NA8 - Brake pads too thick?

[Rigez]

I’m currently upgrading the brakes on my ’95 NA8. I’ve got some EBC greenstuff for the fronts. I’m having a lot of trouble fitting the caliper over the installed pads (both sides) – there just doesn’t seem to be enough clearance in the caliper to fit over the pads. I’ve tried pushing the pistons further back into the caliper (with a G clamp) – the first time I tried, I scratched the inside of the piston bores (in both calipers) – so it makes me think I’ve gone far enough, but I still can’t get the caliper over the pads.

Does anyone know what the pad thickness is for the OEM pads?

The only source I can find says 13mm (I’m assuming without the separate metal shim plate). The EBC greenstuff pads are at least 14.7mm – including the rubber anti-noise sticky backing.
I have another caliper here and get the same problem – so I’m thinking the pads are genuinely too thick. I’m considering getting some QFM or Ferrodo pads instead but don’t know how thick these are either.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[CM sport]

Any photos ? That would help a heap. Never had any too thick. Sounds as if you just need to keep the pistons in. It's pretty common for them to spring back out slightly making it a little hard to fit.

[Magpie]

How are you retracting the pistons?

Put the old pads back in, take the cap off the brake master, put the spreader in and very gently pus the pads apart whilst watching the fluid level.

I use this http://www.sidchrome.com.au/products/4-in-1-brake-caliper-piston-spreader-

[Rigez]

I'm using a G clamp to retract the piston. That looks like a handy tool though. As mentioned, I've already tried to push the pistons back in - one got stuck and it took a long time and a lot of pedal work to get it back out when I reconnected it to the car (I left out the pads to try and get it back out.)

I don't want to damage another piston/bore pushing it back in.

Some specs online say the EBC greenstuff are 14mm thick, mine are 14.7 and 14.8 so there's an extra 1.5mm I'm trying to squeeze in. Wonder if that's enough to be a problem.

[Magpie]

With my NB8B calipers I had no troubles fitting pads that measured 15.4mm each without the backing plate. Are the slider bolts working?

[Rigez]

Yep, slider bolts are fine - but obviously can't do them up until I get the caliper over the pads. Think I might take the pads back to where I got them and double check with them. They do machining there, so maybe they can take a millimetre off each pad.

Really like to know how thick the standard pads are though - just can't find it anywhere...

[ralt]

Hi.
Were did you buy the pads from a shop here or on ebay?

[de Bounce]

Stock NA8 and measurements from the Bendix Catalogue
Front should be DB1282 = 110 x 57 x 13 mm
Rears should be DB1283 = 102 x 43 x 12 mm
Based on the above info, fronts should be around 13mm thick and rears should be 12mm
At 14.7 and 14.8, they are definitely oversize

[Rigez]

Thanks for everyones help.

I've given up on the EBC Greenstuff pads for the front...

We (myself and Todd @ RapidRS) got in contact with the EBC distributor. Firstly Todd was awesome at tracking down this problem for me. The potential for problem looks to be at EBC's end. OEM/standard brake pad thickness for NA8 fronts are 12.8mm (excluding the shim/backing plate). We called the EBC distributor and Todd explained the ones he ordered for me were at least 14.7mm. He asked the distributor to physically measure a set of pads they had in stock. The guy said he measured them, and they were 12.8mm. We got that very same set of pads sent over and they measured 14.8mm. We asked about EBC Redstuff, with the same response, specs say they are 12.8, but when measured, came out at 14.8. I ended up going for some Ferodo DS2500 instead (which are 12.8mm thick).

So if you are thinking of getting EBC Greenstuff, you may have trouble getting them in the front, especially if you have new rotors. Specs say they are 12.8mm (not sure if that includes the rubber anti-squeal sticker on the back), but 3 sets of pads we measured came out at 14.8mm. I believe EBC have also now stopped producing these pads for the NA8.

[project.r.racing]

nothing beats TRW/Lucas pads. same preformance as red/greens, a fifth of the price and they fit. they are inexpensive pads, and they give you heaps of dust in return for free!!