How to Install Carbon Kevlar Brake Pads (Rear), on a 1993 MR2 Turbo

From: "Marc L. Summers-SysAdmin" (marcs@tdd.hbo.nec.com)
Subject: How to Install Carbon Kevlar Brake Pads (Rear), on a 1993 MR2 Turbo
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 11:09:07 PDT

                      Detailed Instructions on how to
                      Install Carbon Kevlar Brake Pads
                      (Rear), on a 1993 MR2 Turbo

     SEE ALSO:

        Installing Carbon Kevlar Brake Pads (Front), on a 1993 MR2 Turbo


     DISCLAMER: Note, as always, what you do to your car, is what you do
                to your car.
                In other words you do it, and your responsible, no one else.

     NOTE: Any time you are working on a system as important as your brakes
           please make sure that you double check yourself, or if you have
           them available, have someone else look over your work, and make
           sure that you have not left something off, or have a bolt missing
           or did not tighten something.  It is just common sense to check
           your work. I try to use as much of it as I can.

     TOOLS USED:
                
                12mm openend/boxend wrench
                12mm socket 3/8 drive
                10 inch 3/8 drive extension
                torque wrench
                12 inch bungi cord
                caliper wrench tool (sears has them $8.00)
                If you need, seperate torque wrench that goes to at least
                76 ft lbs to retighten your wheel lug nuts.
                13/16 socket 1/2 drive for wheel lug nuts.
                1/2 drive breaker bar
                3/8 -> 1/2 drive adapter (for my torque wrench).
                small flashlight
                small mirror
                Common Sense, (use liberally)
                
     OTHER PARTS PURCHASED: 
     
           (orange colored) anti squeal sealant.               
                
     DISCLAIMER: This is not a product endorsement, it is not meant
                 as an advertisement, this is simply my observations of
                 this product, so that others may be able to make an
                 intelligent informed decision.

               Carbon Kevlar brake pads
               (Purchased from broderij@tcplink.nrel.gov
                John Broderick, Mr.2 Performance Products)
               Cost $125 + $8 S&H (set of 4 pads).
               
     NOTE: please make sure that you read these instructions all the way
           through at least once before proceeding.

     NOTE: It is assumed that you already have your own set of shop manuals.
           These are almost a must if you plan on doing any work on your car.
           I got mine through my dealer at a cost of $40 (US) each for the
           two books.  Please, if you plan on doing most of the work on your
           car, as I do, then the shop manuals are a must buy.

     PROCEEDURES:

     NOTE: I do not have a lift or do I have access to one, so this proceedure
           is done using the stock sissor jack that comes with the car.

     NOTE: For those that may not have a flat level surface to work on you may want
           to put some chocks on the front wheels to keep the car from trying 
           to roll when you take the parking brake off.
           
           Choose one side to start, I started on the passengers side, and jack up
           the car.  Using your 13/16 socket and 1/2 drive breaker bar, loosen all
           of the lug nuts and remove them and the wheel and set them aside.
           
           Make sure you release the parking brake lever.  Now locate the one
           bolt on the bottom of the rear side of the brake caliper and using
           your 12mm openend/boxend wrench, loosen this bolt and remove it.
           Set it aside for now, (you might want to check it for rust.)
           Now the caliper should swing up, from the bottom, you may have to
           push a little on the parking brake cable, swing it up and then
           using your 12 inch bungi cord, wrap the cord in the lower rung of
           the shock coil spring, and hook the end of the bungi cord hook, on
           the end of the brake caliper. Now stretch the other end of the bungi
           cord down and hook it also on the end of the brake caliper.
           This will hold it up out of the way while you remove and install
           the brake pads.
           
           Now first observe how the front brake pads are positioned in the
           pad seat.  Once you are sure you see how they are set in place, then
           go ahead and pull out the front pad along with the associated 
           anti squeal shims (there are two on each pad.)
           
           Do the same for the rear pad, and remove the pad and the shims.
           
           Now clean the shims, I used some dish washing soap and a little
           scrub pad, and clean them and dry them off.
           
           Now we are ready to apply the anti squeal sealant, I bought a small
           bottle of it over at Baxter Auto. 
           
           NOTE: it doesn't take a lot of this stuff to work, so don't
                 go overboard in putting it on.  Also remember that it is
                 going to get squeezed so apply it lightly.
            
