Fellow listers,
I've been blessed with some good advice on the list lately concerning my
brakes. Acting on some of that advice, I decided to check the easiest
thing first - are my brake pads getting free movement in the caliper
assembly so that they can retract.
After pulling out the pads on the driver's side I found a blue sticky
substance spread thinly and evenly over the entire back of both pads. A
tiny amount also had gotten on the lip of one of the pistons. What the
heck is this stuff and should it be there? I didn't put the pads in - the
shop who rebuilt my calipers did that for me. In my lack of experience I'd
say that the stuff looks like that gasket maker stuff. I can't believe
that such a sticky substance should be near my calipers.
Also, I have no anti-squeal shims as part of my assembly. I think the pads
I bought were supposed to have some built in anti-squeal. Unfortunately I
threw away the box already. In any case, I haven't detected a squeal yet. :)
Lastly for now. To check the master cylinder push rod to ensure that
pressure can be relieved when I release the brake pedal and therefore not
cause my brakes to bind, I assume I have to drain the brake fluid out
completely first. Not good enough to just suck it out of the reservoir -
this would leave too much fluid in the area of the push rod, no?
Thanks a million for all the help. I've stopped for the moment until I
understand the mystery of the blue sticky substance.
Philip
Burgundy 1974 Midget
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