Brake pad stopped sliding...
Discussion
Coming into Christmas I started to notice some grinding coming from the NSR brakes on my 2011 Mondeo.
I finally got around to taking a look and found that the inner pad was down to the rivets, the outer wasn't too bad. It was obvious that the inner pad wasn't sliding sweetly in the carriers - and therefore not releasing fully. It's created a few grooves in the disc.
I bought new pads (Yes, I know I should probably replace the disc too). But they weren't what you would call a loose fit in the carriers, especially the inner one. I filed the ears down on the new pads and they slide a bit better now.
Is this a common thing to have to do?, I've done a number of pad changes on a number of different cars and never seen this before.
I finally got around to taking a look and found that the inner pad was down to the rivets, the outer wasn't too bad. It was obvious that the inner pad wasn't sliding sweetly in the carriers - and therefore not releasing fully. It's created a few grooves in the disc.
I bought new pads (Yes, I know I should probably replace the disc too). But they weren't what you would call a loose fit in the carriers, especially the inner one. I filed the ears down on the new pads and they slide a bit better now.
Is this a common thing to have to do?, I've done a number of pad changes on a number of different cars and never seen this before.
I did wire brush the actual caliper, although it was pretty clean. I then polished up the metal carriers - so they were back to shiny metal. I also ensured that they were located correctly on the caliper. But the new pads still needed filing back to fit cleanly.
Edited by Andy 308GTB on Saturday 28th December 12:36
stevemcs said:
Either the pad seized into the carrier, the sliders stuck (usually lack of maintenance) or the Caliper is starting to seize.
If the pads didn't fit, either ther caliper wasn't cleaned up enough or they are cheap pads - usually APEC.
Bingo. Apec pads!If the pads didn't fit, either ther caliper wasn't cleaned up enough or they are cheap pads - usually APEC.
These were the described as the best choice out of the 2 brands that my local motor factors had in stock!
As an aside, I did pull the sliders and they were clean. I relubricated them & put them back.
OP here... I may regret posting this but I feel bad for giving Apec products a bit of a kicking.
The following day, I decided to revisit my work as it didn't make sense.
The first thing I did was to to compare the Apec pads to the Brembo's that they had replaced. They were exactly the same size. This eliminated them from the problem. I then removed the brake pad clips and checked that there was no corrosion or crud built up on the caliper beneath them - none at all, all good.
I then put one side back together again and the pads sat noticeably better and felt more free. Puzzled, I then switched the pad clips around (i.e. top to bottom & vice versa) and the pads weren't as free. I then looked at the clips more carefully and it was obvious that they had been bent very slightly. On closer inspection of the caliper there is a ridge that pushes up on one side of the caliper that interferes with how the pad clip sits. At some stage in their life, the pad clips had been bent to accommodate this ridge. But they were now not interchangeable - and this was causing the problem.
I'm still not overly happy with this scenario but I am 99% convinced that this is the correct explanation.
I'm tempted to pull them apart again and check FFS
The following day, I decided to revisit my work as it didn't make sense.
The first thing I did was to to compare the Apec pads to the Brembo's that they had replaced. They were exactly the same size. This eliminated them from the problem. I then removed the brake pad clips and checked that there was no corrosion or crud built up on the caliper beneath them - none at all, all good.
I then put one side back together again and the pads sat noticeably better and felt more free. Puzzled, I then switched the pad clips around (i.e. top to bottom & vice versa) and the pads weren't as free. I then looked at the clips more carefully and it was obvious that they had been bent very slightly. On closer inspection of the caliper there is a ridge that pushes up on one side of the caliper that interferes with how the pad clip sits. At some stage in their life, the pad clips had been bent to accommodate this ridge. But they were now not interchangeable - and this was causing the problem.
I'm still not overly happy with this scenario but I am 99% convinced that this is the correct explanation.
I'm tempted to pull them apart again and check FFS
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