Hi Guys! I've probably got a really stupid question but I seem to be baffled by it!

Well recently I bought some new rear shoes for the Punto, go to fit them and find out that they have an extra spring compared to the old shoes. The holes and layout are the same bar the locking mechanism for the handbrake cable. It seems to just slot into the new ones.

Anyway, this spring is fitted to the brake pad with the handbrake cable slot and seems to be putting tension on the mechanism attached to the brake pad. I'll try and get a picture up if it helps.

Also, this leads to me wondering, could this be the reason why the brake pad without the handbrake cable socket/slot was worn out much faster than the other?

Any help (or lessons) would be appreciated!

Have you slackened the hand brake cable aswell because your putting new shoes on and there's more thickness to them are you sure you got the right shoes for the car too

Yeap, got in there and loosened the handbrake cable in the car, plenty of give on the cable.

It could be the wrong pads, the extra spring has got me a little concerned, I'll get a picture of them up in 10 mins.

Where did you buy the shoes from?

Most auto parts places I go to ask always for my registration number to match parts on their system...so its a rare chance you may of got the wrong shoes, best upload a pic and highlight the extra hole or two

Thanks for the replies guys

Unfortunately I can't get to the old pads as they are back fitted to the car, bit of a brain fail there.

I've attached some images of the new pads, tried to point out the major differences. Both images are front and back of the same pad.

Just to add guys it's a Fiat Punto Active, 2004.

I'm starting to think that the old pads on the car may not have been installed correctly in the first place, while working on them it seemed that the bar that joins the two pads was loosely fitted and there were marks on the backing plate. (Where the pads where rubbing against, I guess?)

i know it doesnt help now but always take photos on your phone if necessary before dismantling things your unsure of
automatic clutch adjusters on fords used to have me stuck for ages before the advent of digital means
those shoes look wrong mind but its ages since ive needed to replace any so my mind might be warped

Well after a bit of research, it looks as if i've been given pads for a Punto with ABS on the rears.

Seems i've got a trip back to the auto factors, or eurocarparts, and hopefully daylight to do it!