Installing new brake pads

Wheels_Brakes_3I suspect these pads were original.  When I looked at them at the pre-purchase, they appeared to have about 1/8 inch left, and the rotors looked good.

Removing the pads is similar to doing a car,  remove the two 9/16 slider bolts,  the caliper assembly will slide off.

The pads can then be slid off of the rail guides.  New rail guides and slider grease come with the new pads

There are two pistons on the caliper, so I used one of the old pads and a “C” clamp to press the pistons back in.

Unlike a car, the rear pads wear a little bit faster than the front pads. So plan on doing both axles.  The front and rear pads are identical, so you’ll need two complete sets.   I opted for the severe duty Wagner SX777 pads,  I think they were about $35 a set

The old pads were brittle and flaking.  This is age, moisture and heat. The pad material can literally flake off, so this was defiantly a condition that needed to be fixed (new pads).

I did not turn the disks,  I know there is a good reason to do it,  but we’ll do it next time.

Wheels_Brakes_4

Wheels_Brakes_2In this photo the slid bolts are removed and the caliper is pulled back so you can see the pone of the pistons.

 

Wheels_Brakes_3

4 thoughts on “Installing new brake pads

  1. Enjoy all you show about the work on the Mirada. We own a 2001 300QB. Ours is green. I want to ask about the rear brake job:
    How much did you torque the lug nuts? Can I visibly see how much pad material remains without removing duals?. (59,000 mi. on my unit)
    On another subject: I have disconnected the Onan 4000 genset from the main gas tank because of repeated ethanol gas problems. I re-fed
    the genset with a separate 6 gal boat tank filling with only non oxygenated gas and Marvel additive. If you are interested, let me know.
    I may be able to send pictures.
    I may be some day adding 6-volt batteries and solar; is this something that you have considered?

  2. Hello, I just love your tips, just got a 2001 Mirada with only 20k miles.
    Ill do the brakes now.
    My Mirada is a Vortex V8 engine, would the brakes be the same as yours?

    Thank you

    William

  3. Probably not. My Mirada is on a Ford F53 chassis. I think the Vortec engine is a Chevy chassis.

    1. Hey Jhon I just checked and the pads are good, I think I’ll just bleed the system.
      I do have the exactly same delamination on the outside, I’m following your instructions to get it solved.

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