Rear brake bolts

[Leo Zugner]

We are trying to assemble the rear brakes but have some confusion on the supplied hardware. We assume the bolts should be similar ie 4 of one and 4 of the other. This is what we got in the bag. Are there 3 of 1 and one random one or were we given incorrect hardware? We want to be sure such an important part is put together correctly. Should we go buy matching stuff?

 

[Leo Zugner]

Also, do the pins on the pads need to line up with the piston? And the pins on the outer pad seem to be in the way of the caliper and can’t sit flush.

 

[Markm]

We are trying to assemble the rear brakes but have some confusion on the supplied hardware. We assume the bolts should be similar ie 4 of one and 4 of the other. This is what we got in the bag. Are there 3 of 1 and one random one or were we given incorrect hardware? We want to be sure such an important part is put together correctly. Should we go buy matching stuff?

As long as the non threaded part doesn’t interfere with what you’re bolting together the length is the same so I wouldn’t worry about using it. That’s just how the fastener company made the bolts.

 

[Markm]

Also, do the pins on the pads need to line up with the piston? And the pins on the outer pad seem to be in the way of the caliper and can’t sit flush.

I’m wondering if those are the correct pads. Should be Pontiac solstice brake pads

 

[Robinjo]

I’m wondering if those are the correct pads. Should be Pontiac solstice brake pads

I believe someone else recently had this same issue with wrong pads being in/with the caliper boxes.

 

[Leo Zugner]

Wow didn't think about that. It says Solstice on the box but who knows... We got a few duplicate parts and some parts that were mismatched so I'm wondering if they are having issues in the shipping dept. Do you guys remember having to line up any pins with the calipers?

 

[Markm]

Wow didn't think about that. It says Solstice on the box but who knows... We got a few duplicate parts and some parts that were mismatched so I'm wondering if they are having issues in the shipping dept. Do you guys remember having to line up any pins with the calipers?

I do cause they should be lined up. The pins on the pad hold the piston from rotating when you apply the park brake.

 

[Leo Zugner]

OK great. That's what we thought. Did you have to grind off the pins on the outer pad so it would sit flush in the caliper?

 

[Markm]

I didn’t have to grind off the tabs. I originally was going to use the cobalt brakes on the rear but after getting the tubular subframe I found out the uprights are made to use solstice brakes. I ordered the solstice brakes from rockauto and everything went together easily.

 

[Leo Zugner]

I meant “pins” not tabs. This is what I’m referring to.

 

[Markm]

Same difference but pins are what I meant

 

[Leo Zugner]

lol. ok. Our outer pad definitely doesn't sit correctly in the caliper. Maybe we got some sort of mismatched pad set?

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

If things are not fitting correctly, grabbing the grinder is not the first solution. You need to be certain of the correct parts first. Cross check the parts you have with part numbers - on Rockauto is a good source. Almost no parts from DF require extensive modification to make them fit. It's only when using different parts than those supplied that modifications may be needed.

 

[Leo Zugner]

OK. We will try that. While we do that, can anybody confirm that their outer brake pads don't have pins or if they do, do they index into the caliper somehow?

 

[Markm]

I would go on rockauto and double check to be sure you have the correct pads. Look it up by application and compare the pictures to what you have

 

[Markm]

I found a picture of solstice pads. I can’t remember what mine looked like but this does jiggle my memory

 

[Leo Zugner]

Yeah that's exactly what ours look like. What the heck... We are basically dead in the water until we figure this out...

 

[Markm]

Looking at the wife’s. The spring should be on the inboard side and no spring on the outboard. Really difficult to get a picture with the wheels on

 

[Gtstorey]

I have to say I can't tell squat about what your problem is from your description and pictures. But it has been several years since I assembled mine.

 

[Leo Zugner]

Sorry if my previous posts didn't make sense. Here is a quick mockup trying to explain our issue. Hope this is more clear.