Mondeo Calipers... GRRR!
Discussion
So, a nightmare in the making.
(1999 Mondeo Zetec)
My brakes started grumbling earlier, pads grinding on discs. So bought some pads from Halfords, went to my friend's to make use of his extensive tool collection (and garage) in order to change them. Mate lives 5 minutes from work, as opposed to my hour-long drive.
Did the passenger side, all A-OK. Ten minute job, all done.
Went to driver's side, put the socket on the caliper, after some serious effort, the socket slipped, and rounded off the top caliper bolt. b
ks. Got the dremel on it, and ground it down from an ex-15mm bolt to a 14mm. Put the spanner on it, tried again, rounded off again.
So now I need to take it to a garage or somewhere tomorrow, somewhere with the tools and knowledge on how to remove it. (Problem #1.)
Put the wheel back on, in order to nurse the car back home, lid back on brake fluid reservoir, etc. Now, my foot goes right to the floor, and I've got minimal braking. (Problem #2) Obviously, I've got new pads in on one side, and old pads still in the other.
Would this be the cause of the problem? I can't see how, as even with only one set (side) of new pads, there should still be less collective travel in the 2 sets of calipers than with the old pads.
So now I'm sat at work, doing tomorrow's work tonight, so I can drive home (slowly) in the early hours at less risk of getting a tug from BiB, having an accident, or killing myself, and have tomorrow got to fix it.
Has anyone got any ideas why this has happened (the brake pedal travel), and how or what I can do to fix it? I'm meant to be driving to Devon tomorrow evening for a group holiday, and I'm afraid I'm going to let 3 others down.
I'm sorry if this is a bit all over the place but I'm knackered, oily, and a bit gutted. Is it likely to be a £xxx job? (The car's done 110k miles, but runs sweet as a nut and hasn't had this problem before.)
Thanks guys.
A gutted Bob.
(1999 Mondeo Zetec)
My brakes started grumbling earlier, pads grinding on discs. So bought some pads from Halfords, went to my friend's to make use of his extensive tool collection (and garage) in order to change them. Mate lives 5 minutes from work, as opposed to my hour-long drive.
Did the passenger side, all A-OK. Ten minute job, all done.
Went to driver's side, put the socket on the caliper, after some serious effort, the socket slipped, and rounded off the top caliper bolt. b
ks. Got the dremel on it, and ground it down from an ex-15mm bolt to a 14mm. Put the spanner on it, tried again, rounded off again. So now I need to take it to a garage or somewhere tomorrow, somewhere with the tools and knowledge on how to remove it. (Problem #1.)
Put the wheel back on, in order to nurse the car back home, lid back on brake fluid reservoir, etc. Now, my foot goes right to the floor, and I've got minimal braking. (Problem #2) Obviously, I've got new pads in on one side, and old pads still in the other.
Would this be the cause of the problem? I can't see how, as even with only one set (side) of new pads, there should still be less collective travel in the 2 sets of calipers than with the old pads.
So now I'm sat at work, doing tomorrow's work tonight, so I can drive home (slowly) in the early hours at less risk of getting a tug from BiB, having an accident, or killing myself, and have tomorrow got to fix it.
Has anyone got any ideas why this has happened (the brake pedal travel), and how or what I can do to fix it? I'm meant to be driving to Devon tomorrow evening for a group holiday, and I'm afraid I'm going to let 3 others down.
I'm sorry if this is a bit all over the place but I'm knackered, oily, and a bit gutted. Is it likely to be a £xxx job? (The car's done 110k miles, but runs sweet as a nut and hasn't had this problem before.)
Thanks guys.
A gutted Bob.
You don't undo the 15mm bolts to change the pads, they're the caliper carrier bolts.
You need to remove the rubber caps on the caliper and undo the 7mm allen bolt and unhook the large spring clip.
The brake pedal will most likey improve when the pads bed in after a short drive. (unless you've had the bleed nipple open and got air in).
You need to remove the rubber caps on the caliper and undo the 7mm allen bolt and unhook the large spring clip.
The brake pedal will most likey improve when the pads bed in after a short drive. (unless you've had the bleed nipple open and got air in).
Really? Ballbags I've fked up then.
The only way I could see was to remove the caliper, hence the 15mm bolts. Hadn't noticed any rubber covers, but I must admit I thought the 15mm's were the obvious way to go. Once the caliper was off, I didn't notice any spring clips, apart from the clips on the back of the inboard brake pad. Not sure if we're talking the same model. Mines the big light curly version?
But thanks for the reply, I may well strip it down again tomorrow morning, see what I can see - cheers buddy.
(If anyone else thinks anything different, I'm open to all suggestions!)
Thanks once again.
ked up then.The only way I could see was to remove the caliper, hence the 15mm bolts. Hadn't noticed any rubber covers, but I must admit I thought the 15mm's were the obvious way to go. Once the caliper was off, I didn't notice any spring clips, apart from the clips on the back of the inboard brake pad. Not sure if we're talking the same model. Mines the big light curly version?
But thanks for the reply, I may well strip it down again tomorrow morning, see what I can see - cheers buddy.
(If anyone else thinks anything different, I'm open to all suggestions!)
Thanks once again.
Hi yes remove the rubber covers, you will nead a 7mm allen key, check you have one as its not a common size, otherwise nip to halfords and get one.
Did you see any brake fluid leaking at all as it sounds to me like air in the sytem all it could be!
Ive been removing the bottom wishbone, what a pain! bottom ball joint isheld on with a pinch bolt!
i rounded the corners so I got my self an 18 mm socket with the hez shape in side not the splines as the spine sockets can do this. one turn with the hex socket and it was apart!
Did you see any brake fluid leaking at all as it sounds to me like air in the sytem all it could be!
Ive been removing the bottom wishbone, what a pain! bottom ball joint isheld on with a pinch bolt!
i rounded the corners so I got my self an 18 mm socket with the hez shape in side not the splines as the spine sockets can do this. one turn with the hex socket and it was apart!
Assuming we are talking about the front brakes, the spring clip is on the outside of the caliper (funny shaped thing about 100mm long) and the two rubber caps are on the inside.
As you have found, it is possible to change the pads by removing the carrier bolts, if you like doing things the hard way
As you have found, it is possible to change the pads by removing the carrier bolts, if you like doing things the hard way
No s
t! The spring clip like the bent paper clip? Yeah I got them... Will be up at the crack of dawn to check...Cheers dudes, my originally pessimistic outlook may have been a bit defeatist...
ETA
f
k me I'm the worlds biggest norman. I've just realised exactly what you're talking about. I know those bolts (or the covers). I've been pressing on them whilst trying to open the caliper. I just thought they were to protect the caliper when putting it down. I'm gonna go and flush my head down the toilet to teach myself to be more f
king observant. It's been a long, long, emotional day.
Edited by Opulent on Thursday 3rd September 00:14
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