changing front brake pads

[ZiggyPA]

I am reading contradictory things for changing the front brake pads (91 PA)
The Haynes states you don't need to bleed the caliper for this. Autozone states that since the PA has ABS, you must bleed the caliper.
But I've also read you can't fill the master cylinder under pressure with this ABS?

[northstar1958]

no bleeding......take the caliper bolts out....remove the outside pad...use a caliper tool or c clamp to compress the inside pad flush, remove the inside pad, install new pads, pop it back on, install bolts, do one side at a time, check brake fluid once done...compressing the inside pad flush will push fluid out of the master cylinder. Once complete, pump brakes slowly to bring the line pressure back up. Three to four pumps is all it takes. Good luck

Northstar

[HotZ28]

If you don't want to replace the master cylinder within 6-mo, it is best to open the bleed screw on the caliper when compressing the piston, otherwise you will push all the rusty contaminated fluid back into the MC and ABS system (I use a brake vacuum bleeder for this purpose). Brake fluid is cheap, so flushing the complete brake system every few years, should be part of routine maintenance. I vacuum bleed 1-qt of fresh fluid through the whole system front/rear.

[ZiggyPA]

Are the 2 bolts which hold the caliper an US type? Haynes lists them as torx, but I think it must be close to an Allen #9 (both 8 and 10 doesn't fit, EU sizes, but 9 doesn't exist?)

[HotZ28]

Not sure what 8-9 & 10 are, but we use 3/8" allen head over here.

[ZiggyPA]

Thanks Hotz, I am going to look for a 3/8 allen head. 8 and 10 are allen metric sizes. I think that 3/8" translates to about 9,5 metric, which indeed does not exist.