So every time that I’ve ever done a brake job on any of my cars, I’ve ended up swapping rotors for one reason or another. In order to get the new pads to fit over the new rotors, i’ve opened the bleeder valves to allow for piston travel (whenever I can’t push the piston with the mc open), slip in the pads with shims, and slip them over the rotors. After that, i bleed the brakes using the hose in the container (with a bit of fluid) trick and pump the brakes till’ the fliud runs clean at the bleeder. When I go out for a test drive, the brakes drag like crazy. When this happens, I take everything apart and remove the shims. After I do that, everything magically works… Am I doing this right? I’ve done this lately on my tsx and xtrail. Never get squeaks but it doesn’t seem right to take the shims off. Anyone have any advice or know what’s going on? Btw, I do grease the slide pins.
I dunno. I always use a C clamp to push the pistons back in. works fine and gives the space I need.
Did the brakes on my TL w/ brembo monoblock calipers and Duralast CMAX Gold with built in shims and havent had an issue. I use the old pad for leverage to push the pistons back in. Are you cleaning and/or replacing the pad springs if any?
I’m usually able to push the pistons in by hand with my fingers. I wasn’t able to do it this time with the xterra because it’s a dual piston setup. I tried clamping down on them but when that didn’t work, i opened the bleeder and almost bottomed out the pistons. I usually take off and clean the springs with brake cleaner.