Brake pad support plate...gone

[enzomorales]

Hi,

Any comments on this would be most appreciated. I've just replaced my brake pads on a rev1 n/a mr2. The old pads needed much persuasion to come out (ie. hammer and screwdriver). I had problems remounting the new ones on the support plates - I guess if I resorted to the hammer and screwdriver I could maybe have got them back in (they are the right pads by the way) but I decided to remove the support plates alltogether and they now fit fine anyone offer any opinion whether this might be an issue ? particularly on the "getting my car to stop" front....Cheers

[paul port]

If you mean the two thin flat plates that cover the back of the brake pad when fitted - then you will be fine running without them (You get a little more noise in use)

If you mean the top and bottom spring parts that the pad sits in - then I would recommend you keep them

paul

[enzomorales]

Thanks for reply. It's the top and bottom spring parts that I've removed. I've just been out for a careful drive building up to some emergency stop testing and the brakes feel fine and sharp with no noise. The pads are a snug fit without the top and bottom support plates, I'd have real problems getting the pads in if I use these plates....Don't really see what significant purpose they serve anyway.....

[Peter Gidden]

They are there to locate the pads correctly and provide a smooth surface top and bottom for the pads to move back and forth on.

If you can't fit your pads easily with them in place, then scrape off the rust on the mounting plate where the guides fit.

Don't drive without them - you're asking for trouble

[enzomorales]

Why do these plates need to provide a smooth surface top and bottom ? can't understand how that would make a big difference as the caliper is pretty smooth top and bottom. Though the plates were maybe just to assist mounting and retaining the pads to the disk when the caliper is off ?

The pads sit perfectly in place without the support plates. I feel as though even if I could jam them into the support plates, the pads movement on and off the disk would be compromised...I think this was a problem for me before as the brakes feel more powerful now that I've removed the plates maybe because pads can move more freely ??

Can anyone offer any insight into the impending disaster awaiting as I can only see improvement, so far ?

[JohnnyC]

Can anyone offer any insight into the impending disaster awaiting as I can only see improvement, so far ?

Pad won't 'come away' from the disc when you lift off the brakes - perhaps it'll only happen on one side and you'll have un-even pad wear?

[enzomorales]

Don't think that'll be a problem. Support plates hold the pad top and bottom and wont effect movement on and off the disc, thanks anyway

[paul port]

Well all the advice so far is to re-fit them
If you have convinced yourself otherwise then so be it....

However, in my experience, the only time pads don't fit or are tight, it's either a build up of rust (As peter suggests) or a build-up of paint on the new pad - Both are really easy to resolve with a tiny bit of scraping.

Just try it before you give up on us entirely.

Paul.

[enzomorales]

Cheers Paul. There's no rust under the mounting plates but maybe its an idea to check the ends of the pads for paint buildup etc like you suggest as maybe the aftermarket pads can be a little oversized for the caliper ? I'm not giving up on you, appreciate all the effort people make in replying to posts like this ....I was just hoping for a better understanding of what my brakes are currently suffering from without the pad mounting plates in place and what could go wrong especially seen as I'm getting better results without them at the moment. Cheers