If you are replacing brake pads on your car, it is important to know where the clips go on the new pads. The original brake pads come with clips that should be used for installation but, sometimes you may have to find some other options. So, where do the clips go on brake pads?
Brake pad clips usually go on the inner side of the brake caliper, close to the outer side of the brake pad. The clips should go in between the rotor and the brake pads to separate the brake pads from the rotor, hence why they fit in between them to reduce the effects of excessive driving on the brake pads.
The clips secure the brake pads to your braking system. They also help to keep the brake pad in place so that it can do its job of slowing you down when you need to stop quickly.
Where Do the Clips Go on Brake Pads?
Brake pad clips are usually attached between the brake pad and the rotor by two screws so that the brake pad clip can function properly by pushing the brake pads away from the rotor. This way, the brakes would be insulated from the vibration and there would not be noise coming from the car.
Over time, different people have lodged complaints that the brake pad clip usually causes the brakes to make noise and vibrate but this is a result of the old brake pad clips needing replacement and not the fault of the clips.
Some brake pads have small pins that fit into holes in the brake pads and help hold them in place as well as ensure they mount properly when installed
You will need to make sure your car’s brakes are properly aligned when you install new ones, which means that you should check the orientation of your vehicle’s rotors (the metal discs at either end of each wheel) and make sure that they are still correctly placed.
You can watch an explanatory video made by Raybestos Brakes on their YouTube channel. In the video, he explained everything you need to know about brake pad clips and where they should go. Don’t forget to subscribe if you find their video helpful.
How Do You Use Brake Clips?
To use brake clips, you’ll need to have the pads already installed in your car. For them to work properly and provide maximum performance, they must be installed on both sides of each brake pad.
- The first thing to do is to have the old brake pads and clips removed by using pliers to pull out the brake pads after the caliper has been loosened using a socket wrench.
- After you have removed the old brake pad and clips, install the brake pads, and afterward, place the brake pad clips on the brake pad.
- To install the brake pad clips properly, you need to use a screwdriver or similar tool to push down on each side of one of the clips until it’s fully seated in place.
- This should take just a few seconds per clip and will ensure that there are no gaps between any parts at all when you’re done installing all four pieces together
- Finally, you need to make sure the screws that hold the brake pad clips are held together and tightened so that the clips can be firm and not become loose later.
- You should make sure that the clips are well attached and that they fit into the hokes of the brake pad.
The clips on your pads should be facing forward when they’re installed. If they aren’t, you can use a screwdriver or some other tool with an Allen wrench to adjust them until they are correctly aligned with their respective pads and then insert them into their respective spaces.
Pros of Installing Clips on Brake Pads
The advantages of installing clips on brake pads are:
1. It Reduces Vibration
When the brake pad clips are not properly placed or when they’re worn out or they were not even installed at all and the brake is applied, you will feel vibrations on the brake pedal. The brake pad clips help to reduce all of these vibrations to the barest minimum so it is not felt at all.
2. It Reduces Noise
The brake pad clip pushes the brake pads away from the rotor so that when the brake is applied, the brake pad doesn’t grind against the rotor which causes the noise.
They also prevent debris from getting stuck between your rotor and pad, which helps reduce noise during hard braking or acceleration situations.
3. It Increases the Life Span of Brake Pads
A brake pad with clips is more effective at reducing friction, which means that they’ll last longer on your car’s brakes and increase the life of the pads themselves by preventing them from rubbing against the caliper (which can wear out prematurely)
4. Increases Braking Performance and Safety
When brake pad clips are applied, they usually help make sure that the brake pad doesn’t shift by holding it down so that it can properly do its job of stopping the vehicle when the brakes are applied.
Can I Reuse Brake Pads Clips?
Yes, you can reuse these clips. They just need to be in good condition and cleaned properly.
If your brake pad clips are still new or almost new, you should clean them with a rag and a solvent like rubbing alcohol or brake cleaner before installing them between the brake pads and rotor again.
You can also use compressed air to blow off any dirt from the surfaces where you’ll install the clips onto the brake pad surface (this may mean cleaning off excess dirt around each clip).
This will help make sure that there’s no possible way for rusting inside those holes when they’re installed onto your car’s brake system later on down the road.
Conclusion
Brake pad clips are important because of the role they play in prolonging the life span of the brake pads and also how they reduce or eliminate noise and vibrations. Brake pad cips should be replaced when they have been used for a while so that the brake pads don’t start grinding against the rotor.