brake caliper pad replacement Q

[Rapid Robert]

79 dodge ram van. outer pad on front dr side is down to metal on metal. can I retract the piston with a clamp & just replace the pads or might that make a leak or would it be better to replace the caliper/pads & bleed it out? thank you for your time. RR

 

[Kendog 170]

You can compress the piston back using the old pad and a C clamp. It shouldn't leak. You can always take the cap off the MC but I never do unless it is filled to the brim. Put cap back on when done. Then pump brake slowly and don't go to the floor as not to trip a brake code. No Bleed. JMO. I'm surprised the inner pad isn't junk. It usually goes 1st. Is the caliper releasing?

 

[Rapid Robert]

thats good to hear! the inner pad looks OK. it feels like the caliper is releasing as far as I can tell

 

[Kendog 170]

Go for it.

 

[cudamark]

You might need to machine that rotor if it went metal to metal. Otherwise, that new pad is going to get a lot of initial wear.

 

[Rapid Robert]

good point. it just started to scrape so I hope I can slide by

 

[moparlvr166]

Possible caliper slide is sticking cause uneven wear, time to service the caliper slides.

 

[toolmanmike]

thats good to hear! the inner pad looks OK. it feels like the caliper is releasing as far as I can tell

I'm not familiar with that brake design. How do the calipers slide? If a caliper doesn't slide back and forth on it's pivots or pins it will wear one pad out. The calipers are designed to float. I always used some sandpaper and Never Seize to make sure they would slide.

 

[toolmanmike]

Possible caliper slide is sticking cause uneven wear, time to service the caliper slides.

You beat me.

 

[toolmanmike]

Also, I am not a fan of using a C clamp to push the pistons in. You get no feel of the piston in the bore. You should be able to pry them back in the calipers with a screwdriver or a small pry bar. Any more force than that and you may have issues. Pistons can rust and caliper bores can score causing the piston to stick through it's travel.

 

[Rapid Robert]

I just walked in the door with a c clamp and pads. I will post how it turns out. thanks guys for the comprehensive help! RR EDIT yes it did cross my mind about rust/scoring in the bore. I will know soon! I will go easy.

 

[Scody21]

If you using these calipers for your “race car” you should rebuild the calipers at least one a year….

 

[Rapid Robert]

this is on my van. I do have discs on the stock car & I will keep an eye on em. RR

 

[Bodyperson]

I like to crack the bleeder screw. It flushes the nasty stuff instead of pushing it back into the system. Then top off the reservoir.

 

[Rapid Robert]

will do

 

[Rapid Robert]

pushed the caliper back with the c clamp & it was very hard which I was not comfortable with. been several days now & no leaks & stops well. thanks guys!

 

[4spdragtop]

I always lift lid off MC when I compress piston in. That may be why it was hard?