Punto (Mk2/2b) Caliper Pin Bushes; HELP!!!

[barbossa27]

Hello people,

I am new to this forum and would like to say hello to everybody.

I have a slight issue and I would be grateful for any help.

I recently bought a Fiat Punto Dynamic 1.2 16v (53 plate) and it is an excellent car.

I took my car to Halfords and got the front brake discs and pads changed,
however after using the car for 1 day, a very squeaky noise began from the front passenger side wheel. I took my car back to Halfords and asked them to inspect the car (I thought the brakes may be the problem). After doing some digging the technician at Halfords said my front left side CALIPER PIN BUSHES needs replacing and this was the reason why the noise was coming from my front wheel. He went onto say that the noise could fade away, however I would need to use the new pads allot, so they could fit into the caliper.He gave me an ultimatum that I should either buy a new caliper or just the caliper pin bush. I asked why the noise never happened during the old pads. He said that the old pads sat into the caliper and that the caliper pin bush now needs to be replaced.

I feel lost and have no idea what to do next. I hope somebody can help me with this issue.

I am currently searching on line for just the Caliper pin bushes,; i am having no luck.

Looking forward to replies.

 

[a1ant]

Hi and WELCOME TO THE FORUM :wave:

Squealing brakes after a brake pad/disk change is very common. Its normally caused when the person fitting the new pads hasn't cleaned the calliper properly or applied copper grease to the rear of the pads.

Does the noise only happen when you are breaking? and then go away when you release the brake? Any "clonking" or banging noises when braking or realeasing the brake?

A calliper repair kit is a LOT cheaper than a new caliper (which at them moment im not believing you need)

I dont want to condemn the halfords "mechanic" just yet, but I can feel it coming...

Alan

 

[barbossa27]

Hello Alan,

Thank you for your quick reply.

The squealing noise happens when I drive and I have noticed it takes place when I move the steering wheel. The noise does not take place when i use the brakes.

I mechanic has done something because the noise has not appeared since i have left the centre, but I can feel it may start up again.

Would you know where I could buy a caliper pin bush from? The mechanic said I only need the caliper bush and not the pin.

I you sure the issue may be the mechanics error, or do the calipers bushes need replacing.

Once again thank you for your reply.

 

[Ziggy122]

If its squealing after brake application

Thats down to
A - poor quality pads sticking
B - Caliper not been cleaned properly
C - No copper grease used to allow free movement
D - A seized sliders / partial movement

If it clears while braking, i'd try cleaning route first

Ziggy

 

[barbossa27]

Hello Ziggy and thank you for the reply.

What do you recommend i do? I know a bit about car service and maintenance but not at this level. I have looked at the brake pads and there is a fare amount of grease. Would you recommend i buy caliper pin bushings?

Once again thank you for your reply.

 

[a1ant]

My advice would be to do nothing as you say the noise has now stopped. Since you have taken the car back he may well have cleaned and greased as we suggested and that has solved your problem.

If the noise returns. Then a strip down and clean is best. Unless your getting knocking noises when breaking then I would suggest there is no wear in the sliders and no need to replace anything.

Alan

 

[Ziggy122]

I found sometimes you have to make the pads bed in

just becareful you dont do what i did

overheat them very quickly

Lots of Short - gentle brake sessions on a quiet road

I did a few harder stops, as a result i had blue scorch rings where i obviously overheated the disc

Ziggy

 

[barbossa27]

Alan and Ziggy,

I am very grateful for your help and advice.

I have to say I am still frustrated at this issue with my car and i hope it does not start up again. I would also like to add that i found Halfods was a very unpleasant experience. My diagnosis was the noise came from the breaks because before i drove into Halfords everything was fine, then driving out this problem began, and i did take it slow on the breaks).
I still can not understand why the mechanic would suggest I change the caliper pin bushing.

Just as a final call for help, would you have any ideas i can get calipe pin bushings from? I have already tried Euro car parts, they only sale the callipers.

Once again thank you guys and sorry if I have been a pain to deal with. I am very happy to join the forum.

