Renewing front brake pads, Xantia Hdi

rmunns · Post by **rmunns** » 24 Apr 2010, 21:43

Sept. 2000 90Hdi saloon, 50500miles, recently had new tyres fitted and while work going on I had a peek at the front pads/discs.

Oh dear!

Pads very thin (probably explains squeaks) but more alarming, discs worn.

Have got new Citroen pads ready to fit. Really need to do this before I can get to fit new discs.

Can I expect any real problems if I do it this way? I know I should do both jobs at once, but I can't afford new discs right now. Will the cylinders go in far enough to get the new pads in?

Not going to use aftermarket discs when I do buy, on my last Xantia I did buy cheapos and they made bad graunching noises.

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 24 Apr 2010, 22:29

I wouldnt put in new pads on old discs if they are badly worn. Its never a recommended thing to do. Fitting pads to good discs is fine, but not to fit old pads (which they will be after you fit them as they will wear to the old, worn out discs) to a new set of discs.

Ive got to say i rarely fit genuine dealer brakes, just about every other part i do fit original parts but not brakes. Dealers charge a rip off price for them and i never notice a change when i got for aftermarket units. Obviously Citroen dont make their own brake parts so why pay more through a dealer.

So long as you go for a good make and quality set of discs you wont have any problems. Id avoid the very cheap brands and go for somehting a little more reasonable. Motorquip make awful brakes, avoid those. I usually fit A-Pec or Ferodo discs and pads. Im pretty heavy on brakes and have never had a problem with these.

For most parts i find dealers to be just as cheap if not cheaper than other places, however for brakes they do seem more expensive.

Gingerposer · Post by **Gingerposer** » 24 Apr 2010, 23:30

Given the relative cheapness of decent pads and discs I wouldn't bother not replacing them all together. I fitted a set, which I bought from an ebay seller, to the rear of my Xantia a while back and have had no problems since. I did a fair bit of checking on here and elsewhere beforehand and the brand used have a good reputation.
As Citroenmad said above, if you fit new pads to old discs, the pads will acquire the wear pattern on the old discs. Then when you replace the discs, you will have reduced braking as the pads are now worn and won't fully mate with the disc surface. Then the pads will also wear the discs faster as the braking effort will be spread across a smaller surface area due to the grooves in the pad surface. Not exactly what you need in an emergency.

ainslie

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 25 Apr 2010, 09:20

i agree with the above, but my discs and pads cost me over 100 quid from GSF as they are the larger discs,

but if you realy have to just fit pads for the mow then buy some cheaper aftermarket pads, then when fitting them if the discs have lip's at both edges, just grind a bevel on the inner and outter edges of the new cheap pads, this will allow the main face of the pads to make contact with a larger area of the disc face,

regards malcolm

rmunns · Post by **rmunns** » 07 May 2010, 07:58

Could someone please post details of the spec of the discs fitted. There seems to be some doubt amongst people i've asked.

Car is a Xantia September2000 (May2000 build) saloon 90Hdi forte

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 07 May 2010, 08:06

if you send your chassis/VIN No. i will check on service citroen's site for the corect disc size that is on your car

regards malcolm

rmunns · Post by **rmunns** » 16 May 2010, 20:37

Malcolm.......... thanks very much. Sorry for the delay.

Chassis # is VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]. Hope that's right, there is some obscuration of the number by the dealer's stamp.

wheels nut · Post by **wheels nut** » 16 May 2010, 21:06

Hope I am not treading on anyones toes
I was just reading so i thought i would have a look.
The part number for the discs is 4246 W6 DIAM 266 EP 20,4
The citroen dealer price is £95.62 inc vat..

HDI · Post by **HDI** » 16 May 2010, 22:31

Unless there is a significant wear lip at the outside edge of the disc then fitting new pads to the existing discs is fine.
The only thing you could call a difficulty that you will encounter is winding the pistons back. This is easy with a wind back tool but if you don't have one the square end of a 3/8" drive extension inserted into the gap between the raised centre and the outside of the piston , driven by a ratchet will do the job

Make sure you disengage and pull out the handbrake cable before trying to swing the outside of the caliper out or the cable will be damaged.

rmunns · Post by **rmunns** » 17 May 2010, 20:53

Thanks.

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 17 May 2010, 21:07

HDI wrote:U This is easy with a wind back tool but if you don't have one the square end of a 3/8" drive extension inserted into the gap between the raised centre and the outside of the piston , driven by a ratchet will do the job

Wind back tools, Ive mentioned this else were on another front brake Posting... We ALL with a tool box have a Windback tool!!

And it works very well, I made a short video somewhere, cant find it now, but a 1/2" drive ratchet, short extension bar, and I THINK a 21mm or 20mm socket..

It grips the centre of the piston, and with slight downward pressure WILL wind the piston back in, it may be slightly stiff at first, but does slaken off as the piston goes back in..

Soooooo much easyer then a square bar or screw driver - a bit of thought into it and its a much faster way! Saves MINUTES!

Paul