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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Brake pad locking pins -NMC

Brakes on some moderns (RS6 Audi, in this case) have thin locating pins which go through both sides of the caliper and through holes or loops in the actual pads. I think the pad sprung steel plates usually also hook under these pins. To remove and change the pads these pins obviously need to come out which usually just involves a few gentle taps with a little thin drift. Only sometimes they are just solid and simply won't budge!

So the question: they each have a small loosely fitting little barrel shaped split collar near the end. I suspect this somehow locks the pin in place but I cannot see exactly how?
Any hive knowledge on this?
GuyW

Sorry I can’t help on the pins but if you’re thinking of replacing the pads at the rear and have a automatic handbrake you need the software on a laptop to release the handbrake.
James Paul

Yep, thanks James, done that.
I thought it was going to be more complex to reset them but one just needs to put it into service mode.
GuyW

One of my previous vehicles had something like that, can't remember which currently but I took it to be the equivalent of a spring clip, it just tapped out.

Similar on MX5:
https://www.mx5parts.co.uk/front-brake-pad-retaining-pin-brembo-mx5-mk4-rf
AdrianR

That's exactly it Adrian.
Two of the pins just tapped out in the direction of the collar. The other two just seemed to be solid to the point that tapping on the end with a punch was beginning to bend the pin in the middle. At that point it was put back together and taken to specialist garage. They cut the pins but couldn't remove the remaining piece. They have soaked it in easing fluid over the weekend and say they will use a presss. That's a bit worrying as the danger is cracking the caliper and they are NOT cheap!

I still don't understand the mechanics of how that collar thing works.
GuyW

I can sympathise with the problem - my VW only gets driven about once a week now so the rear brakes rusted out before they wore out. Fortunately all did come apart and the replacement pads came with new clips and pins.
AdrianR

I suspect the problem is bi-metal corrosion between the little spring collar (steel) and the caliper (alloy). That, or the collar itself rusting on the inner surface and the rust preventing it from compressing innwards to release from the caliper.
GuyW

Seems likely. Heat is probably undesirable to avoid damage to caliper seals but I guess the remains could be drilled/milled out if you have a suitable machine available.
AdrianR

This thread was discussed between 05/07/2024 and 08/07/2024

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