Brake pad wear indicator - position?

freebooter · 2 Jan 2016 at 11:12

What position should the metal spring wear indicator go on brake pads? It makes sense to me to have it at the leading edge so that the disk pulls past it after going through the pad but I have seen reccomendations for the other way so that the disk surface passes the indicator before the pad. I would have though this would cause the indicator to dig into the disk causing damage.

thanks

jono_astra · 2 Jan 2016 at 20:19

Orionaut · 3 Jan 2016 at 16:40

jono_astra said:
And now days when the pads have worn down, its common for the disc's to of actually gone past the minimum thickness too. So i wouldn't worry about it, almost everytime pads are changed the discs have to be done too.

Back in the day, when brake pads were still heavily asbestos based, disks just didn't wear out (As I recall, the pads lasted quite well too)

jono_astra · 3 Jan 2016 at 16:59

norm · 3 Jan 2016 at 18:57

Orionaut said:
Back in the day, when brake pads were still heavily asbestos based, disks just didn't wear out (As I recall, the pads lasted quite well too)

Was the braking performance as good?

freebooter · 4 Jan 2016 at 21:45

jono_astra said:
Most brake pads that i have fitted before ( and i have fitted thousands of them) normally go to the leading edge (top of the pad) so that it touches first if its that low. And it doesnt actually cause any damage to the disc. It could put a slight grove in there but the noise they make by just touching it is enough.

And now days when the pads have worn down, its common for the disc's to of actually gone past the minimum thickness too. So i wouldn't worry about it, almost everytime pads are changed the discs have to be done too.

Thanks for the reply. I have gone with that way and it was the same way the old ones were fitted when took them off.

I have done one side this afternoon but I am not happy with the way the new pads fit. They are very tight in the calliper bracket.As I understand it they should be able to move freely. I had to use a fair bit of force to get them in.

The little spring s are quite strong but I also think the paint on the pad backing plates is causing some of the problem/. I am thinking of taking them out tomorrow and filing off the paint and seeing if that helps. Any thoughts?

thanks

jono_astra · 4 Jan 2016 at 22:26

freebooter · 4 Jan 2016 at 22:45

OK, I will have another look at the carrier. I did brush it well with a wire brush and I am pretty certain I got any lumpy rust/dirt off with that.

By calliper slides do you mean the pin/bolt things the caliper slides on? If so I took those out, cleaned and regreased them. The calliper moves ok it is just the pads being very tight in the carrier. I did put a bit of copper slip on the ends when I put them in and smeared a bit on the carrier where the pad ends touch.

I had to go and buy a set of Torx sockets this morning before I could start as I didn't realise it used them. Hence started late and was running out of light. Hopefully get an earlier start tomorrow.

thanks for the help, it is the first time I have done this.