soon became apparent - the plank who had assembled the brakes had put copper grease on both sides of the pads...
:
Well known cure for rusty disc - did ya not know?:
That's hilarious! Good example of 'a little knowledge' and TBF I think copper grease shouldn't be used as an antisqueal backing anyway.
The only place I put copper grease when changing brakepads is the small contact points between the pads and the cast-iron guides if there isn't already a stainless steel shim already in there.
The only place I put copper grease when changing brakepads is the small contact points between the pads and the cast-iron guides if there isn't already a stainless steel shim already in there.
Evercross said:
That's hilarious! Good example of 'a little knowledge' and TBF I think copper grease shouldn't be used as an antisqueal backing anyway.
The only place I put copper grease when changing brakepads is the small contact points between the pads and the cast-iron guides if there isn't already a stainless steel shim already in there.
I've just done my brakes, I fitted new shims aswell as pads and didn't use grease. Didn't want them To get gummed up with dirt. Now they bind a little on tbe rear, worth greasing the pad "ears"? The only place I put copper grease when changing brakepads is the small contact points between the pads and the cast-iron guides if there isn't already a stainless steel shim already in there.
A few years back I decided to do my rear brake pads. I had the pads etc and a clamp to push in the piston and off I went into Sunday mechanic mode.
Pads out and I’m pushing back the piston for access for new pads when I get a fair bit of resistance. Giving it a bit more pressure and nothing gives. No problem!! Let’s get a bar on the handle and give it some beans. Still fighting back I gave it all I could and the clamp bent and snapped clean in two.
Scratching my head I gave my mate a call telling him of the ordeal to which he replied... “ Hmmm those pistons wind in don’t they?”
Cue him laughing and me feeling like a tit . Yes it needed a new caliper after and i purchased a caliper winder tool for future jobs . #bellend
Pads out and I’m pushing back the piston for access for new pads when I get a fair bit of resistance. Giving it a bit more pressure and nothing gives. No problem!! Let’s get a bar on the handle and give it some beans. Still fighting back I gave it all I could and the clamp bent and snapped clean in two.
Scratching my head I gave my mate a call telling him of the ordeal to which he replied... “ Hmmm those pistons wind in don’t they?”
Cue him laughing and me feeling like a tit . Yes it needed a new caliper after and i purchased a caliper winder tool for future jobs . #bellend
Section 8 said:
A few years back I decided to do my rear brake pads. I had the pads etc and a clamp to push in the piston and off I went into Sunday mechanic mode.
Pads out and I’m pushing back the piston for access for new pads when I get a fair bit of resistance. Giving it a bit more pressure and nothing gives. No problem!! Let’s get a bar on the handle and give it some beans. Still fighting back I gave it all I could and the clamp bent and snapped clean in two.
Scratching my head I gave my mate a call telling him of the ordeal to which he replied... “ Hmmm those pistons wind in don’t they?”
Cue him laughing and me feeling like a tit . Yes it needed a new caliper after and i purchased a caliper winder tool for future jobs . #bellend
You'd be surprised how many people do this to their mx5, not realising it winds back with a 6mm hex key.. Pads out and I’m pushing back the piston for access for new pads when I get a fair bit of resistance. Giving it a bit more pressure and nothing gives. No problem!! Let’s get a bar on the handle and give it some beans. Still fighting back I gave it all I could and the clamp bent and snapped clean in two.
Scratching my head I gave my mate a call telling him of the ordeal to which he replied... “ Hmmm those pistons wind in don’t they?”
Cue him laughing and me feeling like a tit . Yes it needed a new caliper after and i purchased a caliper winder tool for future jobs . #bellend
This reminds me of a job that i did in my younger days. I was a HGV fitter in the workshop of a very large HGV manufacturer, the place where problem customers vehicles ended up. Brakes were my speciality, and one day I was given the job on a particular 32 ton HGV artic unit, the model was didn't usually have a problem with brakes. I removed the drums (No discs in those days) to find that someone had electrically welded lines of weld across the braking surface insode the drums, about every 9" apart. Needless to say it chewed up the brake shoes quick stile. New drums & new shoes, all was well.
matchmaker said:
Now how the fk can someone who has enough mechanical knowledge to change discs and pads do something as incredibly stupid?
It always alarms me when posters on here push people to do their own pads and discs, telling them how simple it is. There's plenty of scope to mess it up if you're not mechanically minded and don't understand what you're doing.k can someone who has enough mechanical knowledge to change discs and pads do something as incredibly stupid? 
Sheepshanks said:
matchmaker said:
Now how the fk can someone who has enough mechanical knowledge to change discs and pads do something as incredibly stupid?
It always alarms me when posters on here push people to do their own pads and discs, telling them how simple it is. There's plenty of scope to mess it up if you're not mechanically minded and don't understand what you're doing.k can someone who has enough mechanical knowledge to change discs and pads do something as incredibly stupid? Gassing Station | Home Mechanics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff