S40 (New) Brakes : Help needed please! Rear caliper won't fit over new disc + p

[StatusRed]

Originally Posted by grayian85

Looking at ur pics your pads are in the wrong way pad w/spring on is piston side. Your pad will slip out and eventually cause you pistone to leak. Hope this helps

That definitely isn't the case, the pad with the spring is on the outside.

[grayian85]

The spring clip on the outside of the caliper holds the pad with no spring on in and stops the pads rattling

[StatusRed]

Originally Posted by grayian85

The spring clip on the outside of the caliper holds the pad with no spring on in and stops the pads rattling

Are you sure? I'm using genuine Volvo brake pads and the pins need to line up with the piston indentations, the pins do not line up correctly if you use the one with the spring on the inside!

[grayian85]

Yeah the pins on the pad with no spring on are not supposed to line up on the piston thats why they don't fit flush I worked for volvo around 2006 i think there was a bulliten out.

[StatusRed]

Originally Posted by grayian85

Yeah the pins on the pad with no spring on are not supposed to line up on the piston thats why they don't fit flush I worked for volvo around 2006 i think there was a bulliten out.

I owe an apology to you!

Today I just happened to be watching a video of someone doing the discs and pads on a Ford Focus and noticed them specifically mention that the spring pad had to go on the inside!

That made me remember this thread and revisit it. I immediately went out and swapped my pads sides over and noticed how much easier it was to put the calipers over once I had reset the piston again.. It was so, so easy compared to before so I think the pins sticking out where the piston was, was what made it so hard to put the caliper back on the first time. There was probably nothing wrong the Brembo pads I initially tried to use.

One thing I have noticed is that now the hand brake is far easier to pull up and the brakes don't seem as "firm" when I press down. Maybe this is how the brakes are actually supposed to be though? I have driven around a bit and set the handbrake on a steepish hill to check it would hold it and it all seems fine. Can anyone advise?