94 Cobra front caliper problem/question

[baja-chris]

Upon inspection to find the cause of a noise I heard when applying the
brakes, I found one of the front calipers (94 Cobra) is missing the two
"cups" that locate the caliper on the pins on the backside of the pads,
if that makes sense.

The caliper is moving around and hitting the inside of the wheel rim. The
other front caliper has these cups that look like they are either pressed
into the caliper to center on pins in the back of the pad OR the pads
are supposed to have these cups attached (riveted?) to the back of the
pad to locate the floating caliper.

Went to two Ford dealers and Napa and none were able to tell me how to
correct the problem. They don't show the cups and don't know what to
sell me, and they don't know if the pads come with the cups attached.

Any advice? Thanks in advance!

94 Cobra vert #237. 3.55/Eaton LS, Eibach/Bilstiens/MM CC plates.

 

[SublimeRT]

Got any pics of what you're talking about? That would help a little.

 

[baja-chris]

Don't think I'm allowed to post pics, being a newbe and all.

The two "cups" are on the outside of the caliper, about 1" in diameter
and are right below the "COBRA" cast into the caliper, one is below
the "C", the other missing cup is below the "A". There are holes in the
caliper casting where you can see the back side of the pad (or on a normal
one, you see these cups). Maybe there are supposed to be dust caps over
the cups?

 

[1 BA SVT]

Upon inspection to find the cause of a noise I heard when applying the
brakes, I found one of the front calipers (94 Cobra) is missing the two
"cups" that locate the caliper on the pins on the backside of the pads,
if that makes sense.

The caliper is moving around and hitting the inside of the wheel rim. The
other front caliper has these cups that look like they are either pressed
into the caliper to center on pins in the back of the pad OR the pads
are supposed to have these cups attached (riveted?) to the back of the
pad to locate the floating caliper.

Went to two Ford dealers and Napa and none were able to tell me how to
correct the problem. They don't show the cups and don't know what to
sell me, and they don't know if the pads come with the cups attached.

Any advice? Thanks in advance!

94 Cobra vert #237. 3.55/Eaton LS, Eibach/Bilstiens/MM CC plates.

Ford isn't going to sell these seperately and neither will anyone else. The best thing for you to do is get another caliper. Search some other stang boards to see if anyone is selling any cobra brakes or see what ford wants for a caliper( will probably come loaded)....if you don't have any luck let me know a buddy of mine works at a ford dealership and I get real good deals on parts.

 

[MAXX RS4]

Ford isn't going to sell these seperately and neither will anyone else. The best thing for you to do is get another caliper. Search some other stang boards to see if anyone is selling any cobra brakes or see what ford wants for a caliper( will probably come loaded)....if you don't have any luck let me know a buddy of mine works at a ford dealership and I get real good deals on parts.

Try a junkyard. They usually sell any piece individually.. But it's a piece that ford will not sell alone. Goodluck

 

[fullofvenom]

Upon inspection to find the cause of a noise I heard when applying the
brakes, I found one of the front calipers (94 Cobra) is missing the two
"cups" that locate the caliper on the pins on the backside of the pads,
if that makes sense.

The caliper is moving around and hitting the inside of the wheel rim. The
other front caliper has these cups that look like they are either pressed
into the caliper to center on pins in the back of the pad OR the pads
are supposed to have these cups attached (riveted?) to the back of the
pad to locate the floating caliper.

Went to two Ford dealers and Napa and none were able to tell me how to
correct the problem. They don't show the cups and don't know what to
sell me, and they don't know if the pads come with the cups attached.

Any advice? Thanks in advance!

94 Cobra vert #237. 3.55/Eaton LS, Eibach/Bilstiens/MM CC plates.

those cups, as you call them, are what holds the pad to the caliper. they are attached to the back of the pad. get new pads cause yours must be f'ed if those two pieces are broken. and you don't need a new caliper, unless either of the 2 holes are busted up and won't hold a new pad. the pad gets pushed into the pistons on the inside pad and into those 2 holes on the outside pad. there is no dust cap for them, there's not supposed to be.

 

[baja-chris]

Thx for the advice. Got new pads and they had the cups riveted to the
backside. Install was easy but bought rears too and I can not get the
rear caliper piston to retract far enough to make the new pads fit over the
rotor. I disconnected the parking brake cable and tried compressing the
piston with a 12" C-clamp with an extension on the handle - tight as I can
get it and the piston still won't retract all the way. Must be something to
do with the e-brake mechanism? Is there a trick? Do I have to open the
brake fluid line? Or remove the spring loaded crank from the caliper?
Like I said, I did remove the cable from that crank.

 

[fullofvenom]

opening the master cylinder might help, but it would be much easier (and effective) to use the piston compressor tool. its a clamp with little tits on the end that fit right into the notches in the piston. makes life a LOT easier and, unless there is something wrong with the piston itself, should screw the piston all the ay in so you can get the pads over the rotor.

when your turning the piston in, you are working WITH the e-brake spring, not against. i suspect if you get the right tool, you will have no problem with it. i know you can rent the thing for a couple bucks at autozone (they give you the deposit back, so its virtually a free rental).

 

[baja-chris]

I did not realize the rear piston screws in. Bought a $9 tool that did not fit,
modified the tool, and finished the job. No problem once I found out how it
worked.

 

[fullofvenom]

there you go. nice job.

 

[Red98CobraStang]

I did not realize the rear piston screws in. Bought a $9 tool that did not fit,
modified the tool, and finished the job. No problem once I found out how it
worked.

I had to do the same damn thing. autozone tool right? i had to grind off 2 of the pins on one side of the tool for it to fit in the piston.

 

[Dano]

Doing calipers & pads are really tough, unless you take the time to look at a service manual. The Haynes manual shows the complete novice exactly what to do. If you can't read, that would be the only hold back ... worst part of the job, to me, was getting the car up on the maint stands.