I tried the search but could not find this.
I just replaced my brake pads with Hawks. They work great but after I finoshed, I found I had neglected to replace the V shaped spring that mounts to the side of the pads on one side. It looks like this is supposed to keep the pad off the rotor until the brakes are applied. Is this item absolutely nessesary?

 

It keeps the pad snug inside of the caliper..Id put it back in if I were you..

 

Oui oui. Save your pad life, err... rotor life in this case!

Steve

 

Thanks. I thought so. Man I felt stupid when I realized what I did.

 

Try installing a clutch backwards and see how stupid you feel afterwards.

Steve

 

Say it isnt so. That makes me feel all better.

 

hold revive.

im jsut gonna bump this instead of a new thread..

can someone post a pic of how to install the spring? i cant understand the 2d drawing in the shop manual and they popped off before i could take a look at how they were set up..

 

youll see two little holes in the tops of the pads, the ends of the springs go into the holes with the tip of the V pointing towards the middle of the pads

 

thanks a lot! another quick question, i seemed to have miss placed on of them, can i get them at an autostore or only mazda has them?

 

Mazda parts or MazdaTrix.com (http://www.mazdatrix.com/j-2brake.htm)

Of course, you can't just buy one spring. I probably have one I can mail to you. If you want it PM me a snail mail address and I'll dig it out. Does your car have the vented rotors or solid rotors in the rear?

 

when i went to change the rear pads on my FD previous owner had left off the spring and the pads were a nice wedge of cheese shape. I think you need it !!!!

 

i just cant figure out how its placed either, if nobody got a picture ill try using the explanation above.

 

just use your head
think of the way the wheel turns
so you put the spring on the bottom part of the pad closest to the ground....

 

Go to the bottom of the thread for diagram:
https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-gen-archive-72/writeup-cheapa%24%24-brake-repair-boot-spring-485757/