91 CRX HF Brake pad problem... Help!

[jettaboy1884]

Hi, I am changing the front brake pads on my friends 91 CRX HF. I took out the old pads, pushed the brake piston all the way in, and put in the new pads; but for some reason the caliper will not fit over the disc... The outer pad is just too thick. I checked around and all the stores sell the same thickness pads... It seems as though either: 1. The rotor is too thick, 2. The caliper is not wide enough, or 3. The pads are too thick... (All parts are stock though) I am thinking of taking the pads to a shop and having them ground down about 2mm.

Anybody have this problem before?

Any Ideas?

Thanks.

[turtlecrxsi]

Are you sure the piston is back all the way? Put the caliper support on the rotor, then the pads, then the caliper and should bolt right up...

[jettaboy1884]

Piston is Definately pushed back all the way... In fact, It is so far in that even with the new inner pad in place, the pad does not stick out past the caliper surface... It is the outer pad that is giving me problems, I put it in place and when I try to slip the caliper over the rotor, the outer (non-moving/stationary) pad does not have enough clearance...

[Sparsky]

I haven't changed the front brakes on the CRX yet, but i know on the rear the outter pad sits on a moveable housing. IIRC.

[Jeff C]

Did you puch the caliper piston all the way in or screw it all the way in? I have never had a problem with disc pads not fitting.

[BiGwiLLswiLLy]

u sure the slide pins arent ur problem, maybe seized or jus dident move em to put the caliper on?

[TheSilentChamber]

it should slide in and out. Someone may have changed out the rotors at some point, HF's have differnt rotors than dx/si I think. Or you got pads for a dx/si.

[jettaboy1884]

I went a few places and all the pads were the same thickness, and I made sure I said "HF"

I was wondering if the rotors were changed... I noticed that the rotors on the car are vented, however they are not crossdrilled or slotted... Just vented... Did the HF's come with solid rotors? If they did, then that might make more sense, cause I would think a solid rotor would be thinner than a vented rotor, since there isn't that gap between the sides...

Does anyone know?

[travagliante]

The front pistons must be pushed in with a C clamp not screwed in...

Hmm im almost positive they shouldnt be solid. Since there the front the should be vented since most of your stopping power comes from them. Hmm if you cant resolve it use 1 new pad and 1 old pad per wheel until you wear one down a little, unless the old pads have nothing left!

[KrisSmithRocks]

i would guess that you have rotors on there that arn't oem. you have two options.
1 get the correct calipers to go with the rotors or
2 get the rotors that are supposed to fit on the car.

I think getting calipers would be the best idea. for instance the honda part numbers on the calipers for the 90 and 91 Si are 45210-sh2-a51 and 45230-sf1-033 but for the hf has a 45210-sh2-a01 and 45230-sh2-A01 respectivly for the calipersso someone probably put Si rotors on there at some point in time after the pads were already worn down a bit.

I don't reccomend shaving the pads but if you're in a bind it'll work. If i were you i would just get the right calipers cause then you have better brakes and that makes everyone happy