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[denerinian]

Hi all - just a quick question - i'm just changing my front brake pads using GM pads - but the 2 pads i just removed have shims fitted on both whereas only 2 of the 4 GM pads have shim fitted - so which side of the caliper should the shim side be ??

[tunnie]

by shim you mean that rubber circle on the pad? I think i put mine on the outside, but let someone else confirm...

[markey mark]

shim goes to piston bud copper grease on all other contact pionts  

[denerinian]

Great - Thanks for the quick replies fellas   Super as usual   I'll crack on with the job

[Marks DTM Calib]

If its the rubber backing you refer to then that goes to the opposite side to the piston.

If its a metal plate tehn that goes to teh piston (although not seen one of those for a while!)

[markey mark]

i would have to disagree mark one the fixed side of caliper you should use a small amount of copper grease and backing to the piston ! if you put the backing to fixed side it moves with time and heat !

[Marks DTM Calib]

i would have to disagree mark one the fixed side of caliper you should use a small amount of copper grease and backing to the piston ! if you put the backing to fixed side it moves with time and heat !

You never place a rubber backing against a piston. It results in a soft feel to the pedal as the piston contact area is small and compresses the rubber (the rubber pad would have been much smaller if this was the intention).

The rubber backing should be against the sliding section of the caliper as this has the larger contact area and allows the pad to do what its intended, reduce squeal and chatter.  

Been there, done that (wrongly myself)  

[Andy B]

i would have to disagree mark one the fixed side of caliper you should use a small amount of copper grease and backing to the piston ! if you put the backing to fixed side it moves with time and heat !

You never place a rubber backing against a piston. It results in a soft feel to the pedal as the piston contact area is small and compresses the rubber (the rubber pad would have been much smaller if this was the intention).

The rubber backing should be against the sliding section of the caliper as this has the larger contact area and allows the pad to do what its intended, reduce squeal and chatter.  

Been there, done that (wrongly myself)  

Mmmm?  :-/ I wonder if that's a contribution to my spongy pedal?   :-/
It does feel much better after being bled though.  

(I'm just trying to remember if I refitted/looked at my pads after I asked the same question some time last year. One of the pads has an arrow on it too IIRC.)

[denerinian]

Just done front (and rear pads) and fitted rubber shim on front pad to piston side and pedal did feel more 'spongey' - not driven car on road anywhere yet so i will change them over tomorrow morning and see if there's a difference