Handbrake centralising strips

[alan71]

I was checking the handbrake ready for the MOT next week when I found the pads on one side badly worn and very little on the other side (other side of the disc that is not the other side of the car).
I have the extra springs fitted to keep the clamping arms apart but they don?t keep the pads clear of the disc or keep the gap equal either side. That?s what the centralising strips are for I suppose, so I bent them back to shape (again) but I know it won?t last. It seems to me it would work much better if the centralising strips were made of springy metal.
So the question is has anyone tried this ? What material did you use?

Alan.

[Elanman99]

Alan

The centralising strips work fine. True, they need to be re-formed when the handbrake pads are replaced but they are springy enough to accomodate the small deflection that occurs each time the handbrake is applied and then just gradually deform as the pads wear.

If the handbrake is adjusted correctly the centralising strips keep the pads just out of contact with the disk face so if the handbrake is only applied when the car is stationary the pads last a long time. I have had the same set of handbrake pads on my S4 for more than 10 years now and have no MOT problems.

Ian

[alan71]

I think I may have found the problem. I had the actuating rods bolted up tight to the caliper. With the car jacked up it looked OK, with equal spacing either side of the disc, but at normal ride height it pushed one pad against the disc.
Before I had them rebuilt there was a short tube in the hole on lever of the caliper so you could bolt the rod tight and it would still pivot, this was replaced with a shorter bush.
Hopefully this explains why the pads only lasted a few months when the old set lasted many years

Alan.