Rear Disc Brake Mounting and Hardware Inspection

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2007 Suzuki XL7. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

WARNING:

Refer to BRAKE DUST CAUTION .
Refer to BRAKE FLUID IRRITANT CAUTION .

Fig 1: Installing C-Clamp Over Body Of Brake Caliper

Courtesy of SUZUKI OF AMERICA CORP.

Install a large C-clamp, over the body of the brake caliper with the C-clamp ends against the rear of the caliper body and against the outer brake pad.
CAUTION: When using a large C-clamp to compress a caliper piston into a caliper bore of a caliper equipped with an integral park brake mechanism, do not exceed more than 1 mm (0.039 in) of piston travel. Exceeding this amount of piston travel will cause damage to the internal adjusting mechanism and/or the integral park brake mechanism.
Tighten the C-clamp just enough to compress the caliper piston 1 mm (0.039 in) of travel only.
Remove the C-clamp from the caliper.
Grasp the brake caliper and attempt to move the brake caliper vertically. The brake caliper should not exhibit excessive looseness.
Without disconnecting the hydraulic brake flex hose, remove the caliper from the caliper bracket, and support the caliper. Refer to REAR BRAKE CALIPER REPLACEMENT .
Inspect the caliper bolts to ensure that they are not bent or damaged. If the bolts are bent or damaged, the bolts require replacement.

Fig 2: Identifying Rear Brake Caliper
Courtesy of SUZUKI OF AMERICA CORP.
Ensure the disc brake pads are held firmly in place on the brake caliper mounting bracket, yet slide easily on the mounting hardware (3) without binding.
Inspect the disc brake pad mounting hardware, pad retainers (3), for the following:
- Bent mounting tabs
- Excessive corrosion
- Looseness at the brake caliper mounting bracket
- Excessive wear and/or looseness at the disc brake pads
- Missing mounting hardware
If any of the conditions listed are found, the disc brake pad mounting hardware requires replacement.
Inspect the brake caliper guide pins (1, 4) by gently pushing inward, without disengaging the slides from the boots, then pull outward, and observe for the following:
- Restricted caliper guide pin movement
- Corrosion
- Split or torn boots (2)
- Missing boots
- Looseness in the brake caliper mounting bracket
- Seized or binding caliper guide pins
If any of the conditions listed are found, the brake caliper mounting hardware requires replacement.
Inspect the brake caliper mounting bracket for being bent, cracked, or damaged.
If any of the conditions listed are found, the brake caliper mounting bracket requires replacement.