New member - first of many silly questions - brade pads

[Stagger]

Hi all.

Just joined forum although I have had my Stag for a couple of years now. It is our first classic so we have been spoilt but my wife and I have always had a thing for Stags. Apparently we have a mk 1.5, 1973 so most things are mk2 but never too sure. Starting to work on it more recently so fumbling my way round as it has been a few years.

I've recently overhauled the rear brakes, new shoes, cylinders, handbrake adjusters etc and have now moved to the front. I have removed the old pads although there is plenty of life left in them as I am fitting green stuff pads. With the old pads removed there isn't quite enough room for the new ones. I was expecting to have to push the pistons back into the calipers but there is a ring protuding from the face of the caliper. Is this part of the piston and should it go back so it is flush? It is only protruding about 1 - 2 mm on each side but i need every spare mm to get the new pads in. I have tried to push it in flush but it doesn't want to move. It feels as thiough it is a far in as it will go.

is there an easy way of pushing them in or is that as far as they go? I remembered to remove the reservoir cap.

I'm sure I will have many basic questions going forward as I work through my niggles list so thanks in anticipation of all of your expertise.

Also I would like to thanks two gents from the S.O.C. who helped me out with my hood mechanism at Silverstone the other weekend. I didn't get their names but I think one is Steve (dark blue immaculate mk2 wire wheels mag feature) and I didn't catch the other guys name. Thank you.

Thanks
Mark

[MB]

Are you trying to use the anti-squeal shims with the green stuff pads? The green stuff pads have a backing which is supposed to do away with needing them. Although mine now squeal

[martin]

Are you trying to use the anti-squeal shims with the green stuff pads? The green stuff pads have a backing which is supposed to do away with needing them. Although mine now squeal

Copper slip stops that. Push the pistons back with a piston spreader, or water pump pliers, the pads WILL fit. Welcome to the nut house by the way ! MMMMMMMmmmm, fresh meat. Martin.

[jakesmig]

Copper slip stops that. Push the pistons back with a piston spreader, or water pump pliers, the pads WILL fit. Welcome to the nut house by the way ! MMMMMMMmmmm, fresh meat. Martin.

Something predatorial about that

[flying farmer]

I have found it is not unusual for greenstuff pads to be too fat to go into the caliper, not just on the Stag, but also Dolomites and TR's.
They will usually fit without the anti squeal shims, but copperslip is usefull in the anti squeal department, though not always sucsessful
Neil

[V Mad]

Something predatorial about that

He's definitely getting weird..

[martin]

He's definitely getting weird..

Whaddaya mean GETTING weird ?

[Stagger]

Thanks for the info. I think it is the anti squeal shims stopping the pads going in.

Second silly question is do they just pull out as they look like rings attached to the seals?

Without the shims I'm sure the new pads will just slide in.

MB - do you remove the black backing on the green stuff pads and is there a specific side the backing sticker should be on as they are only on one half of the pad? I actually read the instructions for once in my life but they didn't mention it.

I am already a little worried about Martin (and he is only half an hour away)........

Mark

[Jools Stornoway]

Had the same problem with new pads at the weekend, discovered the pads were very slightly different: 2 left and 2 right. fitted fine once we picked a left and a right. the difference was miniscule in the thickness but makes a difference. A very experienced mechanic friend discovered it and reckons it's not uncommon. I've never heard of this before but the proof was in the easy fitting thereafter. worth checking. cheers and welcome to the stag grinners club. jools

[MB]

do you remove the black backing on the green stuff pads and is there a specific side the backing sticker should be on as they are only on one half of the pad?

The black backing is what is supposed to stop the brakes squealling by toeing the pads in slightly (cyclist will know this). The pads inner and outer
are different although they do seem to fit on the wrong sides but they wont line up correctly. The original anti-squeal shims should have been clipped onto the pads. Are yours stuck in the calipers ?
disk.jpg

[Stagger]

Cheers Jools. Will check the thickness of each pad.

MB - I think they must still be in the caliper as they weren't on the back of the pads when the pads came out. I will try and remove what I assume is the shims tomorrow. Also I now know which way rounds to put the new pads in for the toe in.

Cheers guys.

[jleyton]

With the old pads removed there isn't quite enough room for the new ones. I was expecting to have to push the pistons back into the calipers but there is a ring protuding from the face of the caliper. Is this part of the piston and should it go back so it is flush? It is only protruding about 1 - 2 mm on each side but i need every spare mm to get the new pads in. I have tried to push it in flush but it doesn't want to move. It feels as thiough it is a far in as it will go.

Hi Mark,

Welcome to the forum from me as well.

Re your protruding ring, this is the cage that holds the outer dust seal in place. It should sit virtually flush with the caliper but they are a bu***r to fit properly and it may well have been left slightly proud.

Also, I don't know whether you've realised it or not, but the 'inner' and 'outer' pads differ slightly and you need to get them the right way round for them to fit (although I believe that some pattern pads may all be the same)

Good luck.

Cheers

Julian

Ps Look closely at the bottom corners of the two pads to see the difference

DSCN1448.jpg

[martin]

do you remove the black backing on the green stuff pads and is there a specific side the backing sticker should be on as they are only on one half of the pad?

The black backing is what is supposed to stop the brakes squealling by toeing the pads in slightly (cyclist will know this). The pads inner and outer
are different although they do seem to fit on the wrong sides but they wont line up correctly. The original anti-squeal shims should have been clipped onto the pads. Are yours stuck in the calipers ?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]17004[/ATTACH]

I have a feeling that Mark may be referring to the fittings that hold the seals in place, if that's the case, do NOT remove. Martin.

[jleyton]

I have a feeling that Mark may be referring to the fittings that hold the seals in place, if that's the case, do NOT remove. Martin.

Great minds thinking alike again Martin

Cheers

Julian

[Stagger]

Hi Julian,

Thanks for the info. I think what you suggest is correct as it is a ring that is protruding a couple of mm. I think there can't have been any shims fitted in the first place. Is there any way to get the rings fitting flusher because I don't think the new pads will go in as they are? I will also check the corner of the pads.

Martin - thanks for the confirmation. I won't try to remove them.

Thanks
Mark