           Make sure the back side of the brake pad is clean, and judging the
           size of the shim as it lays on the brake pad, then goop on some
           of the anti squeal sealant on the back side of the brake pad and
           then stick the inner anti squeal shim in place.  Then goop some
           more anti squeal sealant on that inner pad, and then stick on the
           stainless steel outer anti squeal shim.  You can let this set for
           about 10 minutes if you prefer, or you can go ahead and set it
           back in place.  When setting the front pad in place make sure you
           observe how the springy part of the pad holders go in the square 
           groove on the pad.  
           
           Now do basically the same thing for the rear or inside pad, put some
           anti squeal sealant on the backside of the brake pad and then stick
           the inner anti squeal shim in place making sure that the shim hole
           goes down inplace on the pad round protrusion.  Now put some more 
           anti sealant goop on the top of the inner anti squeal shim and
           then stick the outer anti squeal shim in place again making sure
           that the hole in the shim fits down over the round protrusion on
           the pad.  Otherwise you are going to wind up with some very bent
           shims.
           
           Now you can wait awhile until the goop sets up and place the pad
           or you can put it in place now if you want, just make sure that
           you don't get any of the anti squeal sealant on the face of the
           brake pad.
           
           Now place the rear pad in place. check that it seats properly on 
           the face of the rotor.
           
           Now you are ready to turn the caliper piston back so that the brake
           caliper housing will fit back over the now, much thicker new pads.
           using a long 3/8 drive extension press the special caliper tool on
           the end of the extension and then the extension on the end of your
           socket drive, and line up the holes with the U grooves on the
           caliper piston, and turn it clockwise.  You will have to turn is
           several turns until it seats fully back almost flush with the
           face of the caliper.  As you look at the face of the piston the
           U grooves need to be at 12 oclock, and 6 oclock make sure you
           look at the picture in the shop manual to get a good idea of
           how the piston is suppose to be lined up.
           You should then be able to release the bungi cord,
           and aligning the caliper push it back in place over the
           new pads.  
           
           Make sure that you don't catch one of the shims on the edge and
           bend it while you are trying to put the caliper in place.
           
           Now you are ready to replace the one bolt, place the bolt and you
           may have to move the caliper up just a touch for the bolt to slide
           back in place.  Then tighten the bolt down to the torque speck of
           14 ft/lbs using your 12mm socket and torque wrench.
           
           Now, please, inspect your work, use the flashlight and mirror and
           check to see that everything looks OK.  After you have checked you
           are ready to put the wheel back on.
           
           NOTE: I will not go through the proceedure to bleed the brakes
                 or flush the brake fluid as these are outlined in detail
                 in my how to change the front brakes, and also since I
                 have already done this when I changed out the front brakes.
                 
           Now put the wheel back on making sure to properly torque each lug nut
           to its 76 ft./lbs. of torque, and at the same time torquing in a
           star pattern so as not to cause the wheel to warp.
           One thing I do is to torque the lug nuts down to about half, 40 ft
           lbs, and then finish them off by torquing them down to spec.
           
           After you have finished putting the wheel back on then lower the car
           and get ready to do the other side.  You may want to reapply the
           parking brake while you are lowering and raising the car.
           
           Now jack up the other side of the car and remove the wheel, and 
           basically follow the outline above and remove the old pads,  clean
           the shims, goop the shims and place them on the new pads, and then
           put the new pads in place, rotate the piston clockwise to retract it
           and align up the U grooves in the piston at 12 oclock and 6 oclock
           and then slide the caliper back in place and tighten the bolt.
           
           Then put the wheel back on and your done with the pads.
           
           Now I will include a section that John Broderick gave me for adjusting
           the parking brake.
           
           1. put the parking brake on full with the engine idling in neutral
              press firmly the brake pedal 4 times slowly
              
           2. now press firmly the brake pedal and hold it
              release and apply the parking brake lever 4 times.
              
           This proceedure is recommended before bedding the rear pads.  
           
           This proceedure should be done any time you change your rear brake
           pads and any time you feel the brakes may be getting a little soft.
           Also perform the proceedure as a regular maintainance perform this
           proceedure everytime you change your oil out.
           
           Thanks John, for this proceedure I tried it and it really does work.
           
           Now please refer to my section on bedding the pads in my how to 
           detailed proceedure on installing the front pads.
           
           Now I can say from experience that you will have some really
           AWESOME! stopping power.
           
           Remember have fun and try to keep it under 150 MPH :^)


Marc L. Summers