Brake Pad Retaining Pins

[slimmyreed]

I tried to replace my front brake pads today, but found that 3 out of the 4 brake pad retaining pins were stuck fast, and whilst trying to knock them through I have just ended up flattening the ends. Just thought I would do a post to see if I am missing anything before i drill them out. The elsawin instructions I have printed off just say to knock them through with a drift. Any tips?

[pete2144]

I tried to replace my front brake pads today, but found that 3 out of the 4 brake pad retaining pins were stuck fast, and whilst trying to knock them through I have just ended up flattening the ends. Just thought I would do a post to see if I am missing anything before i drill them out. The elsawin instructions I have printed off just say to knock them through with a drift. Any tips?

Your probably banging them through the wrong way? Never had a problem with mine...

[estrop77]

just had the same problem with mine - previous owner must have bashed em too hard. You can drill em out but let a specialist or Camberley Audi do it (they sorted mine thanks again Rob and Stuart !). You can't risk damaging the aluminium caliper which btw are £1000 each to replace !!!!

[darrenswift]

I had a similar issue recently when trying to replace mine.
In the end we ended up cutting the pins in half then knocking the outside 'half' through to allow better access to the inner half.
You can only knock the pins in towards the engine, so as long as you're going in that direction, I doubt you've been doing anything wrong.
Obviously, my way meant buying new pins, but I now know I'll be ok to fit my next set of pads

[darrenswift]

I had a similar issue recently when trying to replace mine.
In the end we ended up cutting the pins in half then knocking the outside 'half' through to allow better access to the inner half.
You can only knock the pins in towards the engine, so as long as you're going in that direction, I doubt you've been doing anything wrong.
Obviously, my way meant buying new pins, but I now know I'll be ok to fit my next set of pads

[darrenswift]

I had a similar issue recently when trying to replace mine.
In the end we ended up cutting the pins in half then knocking the outside 'half' through to allow better access to the inner half.
You can only knock the pins in towards the engine, so as long as you're going in that direction, I doubt you've been doing anything wrong.
Obviously, my way meant buying new pins, but I now know I'll be ok to fit my next set of pads

[slimmyreed]

just had the same problem with mine - previous owner must have bashed em too hard. You can drill em out but let a specialist or Camberley Audi do it (they sorted mine thanks again Rob and Stuart !). You can't risk damaging the aluminium caliper which btw are £1000 each to replace !!!!

Well I am a fully qualified mechanic myself (albeit trained with BMW ), so I'm more than happy to have a go at it, and am confident i can sort it out without damaging the caliper.

I had a similar issue recently when trying to replace mine.
In the end we ended up cutting the pins in half then knocking the outside 'half' through to allow better access to the inner half.
You can only knock the pins in towards the engine, so as long as you're going in that direction, I doubt you've been doing anything wrong.
Obviously, my way meant buying new pins, but I now know I'll be ok to fit my next set of pads

I think that this may be the best aproach. Did you manage to cut them in half without damaging the pad retaining springs, or did you replace those aswell?

[darrenswift]

I removed about a 1cm piece with an angle grinder and managed not to damage the retainers. The kit I bought with the pins had the retainers in as well, so if I had damaged them it wouldn't have been too much of an issue. I think I still have my old ones, but don't hold me to that!! If you need them, and I can find them, you can have them for free.
I apologise for any double replies that I seem to be making. I'm replying from an iPhone and it seems to be going haywire!

[davejel]

double replies
double replies
double replies, try treble (technology eh, love it!)
On a serious note I also need to change my front pads, and was wondering if pistons just push back in. i know a caliper rewind tool is required for rears, but cannot see how this would work on fronts?

[15ajh]

Dave

you need a tool called a spreader, much similar to a wind back tool but has two "spreaders" instead. works the same way by pusing back opposing pistons.

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... n-spreader

that is a link to one i found but most good auto shops should have them.

alan

[slimmyreed]

So here is a how-to on changing the front brake pads.

Get the car up on axle stands one afternoon thinking "This should only take an hour or so."

Knock one pin through and think "this is nice and simple."

Try and knock the next pin through and flatten the point.

Decide that that pin will need drilling and move to the next caliper.

Discover that both the pins on the other caliper are also seized.

Phone up audi to get some new pins; "they must have some in stock, because this must happen all the time."

Leave the car on axle stands for 2 days because they don't have any in stock. "That's fine I can ride my motorcycle for a few days while I wait."

Find out your MOT on your motorbike has run out.

Collect new pins and start work on the brakes again.

Drill pin,
cut pin in half,
smack pin with the hammer and drift,
drill pin again,
panic because you think you may have drilled the calliper,
hit pin again,
hit thumb,
swear,
cut some more of the pin away,
hit the two halfs of the pins through,
CELEBRATE!

Repeat for remaining pins.

Once you have done all that, you can replace the pads. Estimated time to change pads, 3 days.

I'm doing the rears tomorrow....


Should only take an hour.....

[darrenswift]

Excellent