What do they actually do? I've seen race cars without them. Do we even need to use them? I flip the pads a lot to help reduce the taper, and they always seem to fall out and be in the way.

 

I believe it's there to keep keep the pads in line. It's pretty small so it's probably only useful when you're changing pads (like those rotor screws). My car doesn't have em, but my parents Camry does. That is, unless I'm thinkin of something else.

 

I thought they eliminated chatter...or rattling?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bulldog_RS20 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I thought they eliminated chatter...or rattling?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Were talking about the small metal clip that connects each pad together, right?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bulldog_RS20 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I thought they eliminated chatter...or rattling?</TD></TR></TABLE>
I second that.

 

Yeah, seems like they'd rattle around a bit without the spring tension keeping them in place... but for a non-street car, I doubt it matters.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GSpeedR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Were talking about the small metal clip that connects each pad together, right? </TD></TR></TABLE>

The small metal springy thing that fits into the caliper opening where the pad goes. One on the top and one on the bottom (see illustration). If all they do is keep tension on the pad to prevent it from vibrating a little, I think I'll remove them.

#14-15 and #23-24

 

I'd leave them in John.

They provide a harder surface for the pad to bear against than the iron caliper bracket, and reduce friction between the pad and the caliper bracket. Worst case - you'd wear into the bracket.

Scott, who is reluctant to understimate Honda engineers...

 

Oh....those clips. Yeah, my car does have those and I would agree that they are there to reduce/isolate vibration.

Actually, when I redid my rear brakes, my caliper mounting bracket (the piece that the pads actually sit on) bent. I had to bend the clips you're talking about to get the pads to fit. If your calipers/brackets look anything like mine, then you don't want your pads sliding on them =&gt; keep the springy slip things...and put hi-temp grease on them.

Camrys have this overgrown paperclip that connects the inboard/outboard pads.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GSpeedR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Camrys have this overgrown paperclip that connects the inboard/outboard pads. </TD></TR></TABLE>

my wife's mazda protege has the same thing, i left them out once when changing pads, and they didn't explode or anything. new oem pads come with new paperclips, so i put them back the next time.

 

I always assumed they were to hold the pads in place while you reinstalled the caliper. It's bad enough I don't have the rotor screws in any more (had to drill them out to swap rotors from the constant heating/cooling expansion of metal), and they kind of flop around while trying to put the pads in. I can only imagine trying to hold the rotor and pads in place while reinstalling the caliper.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'd leave them in John.

Scott, who is reluctant to understimate Honda engineers...</TD></TR></TABLE>

I would agree, wholeheartedly.

 

I chucked mine years ago. I get a little click when I hit the brakes, from the pad/backing plate hitting the caliper. Several pad changes later and there appears to be no wear on the caliper from this contact.

HTH