What are guide pins on brakes?

What are guide pins on brakes?

The brake caliper guide pins are two round metal pins on each brake caliper where the brake piston assembly sits. They’re called guide pins because they’re responsible for guiding the proper angle for how the brake pad meets the disc. If the caliper is not free to move, the culprit might be bent or binding guide pins.

What happens if you hang your brake caliper by the hose?

10. Hanging the brake caliper by the hose: Nothing is more painful than to watch a brake caliper do a bungee jump from a control arm or knuckle and watch it dangle by the brake hose. This can cause damage to internal structure of the hose that can cause a soft pedal or a rupture. What was your biggest mistake while doing a brake job?

Can a caliper be installed upside down on a car?

Be gentle! 8. Installing a caliper upside down: Nothing is worse than going to bleed a new set of calipers on a vehicle, only to find the bleeders are on the bottom of the caliper and not the top. The bleeder needs to be at the top of the caliper to remove all the air.

How are pistons pushed back into the caliper?

Most pistons need to be pushed back into the caliper in order to accommodate the new rotor and brake pad. I use a large c clamp. On one brake job I found the Pistons didn’t push back in at all. They “screwed” back in. That was a first. I believe it was on a 80s Pontiac.

What’s the worst mistake you can make with a caliper?

It is a rookie mistake to go nuts on these bolts and break the heads off. Typically these bolts require only 25- to 35-ft/lbs of torque. Be gentle! 8. Installing a caliper upside down: Nothing is worse than going to bleed a new set of calipers on a vehicle, only to find the bleeders are on the bottom of the caliper and not the top.

Where are the guide pins on a caliper?

The caliper guide pins are two round metal pins on each brake caliper where the brake piston assembly sits. They’re called guide pins because they’re responsible for guiding the proper angle for how the brake pad meets the rotor.

Where does the caliper go on a disc brake?

First, let’s talk about brake calipers and what they do. On a disc-brake-equipped car, the caliper sits over the brake rotor (the circular metal disk inside your wheel) like a clamp. Inside the caliper is a brake pad, a small block of friction material backed with a metal plate.

What to do if your brake caliper pins are stuck?

Also, the pins could be stuck in the rotor or they won’t go in all the way after the pads have been replaced. The pins should be easy to take out with a screwdriver and a few light taps from a hammer. Caliper pin removal tools are also available at auto parts stores.

Can you put guide pins back in brake pads?

From there, you can re-insert the pins back into the caliper housing. They should slide right in if you used enough grease. Once those are back in place, you can complete the rest of your brake work — like replacing the pads and reinstalling the caliper.