Ford KA brake pads.

[motorbiking]

Youngest has bought a Ford KA to learn to drive on. The brakes are a little squeaky. I was going to have the front wheels off and check the pads with him.

I’ve done brake pads on other cars before.

Anything difficult about the KA. I’m assuming it’s open brake fluid tank, retaining pin out, bottom calliper bolt off, top loose bleed valve open, push pads back, swap, revers and top up. ?

 

[robinbanks]

When I’m renewing pads I open the bleed on the caliper before I push the pads in but not the reservoir; pump all the old fluid out of the bleed screw and discard it rather than pump a load of manky fluid back up the system.
I use a G clamp to gently squeeze the pad back in to the caliper and keep it held in to prevent piston movement from drawing air in through the bleed nipple

 

[Mottie]

Anything difficult about the KA. I’m assuming it’s open brake fluid tank, retaining pin out, bottom calliper bolt off, top loose bleed valve open, push pads back, swap, revers and top up. ?

Basically, yeah but I never bother undoing the bleed nipple. I usually use a very large set of water pump pliers to push the piston back. Make sure the calliper slide is not seized. If there’s a small lip on the discs, I just take the edges of the pad off with a file.

 

[robinbanks]

You just squeeze all the fluid back into the system? Oof; the stuff sitting behind the pistons has the hardest life; I’d sooner get rid of it

Depending on how fast you go through brake pads, if you dump it instead, you extend the time between system fluid changes, or possibly obviate the process all together