www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Hi folks

I want to change the front pads on my coupe, but I 've never done it before.

Any tips?

Do you need to bleed the system after ?

No

Not normally no. In essence it is a matter of removing the old pads and pushing the pistons back to give enough room for the new pads in the caliper. Try and use a bar to push them back centrally as you can get the piston stuck if they pushed on one side uneven.

I am not familiar with the Megane caliper so check if they are the wind back types that need a key. This is more usual on rear discs though.

DWD

Generally the worst part is pushing the pistons back...........I have a ball joint spliter bar that works for me..........but any flat bar will do the job.

Only-Me wrote:Generally the worst part is pushing the pistons back...........I have a ball joint spliter bar that works for me..........but any flat bar will do the job.

I had a nightmare pushing mine bake and a lot of
But done it after awhile and alworks fine so far

Before trying to push the pistons back in, you should unscrew the filler cap for the brake fluid on the master cylinder and put a rag around it to catch any fluid that overflows.

thanks guys

I'll let you know how I get on

It is advisable to open the bleed nipple on the caliper before pushing the pistons back...this lets the fluid that you are moving escape out of the nipple instead of being pushed back up & through the master cylinder.

Some master cylinders don't like the fluid being pushed through them the wrong way & can stop working because of it!

Vauxhall actually issued a memo to all mechanics to do this when fitting new pads as their master cylinders were failing after the fluid had been pushed backwards through them.


Another tip...when you have fitted the new pads you will have to push the brake peddle a few strokes to bring the pads up to touch the disks.
Only use very short strokes of the peddle until the pads are seated on the disks.
This is because in everyday use the brake peddle will only move a short stroke...so the piston in the master cylinder will also only move a short stroke.
The bore of the master cylinder where the piston has been regularly moving will be nice & clean....the rest of the bore may not be....this dirty / corroded part of the bore can damage the seals & cause the master cylinder to fail.

Regards.