I'm having a problem that I haven't seen come up on this forum. I'm having a problem getting the mounting tabs on the inner pad to snap in place in the piston. Over the weekend I got a set of Wagner pads. I couldn't press fit the pad by hand. I tried starting one side and using a screwdriver to get the other side to go in. I finally resorted to using a C-clamp to GENTLY press fit the pad. This resulted in bending the tabs and breaking one of them when I tried to bend them back into original position. I returned them and got a set of Bendix Titanum Metallic (which I see are highly regarded here). I was given a set of MKD762's and told they were for my 2000. I see here I was given the wrong part. I went ahead to see if they would at least fit within the piston but it looks like they are to widely spaced. My shop manual only says to insert the tabs but gives no tips on how to do this. Is there a trick I'm missing? Just last week I replaced the pads on my wife's ZX-2 without any problems so this is very annoying. Please help.
There is no trick. Sometimes they are hard to get started. I find it helpful to lightly lubricate (caliper grease) the fattest part of the prongs so they tend to slip more smoothly once they get started. I positon the pad as evenly as possible and apply pressure with my thumbs to get them to insert into the piston.
I just got one edge started like 1/4 inch, then maneuvered the other side in with a screwdriver while pushing the pad into the piston. Worked about as well as I could figure.
-Chris
2000 SE Sport V6 5spd
(all stock except for EO brakes)
The MKD 762's are for the 98 only. You'd think after 7 years they would've figured that out and updated the brake catalog - but no.
The 98.5's and up all use the standard Contour pad, the MKD648
2000 SVT Turbo 295hp/269ftlb@12psi
#1 for Bendix Brakes Kits!
Knuckles rebuilt w/new bearings $55
AUSSIE ENDLINKS $70
Gutted pre-cats $80/set
A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine!
Are you removing the retaining spring clip from the outside of the caliper before trying to install the innner pad? Just last week I replaced the pads on my '96 SE and was having a difficult time with the inner pad until I removed the retainng clip. After that it was a snap.
Damn, it's amazing how easy something is when you have the right parts. The mkd648's went on as smooth as butter. I will admit I am glad I'm a fairly big guy when it came time to reinstall the retaining clip. Two auto parts stores looked up my car in their systems (including one where DemonSVT used to work) and gave me the wrong parts. I guess I'll need to start taking old parts with me when I get new ones to compare against and not trust that I'm being given the right parts by the counter guys.
