Wanted to replace the brake pads on the Challenger. As it's the SRT it has brembo brakes all round.
These are super easy, knock the pins out, remove the spring clip and pull the pads. Push the Pistons back, drop in new pads and re-fit the spring clip and pins. Caliper stays on the car, and supposed to be 15mins a corner.
Well, f**k me. If it only was that easy!
I started on the front passenger as I knew those pads were the lowest. The pins refused to budge. Nothing. No movement.
Eventually the ends of the pins began to distort, so I decided to remove the caliper to see what was going on.
Didn't really help but did allow me to get a closer look at the Pistons. Brembo uses a plated aluminum piston and of course from what I could see the inboard Pistons were not in a good way. The plating was virtually gone and the aluminum had degraded quite badly. They also wouldn't push in, so the inboard Pistons were seized too. Amazingly the brakes still worked really well.
So, the front calipers are being sent away to rebuilder in Wales who completely strips them, fits new seals and stainless Pistons and will media blast and powder coat in any color if required. I've opted for everything except fresh powder coat, just a clean. The pins become their problem and I don't have to worry about the Pistons again.
Cost? £320 for the pair. The rears can wait for now!
Means the Fiero gets an outing tomorrow. We will have to see about the AAC show next weekend.
The simplest of jobs eh?
What a day!