How do I change the rear brake pads?

[PrincePhilip]

The rear brakes are not working properly. I tries replacing the pads but can not move the retaining pins. Any suggestions? Also, the disc looks a bit rusty, should I replace them as well? The pads are worn to about half its thickness and the disc is worn by about 3-4 mm. And the hand brake has to to pulled to all the way to bite. Thanks

[steve_earwig]

Good evening, your majesty

The pins are held in with tiny little R clips, they should be inside the inboard pad. If the pins are corroded in you might have a bit of a fight, maybe parallel pin punch time. As your disks are corroded then the sliding pins on the callipers are probably siezed, you'll almost certainly need to take the calliper off to free them up. If they're totally cattled then you'll need to replace them (Pug do a per calliper kit containing both pins). Haynes says the disks start at 10mm and end at 8mm so it's dustbin time, I'm afraid.

While the disks are off, check out the handbrake shoes & adjusters (note where the buggers are & how they work). With the disks back on you'll need to adjust all the play out, wind them out until the brakes start dragging, then out 'til they're not. If you've still got a mile on the handbrake, you'll next need to limbo under the car and adjust the handbrake cables too. Pull the handbrake up a couple of notches and wind the adjuster up until the disks get hard to turn by hand (stuff what Haynes says) and make sure they free off again when the handbrake's off.

Hope that helps. Love to Liz

[mjb]

The rear brakes are not working properly. I tries replacing the pads but can not move the retaining pins. Any suggestions?

I've found lots of brake things need an impact driver and a BIG hammer. Rust and threadlocker means it's fairly easy to need a trip to the dealers for a new pin/screw/etc

Also, the disc looks a bit rusty, should I replace them as well? The pads are worn to about half its thickness and the disc is worn by about 3-4 mm. And the hand brake has to to pulled to all the way to bite. Thanks

Any uneven wear on the discs will mean you get greatly reduced contact area on the new pads

[steve_earwig]

[Noel Coward]Brute force and ignorance go out in the midday sun[/Noel Coward]

[Carpman]

I just did mine, not to difficult but I would get new everything including new discs pads handbrake shoes and fitting kits, and check out the handbrake cables for corroision. When you remove the retaining pins first remove the little retaining clips, then use a hole punch to tap out the retaining clips from the caliper. I would get a copy of the haynes manual as it is quite detailed for the brakes.

I found the Lockheed pads not that good a fit, but others have said mintex are better.

Carpman

[PrincePhilip]

I am grateful for your advice on this matter, I am going through lean times currently, otherwise I would have the work done by a competent mechanic. Just been made redundant, have time to fiddle with the damn contraption. I guess I have to get a pair of new discs too. Great help you people have been, must say, Liz is well pleased with the response, shame she is more into horses.

[steve_earwig]

The same way Katherine The Great was?

[PrincePhilip]

Let me set the record straight: there was no horse. Catherine the Great suffered a stroke on the lavatory and died. We really should stick to things to do with our beloved 406s!

[steve_earwig]

I know, I know, it's a laugh though innit?