Front brake pad change - pointy

[Stingo]

It was that time - pad time. Said to myself a while ago "I can do that - can't be any harder than pads on a Fiesta". So got some pads off the net, and shiny new stainless steel bolts to replace the cheese like suzi ones.

Right caliper first. Undo the two bolts and lift off the caliper. Scrub off some of the muck and detritis from behind the moving brake pad - the one with the two mucky cylindrical posts behind it - using suitable cleaner and scotchbrite. It doesn't need to be immaculate unless your kwakzzr or cuz in which case you will need to spend three days polishing. Once some of the muck has been removed (I spent no more than three and a half minutes doing this btw), using a large flat point screwdriver inbetween the pads, gently push/lever the moving pad back so that the cylidrical posts move back into the caliper. This has the effect of increasing the space between the pads. Vital if you intend putting the caliper back on.

Now for the hardest part. Remove the retaining pin. There's only one in each caliper (on a K3). I used a small allen key to yank the sonbitch out.

Remove the two inch long supporting pin or whatever it's called - give it a clean.

Remove both pads.

Clean the caliper. I spent about...ooo...five minutes tops.

Insert new pads remembering to apply some coppercrest to the back of the pad. Insert supporting pin or whatever it's called - and now for the real hardest part - re-insert the retaining pin. Bolt the caliper back into place.

Repeat for the left hand side.

Pump the brakes - check they engage/disengage. No need to bleed.

Ensure that you use the correct pads for each side as left/right are different.

Time from start to completion - didn't bother setting setting stop watch but it was well under 60 minutes - about 45?

Front brake pad change.


DONE.


PS: I'm not a vehicle mechanic although I have some years experience in marine engineering so I'm not scared of spanners and the like. Historically, I get a pro to do it. This time - f*ck that - why should I pay somebody else to get it wrong? (I found that the retaining pins were different types in each caliper - not catastrophic but 'could do better'!)

Thanks me harty i was looking for a thread on this the other day

congratulations you did it and saved a few £