 

[a1ant]

Hi,

Halfords, also sometimes know on forms as Halfrauds etc are well known for not always giving the best advice, or providing the best service. I say that not from personal experience, just the general feeling from forums etc

Unfortunately whenever a customer has a problem with something thats just been worked on, often people find it easier to say "oh yeah ur blah blahs a bit worn and ive tweaked it but it may come back" rather than saying the truth which is "I rushed your job, didnt clean the sliders or calliper, and I couldnt be arsed to go and get the copper grease" I SUSPECT this is an example of that. I am always reluctant to condemn someone when I haven't inspected the issue personally myself, as MAYBE there is a genuine issue.
If your calliper DOES require an overhaul, you can buy kits that contain all the parts you would need.

You could of course always take your car to another garage and ask them to check your brakes if your not happy or confident in them.
Alan

 

[barbossa27]

Hello Alan,

Thank you for your help.

I really went to Halfords for 'free brake pads for life' but I have recently realised that the money I paid for the replacement of the pads is the equivalent to the cost of pads i have to use all my life.

I will probably take the car to my local garage and have them check it out.

I would finally like to say, BE CAREFUL if you use Halfords. I will call their head office tomorrow and make a serious complaint about their lack of customer care and customer health and safety.

Once again thank you.

 

[Brendan W]

Brakes are one area of maintenance that still require skill and experience on the fitters part to ensure squeak free operation. Depending on the manufacturer of the pads you are typically talking about filing off excess paint , rounding the ears of the pad, careful and time consuming cleaning of the crud from the caliper, greasing under the piston seals, cleaning, polishing with emery paper and greasing the slider pins and cleaning out the rubber boots .......... ok I'm laboring the point to show that brake squeaking is quite normal if the housekeeping isn't done , it's not like swapping a motherboard and fast food fitter shops will never be at the races when it comes to this level of time and care input so the odd squeak is almost inevitable.
I wouldn't be too worried about what has happened. I have never had to replace a slider pin never mind a bush for same. If there were trouble in that area you would have had lots of other symptoms.
By all means get it checked out , peace of mind has no price but for my money a1ant hit it on the head.

 

[barbossa27]

Hello Brendan W and thank you for your reply.

I feel Halfords at this moment are trying to bosh me off with their technical words. I am going to take the care to a garage tomorrow and a call to Halfords Head office. I personally agree with Alan as they may have rushed the brake job and not completed the proper steps.

Thank you for your reply

 

[atom0007]

I think caliper pin bushes are very unlikely to be the cause of the issue.

All the advice above is excellent.

One other thing is that pads have to bed in, old disks have rusty rims and even if everything else is perfect, it's going to take a bit of time to bed in properly.

Come to think of it, I'm not sure there are bushes at the pin? Pressed into the caliper casting? Presumably, can't remember. There's certainly rubber boots that give up the ghost with age....

 

[atom0007]

A calliper repair kit is a LOT cheaper than a new caliper (which at them moment im not believing you need)

Are you sure about that? I seem to recall that a repair kit was about £40, new callipers about £100 or so.

And who is doing the labour?

I stripped mine, not totally convinced it was the right thing to do.

 

[a1ant]

You can get a basic overhaul kit (aftermarket) for around £15. Op only needs (possibly) the slider bushes. Should take no more that 1hr labour at say £85. Your left with an oem calliper with aftermarket bushes for £100.
To simply change the calliper would take half hour, but would be charged at 1hr (£85) plus the cost of non oem calliper at around £70-£100. So your looking at £155- £185 and are left with a non oem calliper. That's the way I see it anyway. Repair or replace is always a contentious issue. Comes down to personal choice and budget I guess. And of course whatever the garage quotes you for labour. If the place is full of fitters, they'll prob charge you a lot more in labour to repair your original calliper like you say.

Alan

 

[Brendan W]

I feel Halfords at this moment are trying to bosh me off with their technical words.

It's a universal truth that whatever the subject , butterflies of the Amazon, people who really know what they are talking about can explain it in plain English. When the jargon is flowing they are either trying to con you or they don't know what they are talking about.

 

[atom0007]

Best way to understand something is to teach it