P38A How to replace rear discs and pads?

Saint.V8 said:

No, the coppaslip incident was on the L322....I cleaned it offafter your comments....this is for the P38 where I didn't slip the pins!

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I stand corrected Ant.

Henry_b said:

13mm Bi-Hex socket "12 point"
Large Pozi screwdriver for the disk retaining screw
A 10lb BFH.
An S Hook to hang the caliper of a bungee cord.

Copaslip is herpes.

Use the proper Mintex lube.

New pads disk etc etc

wire brush..

my Pads fell out on the way home from the seller!!

Ruined my Rear Calipers. £20 a side for new calipers off of paddocks.

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Spot on. PZ4 for the screw - but both mine were completely shot and had to use screw extractor to remove them. However, previous good advice on this forum led me to buy new screws in advance and slide pins. - really good advice because it meant that by the time the car arrived back on from the RAC recovery service two days later I already had the necessary parts and could crack on with the job.
Also - did completely ruin the offside calliper so ordered a new one of those too.

Grrrrrr said:

It is quick and simple. The screw that holds the disc might be solud and need knocking round with a punch.

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As always - completely correct. and the slots in the screws were buggered from previous owners efforts at replacing the discs but not replacing the screws which he(she?) clearly buggered in the process.

@wammers - bit harsh. Its easy when you know how - and now I've done it, it is easy - but if your philosophy is take everything to a garage if you don't already know how to do it then this forum is redundant.

I did't know how, I asked, I checked RAVE, (and the advice from this forum added a huge amount of useful advice not in RAVE) and in the end I managed it myself without resorting to a garage. Isn't that the point?

You know not all RR's have been perfectly maintained. Mine is 19 years old and I have owned it for two. There are 17 years worth of indeterminate neglect coming to the surface - because I'm fixing it does not mean I caused it.

wammers said:

Replacing discs and pads is a piece of piss, if advice is needed how to do it leave it to someone who knows what they are doing. Allowing a pad to wear so far down as to allow the pad plate to slide out is criminal.

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In this case the pads are hardly worn at all, fairly new discs, fairly new pads - less than 20% worn, fairly new pipes - all less than 4K or 5K miles.
However, as Mr West surmised, the slide pin had corroded in and prevented the pad from returning to its natural position and it fell out.

Salisbury Nick said:

In this case the pads are hardly worn at all, fairly new discs, fairly new pads - less than 20% worn, fairly new pipes - all less than 4K or 5K miles.
However, as Mr West surmised, the slide pin had corroded in and prevented the pad from returning to its natural position and it fell out.

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I would be looking at your caliper/pad carrier then. It should not be possible for an almost full thickness pad to fall out. People who do not know what they are doing should not play with brakes. Sorry but i have seen far too many cockups done by happy amateurs. Maybe someone has fitted a front carrier on the rear. That is the only possible explanation.

This is why you use a dab of copper-slip, prevents rust (to a point) and stops things sticking

Salisbury Nick said:

In this case the pads are hardly worn at all, fairly new discs, fairly new pads - less than 20% worn, fairly new pipes - all less than 4K or 5K miles.
However, as Mr West surmised, the slide pin had corroded in and prevented the pad from returning to its natural position and it fell out.

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over the course of 3 P38's that's 6 rear calipers, over what 10 years, ive not experienced a seized caliper. each time excessive wear has been due to the slide pins.

for the sake of £8 I change them each brake change along with bolts..

now seized rear calipers on the MX-5... that's another story !

Don't think it's possible to fit a rear caliper on a front carrier.

My rear pad fell out on the way home.

Pushed the piston out of the caliper almost.

Copaslip on brakes is Satan.

It goes on wet and sticky then when it has grit and **** stuck to it, the stuff dries and is a ballache.

A bit on the carrier is all that is required.

Coating the back of pads isn't needed especially since most pads have anti squeal plates on them. And all it does is attract dirt.

my original callipers seem serviceable, I’ve cleaned them up is all. Slider pins were shot as with Adam.

Copper-slip should be used for mating surfaces, so it shouldn't pick anything up at all

Henry_b said:

Don't think it's possible to fit a rear caliper on a front carrier.

My rear pad fell out on the way home.

Pushed the piston out of the caliper almost.

Copaslip on brakes is Satan.

It goes on wet and sticky then when it has grit and **** stuck to it, the stuff dries and is a ballache.

A bit on the carrier is all that is required.

Coating the back of pads isn't needed especially since most pads have anti squeal plates on them. And all it does is attract dirt.

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An almost full thickness pad CANNOT fall out through the gap carrier to disc. One worn to the backing plate can. If an almost full thickness pad fell out as the OP says he CANNOT have the correct carrier fitted.

wammers said:

An almost full thickness pad CANNOT fall out through the gap carrier to disc. One worn to the backing plate can. If an almost full thickness pad fell out as the OP says he CANNOT have the correct carrier fitted.

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Or possibly incorrect pads from previous owner?

Grrrrrr said:

Or possibly incorrect pads from previous owner?

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I would not think so. There is a set gap between carrier and disc. Guesstimate 4 or 5 mm. How does a 13 to 15 mm thick pad slide through it. The only explanation i can think of is that the much wider carrier from the front with a disc twice as thick as the rear has been fitted at the rear. Only then would it be possible for an almost new rear pad to slide out.

Don't think you can even fit a front carrier to the rear.

Yes we heard you...

And you shall hear me many times more.

Enry Lar dont thinks he can fit a front carrier to the rear...

Never tried it.

I'll do it and see.

I'll also flip everying in the car backwards too..

wot for realism.