Simple brake problem?

[c-sharp minor]

I've been trying to replace my front brake pads and can't seem to get the new ones to fit.

I'm not the best mechanic around so I bought the Haynes Escort manual to help.

When I remove the old pads and compress the piston. There is a lot of room on one side of the rotor to put in a pad, but the other side of the rotor still only has enough room to put in the old pad. ie 1/8 of an inch........whereas the new pad is roughly 3/4 of an inch.

The brake caliper doesn't seem to be able to move. So, how do I center it to be able to stick in a pad on either side.

It's driving me nuts.

[bigrod118]

well, it seems that you are doing everything right. and I must complement you on getting the haynes manual, great choice. the only advice I haev to offer would be to compress the piston more. you can take one of the old pads, put it on backwards, so the pad is on the piston, and get a c-clamp and tightten it down, but first its a good idea to take the cap off the brake fluid resivour. but then just tighten the c-clamp and that should push the piston in enough, and maybe the rotor slipped away from where it needs to be, so push the rotor on all the way first. but then just quickly try to slip it on, cuz while it wont move much, the piston will move back where it was. but it seems you are doing everything right, it shouldnt be that hard.

[c-sharp minor]

Thanx for the reply.

While pushing the piston in gives me enough room on one side of the rotor to put in 2 pads, the other side of the rotor still only has enough room for the worn pad. It's so tight I had to use a screwdriver to help pry the pad out.

My caliper is securely bolted down and doesn't appear to slide over, and the rotor seems secure as well.

I need to "center" the rotor in the middle of the caliper so I can put the pads on either side, not just the piston side.

The calipers must be able to move in order to compensate for pad wear. But mine seem to be fixed in the position of the worn pads.

In the pics in my manual the rotor looks pushed to the outside edge of the caliper due to the thickness of the worn pads. When they install the newer/thicker pad, the next photo shows the rotor to be centered again (not pushed to the side) of the caliper.

How did they do that? It says nothing in the manual. Should the caliper slide back into place?

Thanx in advance.