RE: [alfa] Rear brake question

["Brian Shorey" <bshorey@xxxxxxxxx>]

> So, as noted previously, everything's back together with the 
> brakes, and 
> they're working just fine. However...
> 
> The rear brakes seem to be rubbing on the rotors an awful lot, in my 
> admittedly very inexperienced opinion. When the car's up on 
> stands, the 
> rear brakes make a noticeable rubbing noise when I turn those wheels. 
> This is not parking brake noise, but noise from the new pads 
> themselves.
> 
> I will admit freely that I had a b*tch of a time getting the old rear 
> pads backed out enough to get the new rear pads in. The 
> "c-clamp" method 
> just doesn't seem to work that well with these (in my Honda buddy's 
> opinion) old-school calipers. Couldn't get a good purchase.
> 
> Now, after a bit of driving, I get a noticeable rythmic squeak 
> (squeak-squeak-squeak) that goes away when the brakes are applied. It 
> didn't used to do that before.
> 
> So, what, if anything, did I do wrong? What, if anything do I need to
do 
> to "make it right"?

For future reference, I use two prybars, leveraged against each other,
to retract the pistons into the calipers.  If they don't go in smoothly,
then put the pads back in, pump the brakes, and try it again.

Then, using a small dental pick to raise the rubber boot, I squirt some
mystery oil around the piston.  Some have chastized me for not using
brake fluid, whatever.  The mystery oil has never given me a problem.

Then apply some anti-squeal to the backs of the new pads, and install
them.

Unless the rotors are warped, I never turn them, and have never had a
problem.

HTH,

bs
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