Caliper Guide Pins

[PRSvendsen]

I am replacing the front disk brake pads on my 2002 Windstar. I have removed the calipers from both sides and removed the two guide pins from each caliper. I have new pins to use in the reassembly. My problem is that the design details of the two pins are different and I did not pay attention to which pin goes where on the caliper when I removed them. I don't know if it really matters which one goes where but I don't want to risk a problem by installing them incorrectly. Does anyone know if the guide pin with the rubber sleeve goes at the top or the bottom of the caliper? The repair manual that I have does not have any information about the pins except to replace them if they are corroded or rusty.

[wiswind]

I think my 1996 is different from your 2002, I had boots on both caliper pins on the calipers.
I have lots of pictures of my front disk brake job on my '96 in the pictures that the link in my signature takes you to.
You have landed upon one of the main reasons that I take pictures with my digital camera during disassembly stage of my projects.......more than once those pictures have helped me put things back together.......
Seems, no matter how many pictures and diagrams they put in repair guides........I want more.
Another thing that has helped many of us.......is doing 1 side at a time, so if we need to see how it was before we started, we can look at the other side.
However, as always......hind sight is 20/20.
I am not sure if doing a google search for images of windstar calipers might help?

[12Ounce]

Originally Posted by PRSvendsen

.............. I have removed the calipers from both sides ..............

TIP: Always work brakes one-side-at-a-time. The "other" side can be your reference. Also, take digital images at several "benchmark" points along the way ....

I would think the pins will really only fit in the correct locations.

[PRSvendsen]

Yes, I agree that the other side can be a reference and I have used that technique in the past a few times. I usually do only one side at a time but this time I had my son to help me so I thought that I could get the job done faster if I did both sides at the same time. Now I regret my decision.

[Selectron]

There's a thread here which discusses those guide pins, but it's for a year 2000 model. The location of the sleeved pin is stated but unfortunately there's no diagram to provide confirmation.

[PRSvendsen]

Thank you Selectron for the pointer to the caliper pin thread. The last entry in the thread had the info I required. I had not thought to give teh manufacturer a call as did the thread poster that you pointed me to. I had done a search for caliper pin threads before I made my original post and came up with nothing. Now that I have the answer to my question it is snowing out and too cold to finish the repair today. Weather for Monday is predicted to be sunny and in the 50's.