C5 Front brake discs and calipers

[Cfiver]

I recently purchased a set of discs and pads for my 2004 C5 2.2 hdi. The discs are listed as 288mm dia and 28mm thickness. When I stripped the brakes down I found that the discs that are fitted measured 283mm dia and 26mm thickness. I made a special tool to retract the caliper pistons and tried to fit the new discs and pads without success.

The pistons would only retract so far leaving approx 8/10mm protruding. This is with the handbrake cable removed and the lever back as far as possible. Although the 288mm outer dia is not a problem the pads will not fit.

Does anyone know if the early 2001/04 2.0 litre calipers are different to the 2.2 litre or am I doing something wrong?

[GiveMeABreak]

Your Discs for your VIN ending 139 are 288mm diameter 28 thick and are listed with part number 4249 H1. The front calipers on my 2001 C5 2.0 HDi SX as a comparison are part 4246 W2 and are 283mm Diameter and 26mm thick.

[Cfiver]

Thanks Mark. Are these numbers somewhere on the calipers?

[GiveMeABreak]

I cant say as I dont do them myself, but these measurements are the ones listed against the part your specific vehicle as per your VIN.

[Gibbo2286]

If the car has 283mm disks it's likely that's what you need to replace them with, very unlikely that they've been changed from original in the past.
My Series 1 2004 C5 2.0 HDI has 283mm disks.

[GiveMeABreak]

Citroen Service state 288mm diameter 28 thick for this VIN - and it is the 2.2 Litre and is a Mark II C5 though Gibbo.

The calipers are also listed as taking a 28mm Disc for this car:
Parts 4400 L8 and 4400 L9
http://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/oem/4400l8

We can't rule out the possibility that the calipers and discs have been replaced with a different type. Although it's nothing odd to replace the front discs every 2-3 brake pad changes, I wouldn't say it is common to replace the calipers - unless where you live is by the sea or they've corroded more than normal?

[Cfiver]

Have just checked with Citroen and they tell me that I should have 288 x 28mm discs but the pads for 01/04 are a different part number so are looking in to it for me.

[GiveMeABreak]

That's exactly as I mentioned in my first post. The pads are listed as SENZA PIOMBO and Part 4252 89, but you should have plenty of choices for obtaining similar from the other usual places.

[Cfiver]

You mentioned discs as 4249 H1 and calipers 4246 W2? I'm a bit confused now as you state 4252 89 for pads

[GiveMeABreak]

You mentioned discs as 4249 H1 and calipers 4246 W2? I'm a bit confused now as you state 4252 89 for pads

That's what confused me as you didn't mention pads until your last post:

but the pads for 01/04 are a different part number..

So as you've now said the garage are looking these up for you, I've posted the PADS part number too.
There are three separate things here, Calipers, Discs and Pads. These are for your 2.2 HDi Mk II C5 as per your VIN ending 139:

Disks (1 on diagram): 4249 H1
Caliper Cylinder (A on Diagram): 4400 L8 (Left), 4400 L9 (Right)
Caliper Yoke (C on diagram): 4404 60 (Left), 4404 61 (Right)
Pads (3 on Diagram): 4252 89

(The reference to the 4246 W2 part number was for the discs on my 2001 C5 SX 2.0 HDi which were 283 mm / 26mm in size that you asked if they were different - and they are).

Does this make sense now?

[Cfiver]

That's great, Many thanks Marc.