Shakey Shakey Brake Pads

[buickyouth]

My front brakes are rattlin like a serpent about to strike. It's making me a bit nervous.

Here are the facts:
1. Brake pads are loose and there is easy play in all four front pads.

2. They rattle over every bump. But seem to grab just fine.

3. Bottom of left caliper - wet.
(but I know brake fluid eats paint. the caliper doesnt look like the pain is worn at all)

4. Front MC was real low and fluid was drrrtier than that Christina Aguilera video.


I'm thinking of flushing the system as a starting point for troubleshooting. I'm thinking maybe the lack of fluid is allowing the pads off the rotor too much? Shot in the dark. Who else has some bright ideas?

[Ken Talbot]

It sounds like the springs which hold the pads 'down' in the caliper are missing. Have a look at this microfiche picture The spring is the piece at the end of the line that goes up between the pads, between the 6 and 16 in the image.

[buickyouth]

Ken,
isn't that the diagram for the standard model?
I think the special of 79 has different calipers on the front.

They look a bit different than the ones I have.

I only say this because once with my old bike, I bought new claipers and thought they looked odd, but the guy assured me they were the right ones and rest assured, they werent.

[Ken Talbot]

Ah, yes, you are correct. The Special and the Standard are different. However, the Special also has a pad spring:
[IMG]/forum/images/tips/20040503-brakepad_spring.jpg[/IMG]

[buickyouth]

So that spring is to hold the pad against the rotor, not to keep the pin in that goes through the bottom of the pads?

It's almost...
...too easy.

I'll have to check it in the AM.

Thanks for all the help everyone.

[Ken Talbot]

No, the spring pushes against the back edge of the pads. This causes them to rotate on the pin, so the tab that sticks out rests firmly against a stop. The pressure of the spring keeps the pads from rattling around loose when brake pressure is not applied. These springs can be rebent by hand if they have gone flat.

[Jerry]

Just an add on note...the XJ has a similar spring under the pads, but not the same shape as either XS version. Far as I can tell the pad springs are not interchangeable. XJ style is wider and more 'U' shaped.

The brake pads shown in Ken's diagram are EBC FA41 or equal. it might be that calipers using these pads have interchangeable pad springs. The rear caliper on my XJ uses this pad set, but the fronts use EBC FA70 pads, a different design. '80 - '81 Standards and '80 Midnight Specials use the FA41 pads up front right, so their spring pads may also interchange. (Left side takes FA61 pads. I suspect they use the same pad springs.)

My XJ was missing pads in both front calipers when I bought it...pads rattled over every bump until I found replacements. Pads are not sold separately, I found one in a broken caliper from ebay and another in a set I bought used just to get the pad.