[SteveRs2017]

Long story short I was going to change my old front brake pads for new ones, on the OEM Brembo caliper you have to take out 3 pins on the front to release the spring which holds the pads in place, I got the top and bottom smaller pins out easily, the bigger middle pin is were I had the issue, I took the bolt off the backside but when I pushed the spring in and tried to work it out it wouldn't budge, tried spraying some brake fluid cleaner on it, used a channel lock plyer and screwed the bolt partiality back in and lighty hammered it, still it would not MOVE at all! any helpful advice on getting this unfrozen would be much appreciated, and in the event I have to replace these pins any info on where to get them (or a part number!) would be great 👍

 

[JamoRS]

Use a penetrative spray and leave it overnight and then have another go. Shouldn't be that hard to get out, but I guess the salt from the roads is you yanks, worst enemy?

 

[SteveRs2017]

Yes more then likely, my car has 96560 miles on it so I was afraid something was going to be seized up, thanks

 

[crepr12]

Penetration spray as mentioned above works wonders, also they make a caliper pin removal tool..Once out at 96k I would replace with a set of new pins...jmho...good luck

 

[hyracer]

After using penetrating oil over night, put the short bolt back on but leave it a couple threads loose. Then tap on the head of the short bolt with a regular hammer. After it's moved a small bit, loosen the short bolt another thread or two and repeat.

 

[braap]

In my case, the pins gained a bit of thickness, and no amount of penetrant did a damn thing. I put a flat-top long chisel inside the pipe and hammered at it with a big ole sledge until the pin finally got through to the middle part. The middle is thinner, so now the thing was dangling. I then realized that I'd only gone a few mm, and I had the rest of the pipe to push out the other side. At that point, I took an angle grinder and cut the pipe down the middle. So yeah, if it's super-seized: first, bang on it with a chisel until the middle of the thing passes far enough out to get the thing dangling, then cut it in half, then go get a new pipe and spring kit.

Hopefully, doesn't come to that for you, but good luck, OP, either way!

Part numbers are:

• spring kit (spring + 2 pins), BKCF26: https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/brakes/other-brake-parts/spring-brake-shoe-hold-down-6502693-1
• pipe kit (the middle pin + bolt for it), BRTF147: https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/brakes/brake-hydraulics/pipe-connecting-6445297-1

Just linking parts.ford for reference, but they can be gotten cheaper elsewhere, like RockAuto, or even Amazon (though I don't trust Amazon to have the actual thing). Shop around. For reference, here are RockAuto links:
Spring kit: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=8861340
Pipe kit: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=7310264

 

[thirdgen89gta]

So, the major issue.

In my case, the pins gained a bit of thickness, and no amount of penetrant did a damn thing. I put a flat-top long chisel inside the pipe and hammered at it with a big ole sledge until the pin finally got through to the middle part. The middle is thinner, so now the thing was dangling. I then realized that I'd only gone a few mm, and I had the rest of the pipe to push out the other side. At that point, I took an angle grinder and cut the pipe down the middle. So yeah, if it's super-seized: first, bang on it with a chisel until the middle of the thing passes far enough out to get the thing dangling, then cut it in half, then go get a new pipe and spring kit.

Hopefully, doesn't come to that for you, but good luck, OP, either way!

Part numbers are:

• spring kit (spring + 2 pins), BKCF26: https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/brakes/other-brake-parts/spring-brake-shoe-hold-down-6502693-1
• pipe kit (the middle pin + bolt for it), BRTF147: https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/brakes/brake-hydraulics/pipe-connecting-6445297-1

Just linking parts.ford for reference, but they can be gotten cheaper elsewhere, like RockAuto, or even Amazon (though I don't trust Amazon to have the actual thing). Shop around. For reference, here are RockAuto links:
Spring kit: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=8861340
Pipe kit: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=7310264

Yeah, brake dust builds up on them. I had a hell of a time getting the passenger side undone due to all the break dust that had built up in the last 50,000 miles on the car.

I ended up using a combination of a penetrating oil, as well as some 1000grit sandpaper around the pins to remove the build-up of embedded brake dust. That allowed me to tap them out. Once out, I cleaned up the pins VERY well. And I've decided that every season I change the tires now I'm going to loosen, and pop the pins out just to put them back in.

 

[braap]

So, the major issue.

Yeah, brake dust builds up on them. I had a hell of a time getting the passenger side undone due to all the break dust that had built up in the last 50,000 miles on the car.

I ended up using a combination of a penetrating oil, as well as some 1000grit sandpaper around the pins to remove the build-up of embedded brake dust. That allowed me to tap them out. Once out, I cleaned up the pins VERY well. And I've decided that every season I change the tires now I'm going to loosen, and pop the pins out just to put them back in.

