Position of Brake Wear Indicator?
- Thread starter Gebo
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Alright, for this discussion, "Up" is towards the sky and "Down" is towards the center of the earth. Of course that assumes the car is in a driveable position with its tires on the ground and the roof farthest away from the center of the earth.
It all depends on the position of the caliper. For example, if the caliper bolts to the rear of the rotor, then the wear indicator should be on the bottom inner. If the caliper bolts to the front of the rotor, then the wear indicator should be on the top inner.
By front of the rotor, I mean calipers mounted on the front side of the vehicle. Cars these days have floating calipers mounted differently.
By front of the rotor, I mean calipers mounted on the front side of the vehicle. Cars these days have floating calipers mounted differently.
You generally put it on the bottom so the wear indicator does not get caught on a burr or an imperfection on the rotor. It also is louder this way too because if the wear indicator is on the top, it compresses. If it is on the bottom, it elongates.
Basically, the wear indicator should be in a position to elongate as it drags across the rotor, and 95% of the time that position is bottom side, outboard caliper. If it elongates, it will spring outward decreasing the chance for it to tear off as well.
Basically, the wear indicator should be in a position to elongate as it drags across the rotor, and 95% of the time that position is bottom side, outboard caliper. If it elongates, it will spring outward decreasing the chance for it to tear off as well.
Kestas
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Wouldn't "leading" or "trailing" be a better way to denote position? The English language can be useful at times.
I try to keep things in layman's terms for the masses. I stay away from esoteric terms whenever possible. Though "leading" or "trailing" probably is not considered esoteric. Remember; BITOG subscribers are not the only ones looking on this board.
Leading or trailing is the best way to describe it. Think of how the rotor will rotate when the car is rolling forward. You want the moving surface of the rotor to be coming toward the wear indicators (leading side).
This will be the top for those cars where the caliper is mounted on the front side of the wheel, and the bottom if it is on the back.
This will be the top for those cars where the caliper is mounted on the front side of the wheel, and the bottom if it is on the back.
Originally Posted By: Michael_P
I try to keep things in layman's terms for the masses. I stay away from esoteric terms whenever possible. Though "leading" or "trailing" probably is not considered esoteric. Remember; BITOG subscribers are not the only ones looking on this board.
Agreed, but we also can't be so general that we're vague, either. "Up" and "down" are relative terms that can be applied differently depending upon how the caliper is mounted (which often depends on FWD vs. RWD, at least for the front brakes).
Everything I've read says that you install the pads such that the wear indicator is on the leading end of the pad -- that is, the end of the pad that the rotor rotates into, rather than the end of the pad from which the rotor rotates away.
Generally speaking, RWD vehicles have steering racks mounted ahead of the engine, tie rod ends that connect to the forward side of the knuckle, and brake calipers mounted to the aft side of the knuckle. In this case, the wear indicators would be on the bottom end (or leading end) of the pad, or the "ground" end of the pads.
FWD vehicles generally have steering racks mounted aft of the engine, tie rod ends that connect to the aft side of the knuckle, and brake calipers mounted to the forward side of the knuckle. In this case, the wear indicators would be on the top end (again, the leading end) of the pad, or the "sky" end of the pad.
I try to keep things in layman's terms for the masses. I stay away from esoteric terms whenever possible. Though "leading" or "trailing" probably is not considered esoteric. Remember; BITOG subscribers are not the only ones looking on this board.
Agreed, but we also can't be so general that we're vague, either. "Up" and "down" are relative terms that can be applied differently depending upon how the caliper is mounted (which often depends on FWD vs. RWD, at least for the front brakes).
Everything I've read says that you install the pads such that the wear indicator is on the leading end of the pad -- that is, the end of the pad that the rotor rotates into, rather than the end of the pad from which the rotor rotates away.
Generally speaking, RWD vehicles have steering racks mounted ahead of the engine, tie rod ends that connect to the forward side of the knuckle, and brake calipers mounted to the aft side of the knuckle. In this case, the wear indicators would be on the bottom end (or leading end) of the pad, or the "ground" end of the pads.
