Rear brake discs and pads. Very recent experience for anyone doing theirs.

[simonedwardscamera]

Afternoon everyone,

Just changed the discs and pads on my '05 MY 2.2 TiD Lin Sport Estate.

I read a few bits and pieces on line but I thought just in case anyone else was thinking of doing theirs I would comment on what I found.

Starting with caliper removal, it's all straightforward. You will need a 7mm allen key to get the slider bolts out. I thought I'd be ok with my ex VAG one but it was way long and fouled on the spring. What you could do is what I ended up doing; 7mm allen on a 1/4" drive extension which will pass through the coils on the spring.

Once thats off, if your'e only doing pads then its the normal clean up, copaslip or mintex/pagid Ceratec and pop it all back together, remembering to copaslip the hub face too (unlike Protyre Cheltenham...ahem)

If you are going to change the discs too, get yourself an 18mm ratchet ring spanner and some muscles! My car had only done 93k miles on this set of discs so the bolts were factory tight and indeed the fronts which I changed at about 80k needed a 3 foot breaker bar to get them free. So with an an 18mm socket and breaker bar crack the bolts off then with your ratchet ring spanner undo them. They are pretty locked in with Loctite from new so expect a little bit of effort here!

Now to get the discs off you MAY have to loosen your handbrake shoes. Luckily mine were so badly adjusted that the drums more or less fell off (congrats Oxford Saab for never REALLY fixing the handbrake and just doing up the adjuster in the cabin). If yours wont come off, and remember you might need to wire brush the spigot part of the hub where it comes through the disc too. Firstly, handbrake off and I undid the adjuster in the cubby box too, then you need to locate the adjuster which is at the top of the backplate and visible through the hole in the disc. On the O/s you flick the adjuster down to slacken it and on the nearside it is up. After doing that and undoing the torx headed screw holding disc and hub together, the disc should come off.

Refitting is the reverse, etc etc.

I adjusted the handbrake up until it was just tight enough not to be able to spin the disc, remembering that the shoes will self centre so yank the handbrake on a few times.

All seems well so far.

BTW I got the parts (Pagid) from Neobrothers. Never used them before but they were very efficient and it cost me around £70 delivered.

Hope that helps, if not I am sure someone will tell me!

[stevetreacy]

Thanks for info, this is my next big job. Good price too.

steve

[Norfolk Jim]

GSF quoted me £25.15 + Vat for each rear disc and £12.50 + Vat for pads - so £75.36.

Discs are Brembo and pads their best quality.

Have just had my fronts done and GSF again provided Brembo 288mm with their higher quality pads all for £87 inc Vat. Fitted by my chap for £35. Amazing difference. My guy reckons mine were still the originals on the front at 125k as they has Saab stamped on back and old number. Pads were Saab

[Norfolk Jim]

Forgot to say mines a 55 reg Vector Sport 2.2tid estate.