Changing brake pads on Carrera 4

[brian williams]

Hello to the DIYers out there- just wondering if, when changing pads, is there any special tool required to reset the pistons back into the caliper to make enough room for the new pads, or is it just a case of levering them back in? I have read the section on this in the CD workshop manual and it does mention a "piston back setting tool" and wondered what this means? I know some pistons need to be rotated back in, ios this the case here. Thanks in anticipation. PS any other useful tips welcomed.

 

[Steve Brookes]

Brian, just leave the old pads in and squeeze them back as far as they can go. You can do this with a pair of curved pliers (can't think of the correct name for these). But protect the caliper by taping up the pliers and use a piece of hardboard to stop you damaging the paint. You can buy pad spreaders to do the same job if you prefer as these are even kinder to calipers. Once the pads are pushed right back you can remove them. This should have got the pistons back enough to put new pads in.

 

[brian williams]

Thanks Steve for the information. It means that it's a more straightforward job than I thought it might be. I have replaced pads before on other cars,but as yet I haven't done a Porsche because I've only had my car for nearly 3 years and this is the first time the job has needed doing. Congrats by the way on becoming Assistant Register Secretary.

 

[Steve Brookes]

Since you've done brake pads before I'm confident in saying that you will find brake pads on a Porsche easier than other cars. It took me far longer (and was a lot more fiddly) to change pads on our Toyota recently. However, since this is your first time on your 964 I'll give you another couple of pointers:

1. IF you find that anti squeal dampers are fitted to the back of the pads you'll need to lever these off the back of the pads with a thin blade (like a palet knife), while they are still in the caliper. You can re-use the dampers if they are removed carefully but like many people I've thrown my dampers away and put Wurth brake paste (or copper slip) on the back of the pads to stop them squealing.

2. IF your new pads won't fit, it will because there is corrosion behind the spring plates in the caliper. The temporary solution is to grind the sides of the backing plates of the new pads so they will fit. The proper solution is to remove the spring plates, clean away the corrosion and re-fit the plates. However this requires removing the calipers and a lot of time, hard work and cursing (to remove the spring plate bolts).

Good luck []

 

[Alexander_Drobik]

Agree - it is an easy one to do. Look out for the wear indicators, probably best to change them rather than try to reuse (assuming you have not removed them). I would suggest that if the side plates have rusted and pushing out (they protect the caliper sides) you should have the calipers refurbished, else get new/reconditioned ones. Sooner or later they will bind the pads esp when hot, and/or wear the pads out quickly, else make the pedal push/return poor. Brakes, tyres and steering need to be 100%.