What he said, move quickly bc the pistons will naturally start pushing out, closing the available space for the new pads.

 

Guys I think I'm too late, the Pagids are STUCK how do I get them out?!?!?!

 

A follow on to the last few post, I had to push the pistons back in on my front and rear calipers (front and rear pads had to be shaved down with sand paper a bit, cos of the thicker 3M foam tape I used on the old dampeners) and to my surprise I had ZERO brakes when I put everything back together, pedal went to the floor...Nothing!...I thought WTF I never broke any lines open or anything.

I spoke to John at EVOMS and he said I had to bleed the whole system because I pushed the pistons back in. I had to bleed the whole system twice and the brakes came back...I have NO idea why they behaved like this...it must be something peculiar to the car though that makes no sense at all as it is Bosch setup....

 

Well, if BBB is correct that you're going to need to bleed the system (twice?), then couldn't you just open the bleeder valve an release the pressure to get the pistons pushed back? Did you spray the brakes down with Brake Cleaner first? You might just have them stuck in the old brake dust. Post a pic for us.

 

You haven't scared me off from doing this yet ttgangsta...but the post on r##n##st about the tt having an off with no brakes (likely due to lack of preparation) has me looking at all the bits.

Thanks tons to Tom K for pm'ing and thread responses, I'm almost there. At worst, my next track event will see me with MPSC's and some brake upgrades. On that note, I just thought I'd post my findings so far. The Pagid Orange will be about $510 plus shipping. The SRF fluid is $65/liter, vs the Motul at about $30/liter (Ate super blue/amber is $15). I'd like to pick the middle example, as it seems the SRF would require a double bleed since it doesn't play well with other fluid.
Dampeners, $30x4 for the front, and $7x4 for the back. My rough calculation is $750 in parts. Now if I want to switch back to street pads after my track day, that's a round of dampeners and a fluid flush while I'm there. I'll have the tires off anyway, because I've got the MPSC's for DE's and S-02's for the street.
None of this takes in to account the Giac chip upgrade (Stephen are you back from racing) at AI.

I love driving fast, and it helps to know I have the right bits on the car. There are plenty more DE's this year, I'm finding that I skip kart racing for it.

Hijack of your thread is over, are your pads still stuck ttg?

 

I don't understand why you have to bleed the brakes after pushing in the pistons. You do have to pump the pedal a few times to move the pads back against the rotors.
Ben, do you think the 3M tape will withstand the heat?

 

Rich, cost of how you will feel after your first successful DE......Priceless.

Remember how much that car cost and look at the very small percentage of investment to have a good track day.....worth every penny. This is what the car was made for!!!! Wish everyone had one track day with this car.

I will offer driving my car as a co-driver at any track event I am at for anyone on this forum....this would at least show you you will not hurt your car, there will be no marks or damage, and you will have the time of your life!!! pm me and let me know!!! That's how strongly I feel all should have this experience....and PS it wont hurt my car at all!!!!!

 

Well I actually got it to work on ONE wheel (right front) but on the left front I can't get the inside pad to go in. I tried spreading the calipers over and over with a pipe wrench by puting the old pads in and spreading them, then putting the new ones in, but it never works. I can get the outside pad to slide in just fine, but for some reason the inside one won't go. I looked at the vibration dampener and its fine there is just some adhesive on it. I tried to brush the back of the pad incase there was something on it that was gripping the adhesive or something, but nothing seems to work.

Any idea on how to keep the caliper spread? I don't know what type of C-clamps you were using but everything we have is too big to fit in the caliper.

BTW the problem last night was due to the backing plate that comes with the OEM pads sticking to the vibration damperner. Once I pried off the backing plate both pads slid in with a little force. So I finally got the right front finished this morning but now im lost again. I guess I should be happy I dont have any pads stuck right now...

 

I'll let you be my co-driver if you change my damn brake pads lol

 

UPDATE:

After a little work and some mussle the front wheels are finally done!!!

I took the car out to see if the thing would even roll and it came off the life effortlessly and everything seemed to work fine. I tried to follow the Pagid bedding procedure for front brakes and it seemed to work. I did a couple pulls to about 70 and and braked down to 40-50, I did some normal driving, and the 35-0. The car seems to be running good. I feel like the brakes are a lot more responsive probably because there is more pad then before and everything seems to ok. I didn't see too much brake dust on the wheels and there wasn't too much heat being emitted from the rotors either.

The back wheels are off, the car is back on the lift, and I'm waiting to finish up the back pads. There was so much heat from the engine I figured I would let the back of the car cool down before I started working on the brakes.

Thanks to Tom Kerr, and Ben especially for your help. Also thanks to Erik from Cargraphic who has consistantly found ways to insult my lack of mechanical abilities!

I'll post some tips when I finish the back, I don't want to wreck my Karma just yet

 

Thanks!!! And on my way to do a quick pad change and drive your car!!!!
Glad to see you hanging in there!!! It WILL be worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

GAME SET MATCH...I have completed my first brake job ever!

Car is back together thank god, tomorro it goes in for alignment and this weekend I am changing fluid with a friend and maybe adding stainless lines. I am getting so pumped.

Thanks again Tom and Ben for your help

 

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!! Good job, now you know way more than most and also will be able to take care of issues at the track, take extra fluid and pads!!!

 

Well done Bill..congrats...

In answer to the 3M tape I used, it works perfectly, just got back from a biz trip the Kootenays in south eastern BC, drive like a nut case...had tons of fun only had her to 255 KPH on the back road Hwy 3A to Red Mountain...deer all over the place...I think I may have warped my EVOMS 14" rotors though through the twisties...I gave then hell I tell you that...me thinks I need some cooling ducts....Tom what do ya think?

 

Ben you need a guardian angel!!!!! I read you other post!!! Guess you are enjoying that car!!! Too bad about the ticket!!