0 steps forward and 1 step back

"ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability" (italianjobr53) 03/30/2019 at 19:05 • Filed to: i am clumsy, wrenching

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I was attempting to change the rear  pads on the Mini along with the caliper brackets (brackets have worn too much and I have uneven pad wear). Well, I tore the dust cap on the caliper while trying to pry it off.

On top of that the loaner caliper tool kit from Orielly’s didnt have the correct sized disc thingy to push back the piston.

So, I have accomplished nothing and now have to change that torn boot.

Hows your weekend been so far?

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 03/30/2019 at 19:18

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Caliper tool?  Does the “old brake pad and clamp” trick not work for the mini?

66P1800inpieces > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 03/30/2019 at 19:21

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Might be a rear that needs to be twisted in. They self adjust out on many cars where the rear caliper is also the emergency brake. My old Celica didnt have this but had a mini drum brake setup as the emergency brake inside the hat of the disc rotor .

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 03/30/2019 at 19:26

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I think most newer cars work that way

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 03/30/2019 at 19:27

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What 66P said. The piston needs to rotate while it is being pushed in.

I can use a C clamp and push the piston in a tiny bit, take off the clamp and rotate the piston using pin nose pliers but it would just take tooo much time and effort.

I have bought a cheapo kit for and them dust boots. I will tackle this next weekend or during the week.

EDIT: These are the discs:

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > 66P1800inpieces 03/30/2019 at 19:27

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Correct, the piston needs to rotate while being pushed in.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > MiniGTI - now with XJ6 03/30/2019 at 19:29

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Newish you mean, the Mini is now 15 years old :)

MM54 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 03/30/2019 at 19:42

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From the thumbnail it looked like your droplight was on fire

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > MM54 03/30/2019 at 19:57

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It doubles up as a heat gun :p

Future Heap Owner > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 03/30/2019 at 19:58

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Yup, I’ve been there. At least the car is still drivable! The worst is when you’re doing something simple and fuck it up so bad it can’t even run.

Good luck on  the next attempt!

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Future Heap Owner 03/30/2019 at 20:15

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Ooh yeah, fortunately the piston moved back a little so I could put back the old pads and drive around. Although this means that I won’t autox tomorrow :(

Thanks, I’m gonna need some luck to change the dust boot if the interwebs are to be believed.

Future Heap Owner > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 03/30/2019 at 20:19

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Yeah I cross-threaded a thermostat cover bolt on my tr uck, and then it snapped off when I was trying to extract it... it was a several-week process for me to get it back in running shape (tried several methods of extraction, ended up drilling it to bits, widening the hole, tapping it, and putting in a helicoil).

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 03/30/2019 at 20:33

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That’s wild!  You taught me a thing. 

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 03/31/2019 at 00:12

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Nice. My 2006 Mazda3 was that way anyway and all my MINIs and probably my GTI (about time for brakes on that one this spring).

And I have one of those kits also and none of the tips have really properly fit any of my cars but I think I managed to fudge it well enough to do the job.

Interestingly, the Jaguar (‘85) which had inboard rear brakes mounted on the diff has a separate set of tiny pads for the hand brake. I’ve read its not really meant to me be used to stop the car, only for parking purposes.

MM54 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 03/31/2019 at 09:46

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One of the best things I ever did (in terms of the shop, at least) was put a cheapo LED bulb in my drop light. Not only can it actually survive being dropped while on (and heavily abused in many ways) but it also doesn’t burn your face when it falls on it under the car, etc.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > MM54 03/31/2019 at 11:03

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Good point. I’ll look into it. Thanks!

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > MiniGTI - now with XJ6 03/31/2019 at 11:05

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I’m fairly c ertain that I need what they call a 1 3/16" adapter plate. The kit that I ordered has it.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Future Heap Owner 03/31/2019 at 11:10

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I cross-threaded an outer tie rod end once. Fun part: I was gonna go to SC which is 600 miles away the next day. Fortunately the rental tool for AZ to remove the outer end was able to “push” the messed up bolt out. Then I got another tie rod end, swapped it and drove to SC with no alignment. Apparently I was just 0.18° off on the toe!