XANTIA CALIPERS

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surfer
Posts: 102
Joined: 14 Jan 2003, 17:48
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XANTIA CALIPERS

Post by surfer »

Hi
I will be needing to replace all the pads on my Xantia Activa very shortly as they are all badly worn in one way or another.
With regard to the front calipers, the outboard pads are worn much more than the inners ~ I had the same thing on my AX GT.
(both use single piston sliding calipers: I don't know if this has any influence but one of the AX calipers did seize).
Anyway, I would like to know what, if anything, should be used to lubricate the caliper guide pins?
Or are the guide bushes of the dry PTFE type and therefore do not require lubricant??
For both front and back brakes, the Haynes Book of Fairytales makes no mention of putting a smear of copper grease onto the back face of the pads, to prevent squeal.
I believe this to be good practice when changing pads, so why no mention? Should I still do this anyway??
Thank you for your time.
Simon.
Dave Burns
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Post by Dave Burns »

You shouldn't really need to regrease the guides unless they are contaminated, then use a lithium grease containing molybdenum.
The guide(s) are not disturbed during pad changes, simply remove the handbrake cable from the caliper, brake hose from suspension leg, then pull the R clip from the retaining pin and remove the pin then swing up the caliper to remove pads.
Lubricate the pad slides after removing any rust with copper grease, on refitting ensure one of the notches in the piston is positioned to clear the nogin on the back of the pad.
Rear pads are held in with a single 5mm bolt (8mm head), and on assembly I allways use copper grease in the same fashion as you.
Dave
surfer
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Post by surfer »

Thanks for your help Dave.
Will get discs and pads next week and deal with it.
By the way, sometimes whilst driving away after the car has been parked for a while, it feels as though the handbrake has locked on a little. I have never previously owned a car which operates a handbrake on Discs instead of Drums.
Is this anything to worry about, or is it a case of "they all do that Sir" ???
tomsheppard
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Post by tomsheppard »

That's a little odd, Surfer. I suspect that you may have a slightly draggy handbrake assembly. Normally the reverse applies. One particularly enjoyable Saab 900 (210BHP and lightweight shell) had a habit of arriving at a friend's house with hot brakes<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>. As the thing cooled down, the disks and pads shrank and, because the normal reverse gear lock didn't, the car went bowling off down the hill. Citroens do it too, so always park in gear.
Dave Burns
Posts: 1915
Joined: 14 May 2001, 05:30
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:
x 2

Post by Dave Burns »

Simon, make sure the levers on the calipers that operate the parking brake return fully to their stop position, and that there is about 2 to 5mm clearance (free travel) between the cable nipple and the arm.
When correctly set up the brakes should be firmly on with the first notch of the handbrake lever.
Dave
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