Need Help. Incompatible Brake pad.

[bonoz]

At first I thought I had accidentally put rear pads onto fronts and front pads onto rears, but that wasn't the problem.

The problem is that my rear brake pads' clips are quite rather big for my rear caliper's piston (stock).

How shall I go about fixing this issue?
Should I compress the clip so that they are able to fit into the piston using a plier?

I bought my brake setup from www.bimmerzone.com
they had a good deal on it. I know many people who bought that package; if you're one of them please help me out.

[96 328ic]

At first I thought I had accidentally put rear pads onto fronts and front pads onto rears, but that wasn't the problem.

The problem is that my rear brake pads' clips are quite rather big for my rear caliper's piston (stock).

How shall I go about fixing this issue?
Should I compress the clip so that they are able to fit into the piston using a plier?

I bought my brake setup from www.bimmerzone.com
they had a good deal on it. I know many people who bought that package; if you're one of them please help me out.
did you compress the piston? im not sure why its not fitting... take a c clamp and clamp down the piston to push it in.

[bonoz]

Yes I've compressed the piston.

It's just that the piston hole is small and the clips are too big. I thought I'd ask here before I tried anything insane.

[96 328ic]

Yes I've compressed the piston.

Is just that the piston hole is small and the clips are too big. I thought I'd ask here before I tried anything insane.
Strange, they should fit if they are for your car? you didnt happen to get m3 pads or something did you? They might be bigger

[96 328ic]

id contact bimmerzone

[bonoz]

These are the one I got: http://www.bimmerzone.com/parts-special-brake.htm

and it clearly says E36 and NO M3.

[choffa]

Check the diameter of the spring clip at the base, if that diameter will fit inside the piston, you're good to go. Compress the flared wings of the spring & jam it in there. When new, the springs are very tight. Might have to compress with a pair of pliers & wiggle them in, then pop into piston

If the diameter is bigger than the bore of the piston, return them. Could be incorrectly boxed.

[bonoz]

hm ok.

So you're saying the DIAMETER of the clip's base? if that is smaller or equal to the size of the diameter of the hole of the piston, then go ahead. Otherwise return it?

[bonoz]

Perrrfect. Fits like a charm.

Although, it still has a bit of a wobble but I reckon it's because of the rubber surrounding the piston thats making it do that. Other than that it fights quite nicely and tightly snug.

[bonoz]

Guys, I'm worried. The pads fit in now.. but they wobble a bit.....

should I go ahead and test it out and see if they brake without problem???

because my old pads' clips were broken off, so I'm guessing it shouldn't be a problem...

[rasher]

For what its worth, I'm currently driving on one inner rear brake pad that has one of the four clips broken off. I had this infernal rattling whenever driving over bumps and such. When I finally tore into it, I found one of the four clips broken off. Well, I couldn't just park the car while waiting for new pads to come in(!), so I just took a plier and bent the remaining three clips out to make the pad seat in there more snugly and so far, so good (about 5 days, 100 miles). Bonus: no more rattle!
Try pulling out the pad one more time, taking some needle nose, bending the clips out a bit, and then jamming that pad back in there. I'll bet you're going to want it sitting in there more "snugger"...

[bonoz]

true. I shall try that and report back.