Brake pad retaining clips necessary for keeping brake pads securely in place within the caliper, ensuring proper alignment and reducing uneven wear. Without these clips, brake pads can shift, causing noise, vibrations, and reduced braking performance.
Brake pad retaining clips may not look all that important, but they are vital to the correct operation of your vehicle’s braking system. These clips keep the brake pads in position so they do not move around. Loose brake pads could cause the pads to wear unevenly, develop vibrations, or cause the brakes to completely fail. As the main part of the braking system, brake pads do most of the work, but without the retaining clips to keep pads in line and positioned the clips would not function and pads would not be able to do work.
This guide will provide an understanding of brake pad retaining clips, their function, importance and what will happen when they are neglected. This will provide an understanding to keep your braking system performing in optimum condition.
Contents
What Are Brake Pad Retaining Clips?
Brake pad retaining clips are components made of metal or plastic that are designed to secure brake pads to the brake caliper assembly. These clips keep the brake pads rigidly against the rotor and stop any shifting or movement while braking. This is critical during braking to ensure that the brake pads are evenly worn. If they are not evenly worn you will experience a loss in braking performance as well as potential safety issues.
Retaining clips for brake pads come in many different shapes and sizes as they are built for different models of vehicles. However, all are used to hold brake pads in place. Additionally, some clips provide added performance to the braking system by reducing the friction and noise caused by the brake pads.
What is the Importance of Brake Pad Retaining Clips?
While brake pads are a key part of the braking system, clips are crucial to the operation, safety, and performance of the brake pads. Here are some of the many important factors that brake retaining clips provide to brake systems of vehicles.
1. Holds Brake Pads In Place
The most important function of brake pad retaining clips is holding the brake pads in the caliper assembly. Regardless of how difficult a braking system is designed to be to use at a given speed, the pads are subject to forces in all directions. This is how moving and stopping works, and it is crucial to the operation of a vehicle. This is why retaining clips are used. Without them, the pads would be free to shift, and it would result in unintended brake system use. This would lead to poor braking, excess vibration, and could lead to injuries if the brakes fail completely.
2. Better Brake Pad Positioning
Proper brake pad positioning is important so that the entire surface of the brake pad can consistently contact the brake rotor. If brake pads contact the rotor unevenly because of mispositioning, it can decrease brake performance and cause brake pads to be replaced more often. Retaining clips help to keep brake pads in the right position and distribute the wear evenly across the friction surface so that the brake pads last longer and work more effectively.
3. Less Noise and Less Vibration
When brake pads are not held securely, they can move during braking, and cause vibrations, or·make strange noises like squeals or grinding, and rattling. These sounds are often signs of loose brake pads or unaligned brake pads. Brake pads retaining clips help keep brake pads secured so that there is less noise and vibration and the ride is smoother and quieter.
4. Brake Components Last Longer
Correct positioning and alignment of the brake components can keep the brake pads and rotors in service longer. If the brake pads are free to shift in place, they can create premature, uneven wear, and related, uneven wear in the rotors could lead to expensive repairs. Brake pad retaining clips can help eliminate premature wear and tear to the brake components and reduce repair costs.
5. Better Braking
Brake pads that are held in place create even braking pressure across the entire brake surface. This makes braking much more responsive and effective. If pads are not held firmly in place, subpar braking performance will result, and this will occur if the pads fail to fully engage the rotor or if they do so unevenly. Retaining clips are designed to keep the pads in maximum contact with the rotor for effective braking.
What Can Happen If Brake Pad Retaining Clips Are Missing or Broken?
The brake pad retaining clip may be a small piece of hardware but it can lead to really serious issues with the braking system if it is missing or broken. These will be some of the possible outcomes if the clips are missing, broken, or improperly placed:
1. Irregular Brake Pad Wear
One of the issues caused by broken or missing retaining clips are irregular wear on the brake pads. If the brake pads are not held still, then they will shift during braking and lead to irregular wear. This can decrease the total lifespan of the brake pads and lead to more frequent replacements. Irregular wear can also cause more damage to the brake rotors. This may cause damage to the rotor over time.