FWD vehicles generally have steering racks mounted aft of the engine, tie rod ends that connect to the aft side of the knuckle, and brake calipers mounted to the forward side of the knuckle. In this case, the wear indicators would be on the top end (again, the leading end) of the pad, or the "sky" end of the pad.
Originally Posted By: Michael_P
That means you are very easy on the brakes which is a good thing eljefino. Though be careful when using the term chirpers. Others here might correct your English and implore you use the term; "wear indicators".
I've had two sets of pads so long they "rust-jacked" and the backing metal shed the friction material. This is dramatic, as it takes about five pedal pumps to get brakes back, and the noise is horrific!
That means you are very easy on the brakes which is a good thing eljefino. Though be careful when using the term chirpers. Others here might correct your English and implore you use the term; "wear indicators".
I've had two sets of pads so long they "rust-jacked" and the backing metal shed the friction material. This is dramatic, as it takes about five pedal pumps to get brakes back, and the noise is horrific!
Originally Posted By: Gebo
I'm assuming we all put the disc brake wear indicators on the insides of our rotors. Do you put the indicator up or down? I have read different views. Eric the Car Guys says to put them on the bottom side of pad. Maybe it doesn't matter.
put them that when going forward the wear indicator is before the pad. so if the caliper is on the front side that's up, if the caliper is on the rear side that's down.
turn it aound and chances are the indicator breaks off..
I'm assuming we all put the disc brake wear indicators on the insides of our rotors. Do you put the indicator up or down? I have read different views. Eric the Car Guys says to put them on the bottom side of pad. Maybe it doesn't matter.
put them that when going forward the wear indicator is before the pad. so if the caliper is on the front side that's up, if the caliper is on the rear side that's down.
turn it aound and chances are the indicator breaks off..
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Originally Posted By: Jetronic
Originally Posted By: Gebo
I'm assuming we all put the disc brake wear indicators on the insides of our rotors. Do you put the indicator up or down? I have read different views. Eric the Car Guys says to put them on the bottom side of pad. Maybe it doesn't matter.
put them that when going forward the wear indicator is before the pad. so if the caliper is on the front side that's up, if the caliper is on the rear side that's down.
turn it aound and chances are the indicator breaks off..
Jetronic, you are speaking my language. I completely understand "before the pad". I got a visual now.
Also, I don't want to misrepresent Eric the Car Guy. His video shows him putting the pads on calipers that are on the rear side. He did say to put them on the bottom and that was all I heard. He did exactly what you are all saying. Apologies to Eric...
Originally Posted By: Gebo
I'm assuming we all put the disc brake wear indicators on the insides of our rotors. Do you put the indicator up or down? I have read different views. Eric the Car Guys says to put them on the bottom side of pad. Maybe it doesn't matter.
put them that when going forward the wear indicator is before the pad. so if the caliper is on the front side that's up, if the caliper is on the rear side that's down.
turn it aound and chances are the indicator breaks off..
Jetronic, you are speaking my language. I completely understand "before the pad". I got a visual now.
Also, I don't want to misrepresent Eric the Car Guy. His video shows him putting the pads on calipers that are on the rear side. He did say to put them on the bottom and that was all I heard. He did exactly what you are all saying. Apologies to Eric...
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When the rotor is rotating forward with the forward motion of the car, the rotor should be able to flex the squealer tang outward if makes contact with the rotor. The outward direction is the direction you'd take if you were trying to bend the tang straight with a pair of pliers.
I always went Leading edge, and I call them "squealers".
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
When the rotor is rotating forward with the forward motion of the car, the rotor should be able to flex the squealer tang outward if makes contact with the rotor. The outward direction is the direction you'd take if you were trying to bend the tang straight with a pair of pliers.
they break that way...
When the rotor is rotating forward with the forward motion of the car, the rotor should be able to flex the squealer tang outward if makes contact with the rotor. The outward direction is the direction you'd take if you were trying to bend the tang straight with a pair of pliers.
they break that way...
So as usual, there is no general consensus from the masses of this board. I never even knew it mattered where you put it. I learned something new today.
Well actually I only learned that it does go a specific way which is yet to be determined.
Well actually I only learned that it does go a specific way which is yet to be determined.
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