just been stripping a pair of front calipers from a mk2 and found the pads to be very tight in the carriers, there have been various posts on this but feel my findings are important, this goes to those who are changing pads and also those who are painting their calipers.
i found after removing the pads that there are four stainless rubbing plates bolted on with a 4mm domed screw, these had quite serious corrosion behind them causing the plates to belly out,it was not really visible till the rubbing plates were out of the way, this was trapping the pads and could and did cause the front brakes to bind slightly, this explains the posts where people have to slightly file the pads to get them in. not a good idea.
the fix is easy, with the pads out locate the small plates and screw, remove the screw (4mm allen key), make sure the screw is not bunged up with crap by scraping out with a pick, then the stainless plate and using a scraper and a brass wire brush remove the corrosion, a little coppergrease behind the plate will help to prevent the return of the corrosion and assemble back together. replace pads also with a little copper grease and all is ok.
if you are painting remember not to paint on or behind the rubbing plate as this could have the same effect as the corrosion.
i hope this is helpful and sorry berfore you ask i have no pictures.
i found after removing the pads that there are four stainless rubbing plates bolted on with a 4mm domed screw, these had quite serious corrosion behind them causing the plates to belly out,it was not really visible till the rubbing plates were out of the way, this was trapping the pads and could and did cause the front brakes to bind slightly, this explains the posts where people have to slightly file the pads to get them in. not a good idea.
the fix is easy, with the pads out locate the small plates and screw, remove the screw (4mm allen key), make sure the screw is not bunged up with crap by scraping out with a pick, then the stainless plate and using a scraper and a brass wire brush remove the corrosion, a little coppergrease behind the plate will help to prevent the return of the corrosion and assemble back together. replace pads also with a little copper grease and all is ok.
if you are painting remember not to paint on or behind the rubbing plate as this could have the same effect as the corrosion.
i hope this is helpful and sorry berfore you ask i have no pictures.
