Hi all

I own a 1997 1.9TD Fiat Ducato Motorhome, had it for just over a year. Not been using it for a few months now maybe 8 or 9 months. Front wheels felt a little stiff, so jacked it up to inspect it and front brakes were completely rusted, when I came to take the caliper off, the brake pads had fused themselves to the disc and were completely rotten. Disc seem ok, now cleaned up with brake cleaner.

My question is on the caliper carrier bracket, should there be those little metal seats (tabs) that clip over for the pads to sit on? like on other vehicles I have replaced brake pads on.

There is none on either side top or bottom on either side of van, they can't all be missing. Also tried checking on ebay but search didn't come up with anything.

So am I right in thinking that they are just not fitted or needed for this van?

Are you talking about anti rattle springs?

digger58 said:

Are you talking about anti rattle springs?

Click to expand...

yeah that's them, usually stainless steel.

Think they're on the pad and push against the caliper when its fitted to the sliders. see attached,
http://www.mister-auto.ie/en/front-...chassis-230-2-8-tdi-122hp_v11845_g900005.html

digger58 said:

Think they're on the pad and push against the caliper when its fitted to the sliders. see attached,
http://www.mister-auto.ie/en/front-...chassis-230-2-8-tdi-122hp_v11845_g900005.html

Click to expand...

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply and even send me a link, really appreciated. My mind is at ease now ;-)
Paul

Another quick question - I am in the process of overhauling the brakes, new pads and going to buy new disc as the ones on the van are nice and thick but are badly pitted.

They are solid disc. Can I swap these and fit vented disc instead. There is 6 mm difference in thickness. Will the caliper be able to cope with this discrepancy.
Paul

I would replace like for like.

I doubt very much the vented would fit. If the originals are properly maintained they will be fine. I did mine in a 2001 2.8 this year, stripped calipers, new seals and dust seals, sliders greased and new dust seals, new pads, new rear wheel cylinders and shoes also new master cylinder, the amount of rubbish in the system was amazing. I have lovely brakes now. just back from a 7 week jaunt around Spain and France and no problems whatsoever.

digger58 said:

I doubt very much the vented would fit. If the originals are properly maintained they will be fine. I did mine in a 2001 2.8 this year, stripped calipers, new seals and dust seals, sliders greased and new dust seals, new pads, new rear wheel cylinders and shoes also new master cylinder, the amount of rubbish in the system was amazing. I have lovely brakes now. just back from a 7 week jaunt around Spain and France and no problems whatsoever.

Click to expand...

Hi thanks for your reply Digger. I went for new solid disc like for like, ordered them and should be here Monday, new pads have arrived, I too have stripped calipers, thoroughly cleaned sliders, pistons, seals and dust boots are like new, think they were changed recently same with sliding pins they look like new ones. So just cleaned everything. Yes my brake fluid was black and filthy looking, do you think I should change Master Cylinder also? Can you not get away with just flushing through the system with new fluid?

My rear shoes were badly contaminated, whoever had done the job before had plastered everything in grease, the wheel cylinders were weeping as well so I changed everything, had a creeping pedal so changed master cylinder, the old one wasn't too bad but had gunk in it, for the sake of €60 i jut changed it, whole system is new now. I expect flushing will only change so much, the heavier particles will still sit at the bottom.