I have an 08 type s, I'm in the process of replacing the brake and rotors, but I can't seem to take off my front brake calipers.

I've removed 2 of the 19mm bolts on the caliper but the damn thing won't come off. It's like something else is holding it on there. I tried knocking it a few times with a rubber mallet but nope. Am I missing a bolt or something?

I actually tried the other side and it's the same thing, removed both 19mm bolts holding the caliper, and still can't take it off.

Any help would be great


​​​​​​UPDATE: so I removed the two phillips screws in the front of the rotor and I can remove the rotor, but the caliper is still stuck on the rotor somehow. I can slide the calipers around on the rotor but it won't come off. I feel like I'm missing a bolt or something, but the videos I watched only shows the removal of the two 19mm bolts on the back of the rotor. ​​​​​​

 

Did you take the brake pads out first?

 

No, I haven't yet.


I watched this video, and at the 9:50ish mark he's only removed the two 19mm then able to lift up the caliper to then remove the pads.

 

Most likely rotor has grove on the edge preventing the pads from sliding out.

When dealing with this type of brakes, I like to use screw driver to slightly push pistons back. then take out the pads, and then remove the caliper.
Much easier to deal with pins and springs when caliper is firmly attached to the car, than to deal with them with caliper hanging somewhere.

I usually stick flat screw driver between pad and rotor, along top and bottom edge of the pad, where brake material ends. Works well if you have a bit of brake pad left.

Like here from 5:20:

 

Hmm interesting. I'll give it another shot tomorrow and see how it goes. Thanks !

 

There are 2 bolts per caliper, and from your description I honestly can't even imagine what you are describing lol. And you took out the slider pins?

 

Agreed. Please upload some pictures so we know what you're talking about.

 

Yes, I took off the two 19mm bolts on each caliper. There are 4 allen key bolts that I did not take off. Also not sure if there are slider pins on the brembo calipers. I checked yesterday because I got some grease for that very thing, but didn't see them.

I'll upload some pictures, but not really sure what it'll accomplish, there's not much else back there to remove other than those 2 bolts and the 4 Allen key bolts.

 

Yeah makes sense that it would be a grooved rotor keeping the caliper from sliding out. The flathead screwdriver should fix this if this is the issue.

 

Yeah, going to try again today on my lunch break.

Here are the pictures:



It looks like the caliper is coming off, but it's just stuck to the rotor which is what's coming off the wheel hub.

Also, I took a few pictures of the front of the rotor, and I'm no mechanic, but they don't seem to be TOO grooved to the point where I wouldn't be able to remove the calipers.

 

Can you spin the wheel by hand? Use the screw driver and be done

 

what i do is i punch out the slide pins that keep the brake pads attached to the brake caliper and then they remove fairly easily.

 

Did you take the bolt that holds the brake line out? You know, the line that comes out from the middle rear of the caliper, and then connects to the rubber hose, and goes further towards the car.

You can also turn the wheel so it's easier to see the pins and bolts. Especially when working on the ground.

 

The bolt in the middle of the first picture? No, I thought that would cause brake fluid to leak or something, so I didn't remove it.

 

You don't want to undo the brake line, just the bracket that holds the line to the knuckle. Sorry guess my wording wasn't precise.
The red arrow in the right top.

 

Gotcha, thanks. Removing that just gives the caliper more slack once I take it off the rotor to prop up on the hub right?

 

Yes. Safest way would be to hang the caliper from the upper control arm or shock absorber, so it can't slip and fall down.

I like to use caliper hooks, but bungee cord will also work.

 

So, finally got the calipers off. You guys were right, had to punch out the 2 pins on the caliper, use a flat head screwdriver to compress the pistons on one side of the caliper, remove the pads, and the caliper came off the rotor finally.

 

Hate to turn this into a how to change your brake pads thread, but for some reason my pads won't fit back into the calipers even with a little help from a mallet. All four pistons are compressed, and i'm still having trouble fitting one pad in.

The rotors I bought were these centric rotors and centric pads

Rockauto labeled them as Brembo Front Caliper. so theoretically, they should fit shouldn't they? They seem a tad too thick though, and will not fit into the slots. I've attached the an image of me attempting to insert it into the slot, also, is the shim supposed to be pointing down?

 

Did you push the caliper pistons back all the way? If not be careful, as when you push one piston back, others might slide out. Do only inner or outer side, slide the pad in, and then do the other side.
Now on how to do that... best is with the tool made for those calipers. Without tool you can try with screw driver or pray bar, and pry against the rotor. If old pad will fit, slide it in on the opposide side of one that you are trying to push in to prevent the other pistons from sliding out too far.

Did you clean the caliper where the top and bottom edges of the pad touch?



Are the new pads the same as old pads? Especially the backing plate dimensions.

Figure out what arrow on the pad means, as it might mean "top", "bottom" or "direction of [forward] rotation".

 

Yes, I actually pushed pistons on both sides to be almost flush, and they still wouldn't fit. I think next I'll give cleaning the pad contact points on the top and bottom of the caliper a shot to see if that will help any.

I'm using brand new pads, but reusing the shims which is what the arrows are located on.

Thanks again, I'll give it a shot first thing tomorrow.

 

Are you sure that you need to transfer those silver shims? To me it seems like new pads also have them (but they are black and glued to the plate).

I never needed to transfer shims to the new pads.

Don't use hammer - even if pads will fit then, as something must be wrong and they won't move freely in the caliper, causing binding / squeaking / etc.

 

I'm not sure, the videos I watched they reused the shims so I just went along with that.

I'm also not sure if I don't use them if the pads will fit either, they're pretty damn thick, but I'll give it a shot in a few hours and report back, thanks.

 

So, I cleaned the top and bottom contact points, greased them up a bit, did away with the re-used shims and they still wouldn't fit.

I tried taking off the caliper again, installed both pads, the 2 pins and the metal bracket thing, and it wouldn't fit onto the rotor either.

The damn pads are just way too thick, I've messaged RockAuto, but it was either a replacement for the same pads or a return. Since it's my daily I didn't have time to wait for the return and order a new part so, hopefully the replacement pads they send will fit.

I took some photos of my attempts.


pistons on both sides are compressed, even if they weren't fully compressed there wouldn't be too much room for the pads to slide once I press the brakes.

this is about as far as the pads will go in on the inside

Not a great shot, but this is as much as it would go in on the outside.

left side is the replacement, right side is the old worn ones.

 

Not really sure what to tell you. From pictures it looks like those pads almost slide in. You are 100% sure that pistons won't move any more?

Worst case throw new rotors on, and drive to some shop and let them throw your pads in. I doubt new pads have too much material. If any they would go other way.

 

So just to put an end to this three day ordeal, I ended up using the old rotors, and new brake pads, they fit in perfectly. It was either the pads were too thick or the rotors were too thick. I figure after about a month or two of driving the pads will wear enough for me to swap out rotors.

Thanks for all the help!

 

Did you confirm that RA sent you the right parts? One time, I was working on my friend's e46, ordered new brake pads/rotors from RA and they sent me the wrong damn pads... they ended up letting me keep them and refunded me the price for the pads and I had to go pick up a new set from the Vatozone down the street to get the job done.

it happens