2. Brakes Become Less Effective
When brake pads are not aligned properly or held in place, they may not be able to touch the rotor fully. This leads to less effective braking and longer stopping times. This leads to the brakes becoming less effective overall. This may also lead the braking system to not function at the most optimal level. This also puts the safety of the driver at risk.
3. Increased Noise and Vibration
Improperly installed brake pads can also result in increased noise and vibration when you brake. If brake pads are installed improperly, you may experience noise such as and squeaking, grinding, and rattling. These noises can be frustrating and are a definite sign that your brake system is not working properly and can cause further malfunction if not repaired.
4. Damage to Brake Rotors
Movement of brake pads can also lead to uneven wearing of the brake pads, which will lead to the formation of hot spots and grooves on the brake rotor. This can create Irreversible damage to the surface of the rotor, which can result in costly repairs and/or replacements. The uneven wearing can also cause the brake system to function improperly because the rotor can warp or crack.
5. Potential Brake Failure
The worst case scenario is that if brake pad retaining clips are missing or broken, there can be brake failure. If the brake pads are not secured properly, they can become loose during driving, and there will be a total loss of braking power. This can trigger major accidents, which is why it is important that the clips are secure and in good working order.
Step-by-Step Guide to Brake Pad Retaining Clips Installation
Note: Guide may vary for different types of vehicles. Follow your vehicle manual for best practices.
The following each step to ensure safe installation of brake pad clips.
Step 1: Lift the car and disassemble wheel.
- Using the jack, lift the car and use stabilizing its position with jack stands.
- Remove the wheel to obtain access to the brake pad system.
Step 2: Remove the brake pad clips and brake pads
- In case of replacement, detach the brake pads and retaining clips and ensure the clips have been cycled out.
- Using a flat screwdriver or a pair of pliers, detach the retaining clips gently as to not cause damage to the brakes.
Step 3: Fit new clips
- Insert new brake clips to their dedicated place. Ensure there is no play and the placement is properly adjustable.
Step 4: Fit new brake pads
- Once the brake clips are properly in place, new brake pads should also be installed in the caliper and the position should be adjusted one more time.
- Gently press the pads to ensure they are held in place.
Step 5: Replace the caliper.
- Once the brake pads and brake clips have been fitted, the caliper system should be closed and the disassembled wheel mounted back to its position. Broken vehicles are dangerous to road users and especially your family.
- Before testing the brakes, ensure that all components are fastened securely.
Step 6: Brake Testing
- Once everything is done, go ahead and test the brakes.
- Listen closely to ensure that everything is in order and functioning quietly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some FAQs about brake pad retaining clips –
1. Is it safe to drive without pad retaining clips?
No, this can cause uneven wear to the brake pads, and can compromise the effectiveness of the brakes and may cause them to fail.
2. How often should brake pad retaining clips be replaced?
Clip replacements should be done according to the condition of the clips, or whenever brake pads are replaced.
3. How can I tell my brake pad retaining clips are broken?
Missing or broken clips can cause strange braking noises, uneven wear on the pads and may cause the braking to be shaken or sluggish.
4. Can I replace brake pad retaining clips on my own?
If you’ve changed brake pads before, then you can put on the clips. It’s best to contact the mechanic if you have any doubts.
Conclusion
Though some may view brake pad retaining clips as insignificant, these tiny components actually play a large role in achieving optimal performance and more importantly, the safety of the entire braking system. By holding the brake pads in their correct position, the clips help to maintain proper alignment, reduce brake pad noise and vibration, and prolong the life of brake components.
Ignoring retaining clips can lead to increased brake pad wear, decreased brake system performance, brake system failure and more. When performing brake system services, brake pad retaining clips should be replaced to help guarantee the safety of the vehicle and the performance of the braking system.
