Brake Job, Stuck.

[DRock9]

I cannot for the life of me get my caliper over my rotor after doing my brake job. I am running Green Stuff EBC brake pads with Brembo Blank rotors and it looks like there is about 1/8" more clearance needed for me to be able to put my caliper on.

I have depressed the piston all the way using a c-clamp and I have the pads on the right sides. This is my first brake job so I am wondering if there is some sort of trick that you veterans know to help me get it done, I have no idea what could be wrong.

Thanks.

 

[jrichker]

If you are sure that you have pressed the piston all the way back in, you get to do two things:
1.) Pull the rotor off and have the thickness miked. Make sure it meets the maximum thickness spec for new rotors.
2.) Pull the pads off and mike the pads, inner and outer. Use a new set of pads by some other manufacturer and compare the thickness.

You get to replace whatever doesn't meet spec.

 

[Mustang5L5]

A buddy ran into the same prob. Turns out the hawk pads he was trying to install were a little thicker than they should have been

 

[DrMaxit]

Put those pads on a belt sander to get them down a few until they fit. Not the best option, but its free. 1/16th off each pad you wont miss it. Or turn the rotor down like was mentioned above.

--Chuck

 

[HISSIN50]

Personally, I don't recommend sanding the new pads. Breathing that dust isnt great for any one (I used to sand pads back in the day - I had a situation kinda like 5L5 noted. It was a rare car and I had no options). You can end up with some waves or even crumbling chamfered edges if not careful.

Jrichker's advice is right-on. You can wing the measurements with a Vernier caliper if you have to. Your repair manual should note max rotor thickness and perhaps max pad thickness in the specifications section. If not, just as JR said, compare your pads to a set from the parts store. You cant necessarily do the same test with rotors because some parts store rotors are near min spec out of the box. They're not meant to be turned.

Good luck.

 

[DRock9]

Thanks for the replies guys, I sanded them down a tiny bit with a dust mask on and they fit fine now! I just wanted to make sure I could do it.