jaybeehonda

Hi,

I replaced my front brake pads 2 months ago. Few days ago I started hearing the dreadful metal-to-metal rubbing noise. I checked the pads and rotors. The inside brake pads were completely worn out while outside were like new. These are ATE pads with 3 year warranty. The rotors were worn out real bad as well. So I had to change both the rotors and the Pads. There were no warning signs that my pads were wearing out unevenly or the caliper pins were seized. There were no noises of any kind until the pads were completely worn out.

A mechanic told me that the caliper is not sliding properly in the caliper pins and that is reason the inside pad is worn out completely.

There are 2 Caliper Pins, the top pin has a notch at the tip where a rubber bushing sits and bottom pin is plain. The bottom pin came out with no problem but the top pin gave me hard time. Looks like the rubber bushing gets stuck. I took out the Caliper Pins and lubricated them really well. The bottom one without the rubber bushing moves nicely inside caliper bracket socket BUT it is top one with rubber bushing that has the problem. I lubricated it well and moves well but then gets stuck again. If I remove the rubber bushing this pin slides nicely as well.

My questions are:

1. What is the purpose of the rubber bushing on the top caliper pin?

2. Can I remove the rubber bushing? I know it is there for a reason but the pin does not slide well with rubber bushing. I have put new rubber bushing from HONDA but still sometimes it slides really well and sometimes it get stuck. Stuck as in, it does come out easily. I can rotate the pin but cannot pull it out. I really have to apply force to get it out.

3. After I put everything back ,the caliper was sliding a little on the pins and that is what is supposed to do BUT when I pressed the brake peddle a few times that caliper became tight on the pin. I am wondering if the pins are seized again.

4. Is the caliper supposed to slide on the bottom pin only or both the pins?

5. How do I know that my caliper and pins are working fine. I do not feel any problem while applying the brakes or while driving. I don't want to end replacing the whole thing again.

thomasjeffery10

Those rubber bushings are there to control noise. Yes you can put the pins back without them but at times you may ( not definitely ) get a rattling noise. Now that said, something I have found that many many many people don't do is properly remove the rust off of the calipers bracket where the pads slide and also clean out the inside where the pins actually go into the calipers bracket. There are many ways this can be done but the easiest way for a do-it-youselfer is to use files. Get yourself a nice flat file for where the pads make contact with the bracket and use a round file for the pin holes. That should cure your problem.

Nicefeet

That rubber sleeve is there to prevent water from getting inside the pins. If you remove them the pins will rust in place especially when winter comes.

I’d remove the pins and clean the **** out of the holes the they go into. Get a wire gun bore cleaner and remove all the rust and dried crude out of the holes and take a wire brush to the pins. Reassemble with caliper pin grease.

Do not leave the rubber off.

jaybeehonda

Thanks guys for replying to my questions.

I did clean the holes where the pins go in. I used brake cleaner and other JIG-A-LOO to clean the rust from the inside using a small screw driver. I removed the rubber boots attached to the caliper brackets and cleaned them as well. Removing the rubber boots made it easier to clean the holes nicely.

I cleaned the clips where the pads sit on the caliper bracket as well and lubricated the contacts between the pads and the clips so the pads slide freely on the clips.

I personally think that the pin with rubber bushing gets stuck because it creates a vacuum inside the hole since this pin is totally round. The bottom pin without the rubber bushing has 2 flat sides that make is easier to slide because the air can escape from the flat sides of the round pin.

Lost Again

I don't think it would be a design issue.....if so all of these would have the issue.

CRZ1

I agree with lost again. When I did mine, it is the same as you describe. It works fine for me, no problem.

h0p3l355dork

When I replaced my brake pads/rotors I cleaned the hell out of the pin and greased/lubricated it well (with the rubber boot still on) I noticed that the boot keeps the grease on the pin and keeps it well lubricated. Otherwise you are right, it will get stuck. I wouldn't recommend taking the boot off either.