Enlarged Brake Pad holes???

[Bill S.]

This is more of a "How did it Happen" type of question.
I had a clunking noise coming from the passenger side of my 66 whenever I braked, which was erratic. I noticed the brake pad backing plate on both front and rear had developed elongated holes where the retaining pin slips through. I shimmed up the gap with copper stock on the front caliper and test drove the car ---
the noise went to the rear now, so I shimmed up the rear. Now the noise was eliminated.
The pins are not worn --- it's just the pin holes in the brake pad ----
I don't get it???
Thanks
Bill




Adirondack NCRS

[John H.]

Re: Enlarged Brake Pad holes???

Bill -

The pin hole in the backing plate is made slightly elongated originally - about .060"-.080", to accommodate dimensional tolerances between the overall length of the backing plate and the overall dimension between the machined surfaces at the ends of the caliper opening for the plate (which wear over time as the ends of the plates are hammered against the caliper by braking action). The pin should show no wear, as it's only intended to retain the pad, not to take any braking forces.