retaining plates

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zabo
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retaining plates

Post by zabo » Sat Jan 27, 2018 12:47 pm

So when installing brake pad retaining plates, what to do when caliper notch is 1/4" off?
Doesn't seem to want to rotate at all.
60 beetle
78 bus

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SlowLane
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Re: retaining plates

Post by SlowLane » Sat Jan 27, 2018 4:52 pm

'81 Canadian Westfalia (2.0L, manual), now Californiated

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asiab3
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Re: retaining plates

Post by asiab3 » Sat Jan 27, 2018 4:53 pm

I keep these pliers tucked away in my rainy day toolbox, in case your situation arises. Not that you need to buy them, but you need to get a good grip on the cylinder inner surfaces.

If the cylinder is frozen from moving in and out, it’s rebuild time. Luckily quality kits are available for dirt cheap from RockAuto and with a good HowTo (raygreenwood has a good one on the samba that I can’t find at the moment,) you can do each side in a lazy afternoon.

If the cylinder is frozen from rotating and you do manage to break it free, keep an eye on the caliper and brake fluid level for the next few weeks in case you’ve disturbed any gunk in the works.

Good luck!
Robbie
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Amskeptic
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Re: retaining plates

Post by Amskeptic » Sun Jan 28, 2018 11:55 am

zabo wrote:
Sat Jan 27, 2018 12:47 pm
So when installing brake pad retaining plates, what to do when caliper notch is 1/4" off?
Doesn't seem to want to rotate at all.
Install pad on opposite side.

Have assistant press on brake pedal in a couple of ginger applications to get the offending piston to come out no more than 1/2" (13mm). Now get your pry bar and seat it at the edge of the hub/disk down the opening of the caliper.
Pry the piston back into the bore as you rotate the outside circumference with your flat screwdriver blade sort of gouged into the edge of the piston.
(make sure you have mapped out the direction you need to rotate!)
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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