That's my plan too! I'd never done that on the car, in 40K-some miles of daily driving through all kinds of conditions, so I can't be too mad at it. Especially, not compared to the dumb stupid floating caliper with a tiny spring that seizes inside the caliper necessitating caliper replacement, that is the rear arrangement. At least the front can be cut off. I'm definitely going to be removing and reinstalling those brake parts more often now though.

 

[SteveRs2017]

In my case, the pins gained a bit of thickness, and no amount of penetrant did a damn thing. I put a flat-top long chisel inside the pipe and hammered at it with a big ole sledge until the pin finally got through to the middle part. The middle is thinner, so now the thing was dangling. I then realized that I'd only gone a few mm, and I had the rest of the pipe to push out the other side. At that point, I took an angle grinder and cut the pipe down the middle. So yeah, if it's super-seized: first, bang on it with a chisel until the middle of the thing passes far enough out to get the thing dangling, then cut it in half, then go get a new pipe and spring kit.

Hopefully, doesn't come to that for you, but good luck, OP, either way!

Part numbers are:

• spring kit (spring + 2 pins), BKCF26: https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/brakes/other-brake-parts/spring-brake-shoe-hold-down-6502693-1
• pipe kit (the middle pin + bolt for it), BRTF147: https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/brakes/brake-hydraulics/pipe-connecting-6445297-1

Just linking parts.ford for reference, but they can be gotten cheaper elsewhere, like RockAuto, or even Amazon (though I don't trust Amazon to have the actual thing). Shop around. For reference, here are RockAuto links:
Spring kit: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=8861340
Pipe kit: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=7310264

This is exactly what I needed, thanks!

 

[OverkillYJ]

New calipers are cheap, I bought an extra set just because. I think they're $150ea after the core charge.

Sent from my SM-S916W using Tapatalk

 

[thirdgen89gta]

New calipers are cheap, I bought an extra set just because. I think they're $150ea after the core charge.

Sent from my SM-S916W using Tapatalk

Yeah, but the calipers aren't the issue, its the brake dust buildup on the pins that causes issues removing/installing them.

I mean, it would be relatively cheap to buy the pin kits and just swap them out once a year. You could then just soak the dirty pins in a bin of parts cleaner which should clean them up very nicely. Then you'll have clean pins to install.

I also recommend something like this to make punching the pins out easier. The concave surface will allow you to really whack that pin and not have it jump and damage the paint.

I ended up destroying a 1/4" nut driver just because my pins were stuck so bad and I didn't have a pin punch.

Amazon.com

 

[NISMO_IX]

Haven't done my brakes yet, but learn so much from you guys over the time spent here. I know one day I'll have to tackle this myself, hopefully, and will remember this, thanks! As always such great input.

 

[XRJoe]

Be careful with the threaded bolt method and hammering it. If you don't have good thread engagement, and need a mini sledge, there's a good chance of stripping the threads in the pin. Better to do use a punch as @thirdgen89gta said.

Also instead of cutting the pin in half, if you can get it half way out, dremel with a wire wheel to clean up the pin before you push through the second half.

 

[CrossX55]

Wait. Why do you need to remove the middle bolt? Once the two slide pins our out the brake pads are free. I've done two brake jobs on mine (and had to drill one of the smaller pins out - horrible issue) but I've never removed the center pin.

 

[XRJoe]

Wait. Why do you need to remove the middle bolt? Once the two slide pins our out the brake pads are free. I've done two brake jobs on mine (and had to drill one of the smaller pins out - horrible issue) but I've never removed the center pin.

How?

The bridge bolt keeps the spring in and holds the pads in place. You can't get the pads out around the bridge bolt.

 

[wobbletop]

I guess take the whole caliper off?

 

[thirdgen89gta]

I guess take the whole caliper off?

Not for a pad change.

Honestly, not sure how you'd get the pads out without removing the middle bolt, I don't think there is enough room to rotate the pads around the middle bolt.

In either case, its not a big deal, I think its just a 13mm, and then you gotta fight with the accumulated brake dust, but if its clean it'll pop right out. In a perfect world, its barely 5 minutes once the wheel is off.

Now, if it's got all the brake dust accumulated? Yeah, you might fight with it for an hour or more going back and forth with penetrating agents to try and loosen the baked on bake dust so you a pop the pins out.

 

[XRJoe]

Agreed - For people that need the ability to quick change brake pads, the calipers are kept serviceable and removal of the 2 pins and bridge bolt is easy. Your biggest issue is hot parts.

 

[thirdgen89gta]

That’s why the pads have tabs to grab with a set of pliers!

 

[XRJoe]

That’s why the pads have tabs to grab with a set of pliers!

Oh I never noticed!

Says me, who has never raced this car, and has changed the front pads once