Front brake concern

[Smokey]

Ok, so I was cleaning and regreasing the brakes today. Reason for this was 2 fold:
1. I was interested to know why the o/s/f wheel had loooads of brake dust on the alloy in a pattern that was different to the other side....
2. I felt a slight tracking or braking issue on the way to Knockhill last time and wanted to narrow it down to possibly just tracking.

I was thinking maybe the front slider pin was jamming (I know it's usually the back) but figured it was a good time to check and clean them all.

Rears were spot on. These are the ones I had issues with when I got the car and had to hammer the feckers out!

Fronts too seemed fine except one slider pin.

Now I wish I'd taken a photo but it was raining... out of the 8 sliders, 1 of them (o/s/f) is different in that instead of just the metal shaft that goes in to the caliper....it has an indent in which a rubber bit sits. This makes the pin a lot more difficult to pull out (like suction or something). I have now removed it and the slider is much smoother.

Is this maybe a pin from another car?

Should I put the rubber bit back on?

Has anyone else seen this?

Will Batman escape once more from the clutches of the Joker?

Tune in on Monday to find out if the car explodes due to this bit or rubber being removed!!

[peterzs]

What grease you using, have been reading that copper grease can loose its slippy, sliding action, due to drying out.

[Ritchy]

probably off another car, mazda rear ones have the rubber washer on the slider, all itll be is a dampner to stop knocking.

[petet16]

I've seen both types fitted to Rovers, and have also found that it fits one of the holes in the carrier better than the other:hmm:

Are Robin and Catwoman an item:clap:

[Smokey]

Pete, it was a slightly stickier proposition in one hole than the other (ooer missus!)

I assume removing it is fine then and hopefully the brakes will be free to move now? Would I be right about my diagnosis?

And Peter, I used Carlube copper grease. I think it does eventually dry out but if I redo them every 4-6 months I'm not concerned. I did them when I got the car and they were free moving today.

[petet16]

I think it'll be fine as you have it now.

[Smokey]

Cool, cheers. Will know on the drive to Knockhill if this is what caused the slight pull from the steering.

[Fred68]

Pete, it was a slightly stickier proposition in one hole than the other (ooer missus!)

I assume removing it is fine then and hopefully the brakes will be free to move now? Would I be right about my diagnosis?

And Peter, I used Carlube copper grease. I think it does eventually dry out but if I redo them every 4-6 months I'm not concerned. I did them when I got the car and they were free moving today.

Sometimes the pin fit around the rubber boot is so good a vacuum is created as you pull it out! If you clean off the copper grease and use CV joint grease instead you will only need to re-grease every year say before the mot!!

[Smokey]

I probably will next time Fred. Although I will be keeping up regular maintenance to be safe as it only ever gets thrashed on track and some of the guys brake waaay more than I do!!