Replacing Front Pads

[BlueJay]

I used to replace the pads on my FIAT with a screwdriver, pliers, a hammer
and a C clamp.

1-Pull cotter pins on shims with pliers
2-Drift out the shims by tapping on them with screwdriver/hammer
3-With pad out use C-clamp to push caliper piston back far enough so new pad
will fit.
4-Reverse process

I now have a '93 Impreza LS with front and rear discs (14" wheels). Is the
above process
going to work or are there some tricks to the Subaru's?

 

[hippo]

I used to replace the pads on my FIAT with a screwdriver, pliers, a hammer
and a C clamp.

1-Pull cotter pins on shims with pliers
2-Drift out the shims by tapping on them with screwdriver/hammer
3-With pad out use C-clamp to push caliper piston back far enough so new
pad
will fit.
4-Reverse process

I now have a '93 Impreza LS with front and rear discs (14" wheels). Is
the
above process
going to work or are there some tricks to the Subaru's?

* Remove wheel (well I don't have to on the bike ok?)
* Remove bottom bolt from caliper
* Swing caliper up
* Remove clip and pads & remember where shims and wear indicators go if
fitted
* Push piston right back
* Check rotor condition then reverse proc, making sure that shims and co
go back correctly
* You may need to jiggle the caliper a bit to get both pads to clear the
edge of the rotor
* Tighten bolt, replace wheel and pump pedal to clear slop *before*
driving

Oh yeah ... and you won't have to shut your eyes to avoid seeing the rust
holes in the firewall and the front crossmember like I usually had to on
older Fiats either! Cheers

 

[L. Ross Raszewski]

I used to replace the pads on my FIAT with a screwdriver, pliers, a hammer
and a C clamp.

1-Pull cotter pins on shims with pliers
2-Drift out the shims by tapping on them with screwdriver/hammer
3-With pad out use C-clamp to push caliper piston back far enough so new pad
will fit.
4-Reverse process

I now have a '93 Impreza LS with front and rear discs (14" wheels). Is the
above process
going to work or are there some tricks to the Subaru's?

That sounds about right to me. The main thing I recall from changing
the pads on a Subaru of that era is that moving the caliper will
loosen the bleeder valve for the brake line. I'd spilled quite a bit
of brake fluid before I got that fixed.

Oh, and get the biggest C-clamp you can find. We had a really hard
time getting it to find purchase on the piston.

 

[Mike]

They do sell an inexpensive easy to use tool for that at autozone, advance
or probably anywhere. All it is is a piece of metal and a screw.

 

[Todd H.]

They do sell an inexpensive easy to use tool for that at autozone, advance
or probably anywhere. All it is is a piece of metal and a screw.

In my experience, a caulk gun and a could paint stirring flats can
even do the honors....

 

[Todd H.]

In my experience, a caulk gun and a could

that last word was supposed to be "couple"

 

[hippo]

that last word was supposed to be "couple"

--

Sounds fair enough, but I usually just use the wheelbrace from the
toolkit. Works fine once you get the angle in the right place. Cheers

 

[QX]

I used to replace the pads on my FIAT with a screwdriver, pliers, a hammer
and a C clamp.

1-Pull cotter pins on shims with pliers
2-Drift out the shims by tapping on them with screwdriver/hammer
3-With pad out use C-clamp to push caliper piston back far enough so new pad
will fit.
4-Reverse process

I now have a '93 Impreza LS with front and rear discs (14" wheels). Is the
above process
going to work or are there some tricks to the Subaru's?

FWIW, dealer quoted me $250 per axle for brakes on my late model
Forester.