ok...before you ridicule me and say how dumb i am i need to know how to do this.
i have the Haynes manual but the pictures dont seem to match the brakes i have(except for the drawing). i know i have to push the piston back but how do i remove the brake pads? how do i remove the pad pins that hold the pads in place? is it me or is this caliper just one piece...not the typical "undo 2 bolts and remove top of caliper to get to the brake pads".
thanks in advance!

-jet-

 

4 or 5 lug?

 

Once you get the caliper off (its only two bolts, and it comes off in one peice), move the slide out, and pop the brakes off...Its that easy. There is a pin that goes in there, once you get the pad off, you will see how it goes back in.

Rat

 

thanks for the replies but...
well that's the thing...there is no top to take off. to be more specific i have a 1988 AE. BTW, 5 lug. i can see the pads and the little springs but i dont know how to take them out. these wereon the front brakes. i didnt even bother w/ the rears yet.

 

oh wait...i just re-read your post JRat. you are saying i need to take the whole caliper off? well i guess that would do it...

 

Yep 2 bolts on the back side, and they are off.

Then the pads should come out.

 

on the front brakes there is no need to pull the caliper off (unless you are changing the rotors). pull off those 2 metal springs, then pull out the 2 metal pins. the pads will slide right out the top. (or pry out ) just remember where the metal springs go. (do one at a time so you can check the other)

if your calipers are good. you should be able to just slide the pistons (all 4) back into the caliper with a screwdriver pressing against the rotor. it it takes a lot of force or is not moving. stop! and you should really replace the calipers.

 

Removing the caliper is an better idea in my opinion, it gives you better access to everything and you can do a better assesment of the condition of the caliper.

My $.02

Rat

 

thanks for the info guys!!!
but i'm still unclear on how to remove the pad pins. you say just pull them out? ok, i'll try!!

 

Look on the fenderwell side of the caliper. There is a wire clip that holds the pins in. Remove the wire, then pull the pins out.

Use a screwdriver against the old pads to push the pistons in, pushing just one tends to make the other one extend out farther.

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but this wont work on the rears, the piston has to be rotated back in. Or is that just for S4 4-lug?

 

Your correct. On the rears, the piston must be turned in.

 

I figured, since i just did a 4-wheel brake job on mine...Question.. I didnt see any squealers on my pads or the calipers. Did Mazda design the brakes with no brake wear indacators? Seems kinda kooky to me.
There was alot of damage done to my rotors since the only indicator I got was a horrible grinding sound, by that time, the damage was already done.

Rat

 

what do you mean by "the piston must be turned in" for the rear brakes? i need to replace the rear pads as well.
thanks again in advance for indulging my ignorance!!

-jet-

 

You have to rotate the piston to retract it. It doesn't push in. Auto parts stores sell a little tool that you put on a 3/8 extension and use a ratchet to do this.

 

You might have some success with needle nose pliers. Rotate the piston clockwise, but when all the way in position the notches at 12 & 6 o'clock if I remember correctly. This will correspond with the pin on the back of the inner pad.

 

I disagree, just pull them straight out from the top of the caliper, no reason to get complicated here.

PaulC

 

Jetfire,

Yeah, parts stores like Pep Boyz sell a tool that you chuck into a ratchet to turn the piston in. I tried needlenose, but ended up jamming one into my palm and decided that wasn't going to work

PaulC

 

thanks for all the info guys!

 

Agreed. I have the complete Snap On set, but in the interest of cost/time, if pistons aren't sticking, they'll go in easy. If there is some resistance nothing will replace
the pad with the pins!

 

Just dont pry against the rotors, they will bend.

 

Its only 2 bolts!


Rat

 

Compared to 2 pins?!!!!!!!!

There's no reason to remove the caliper! Seriously.

PaulC

 

I agree. I only take the caliper off if the rotors need turned.

 

The rear calipers needs the tool to push the piston back in, or you can try a wrench for twisting the piston.

The clip springs on the front caliper can just be pulled off with pliers. I believe these V shaped springs are for disengaging the pads from the rotor when cruising. They actually dont seem necessary and may not even exist. They are a huge pain in the *** (for me) to put them back in.

The V spring is not the clip which holds the rods in place. Thats completely different.