Hey guys, i have a 98 es300 and i was planning on changing the front and back pads. I finished the fronts already, but on the rears i have a problem When i compress the piston and put the new pads on, the caliper fits over the new pads but not enough so i can put the bottom bolt in. Am i missing something? Please help me asap.

 

maybe your new pads are just too thick... maybe the shims are too big? or maybe your piston is rusty on the part that touches the pad? maybe the piston isn't completely pushed in? did you rebuild the caliper... if not, maybe it's in bad shape? Usually, it's a tight fit on brand new pads and new rotors.

Here's a tip that I thought about your situation and realize this will help you, push the piston in, all the way, then open the brake fluid reservoir, then stick a zip lock bad on top, then push the reservoir cap back on. now, the bag is going to maintain a kind of suction. [also see if the fluid is too high before putting the bag on and if so take a small amount out]. now install caliper as you were. then later you remove the bag. see if that helps at all.

 

The piston is pushed all the way in, and it does look like the pad is too thick. I thought that all pads were the same thickness haha. I also replaced the fronts and the thickness wasn't a problem. I just put the old ones back on til i can figure it out. thanks!

 

another thing, before you put the caliper on [and/or the bracket] you're supposed to put the lug nuts on the rotor by hand real tight.... you did that, right?

 

Well i only removed the bottom bolt and flipped the caliper up. I didn't do anything to the rotor.

 

When you compress the rear caliper piston, is the other side rear caliper open?

If so, try to leave the other side rear bolted in, finish 1 side and move on to the next.

Are they OEM pads?

 

I was just doing one side at a time, they are not oem. They are adaptive one, from napa.

 

that pin that the bolt attaches to slides. did you adjust that?
Charley

 

I'm not sure what you're talking about, when i put the caliper down, it goes over the pads fine but it doesn't clear the whole caliper assembly. The hole that the bolt goes through on the caliper doesn't clear where its suppose to. It sits right on the of the where the threads to bolt it in on the assembly. Sorry it probably doesn't make much sense.

 

Well i returned the pads i got from Napa and picked up some Hawks. My cousin got Hawks for his rears a while back, so if they don't fit on my car there is a problem. haha.

 

what brand pads were they?
yeah, maybe the pads they sold you were too tall or something, i think i got what youre saying.
gl
Charley

 

They were Napa brand Adaptive One. They weren't too long. They fit where they are suppose to go. But i guess it was just too thick.