Outboard brake pad rattle

I just finished installing my front brakes and noticed the outboard brake pad rattles slightly. I can't find any mention anywhere of anti-rattle clips required for the outboard pad, only the inboard. Granted the brakes haven't been bled but I'm beginning to see why a PO had RTV'd the hell out of the outboard brake pad. Is this normal?

 

What kind of disc brakes do you have? GM conversion, stock '77-'78 CJ, '79-'86 CJ?
The pad should not rattle but knowing which style of disc brakes you have can help us help you fix the issue.


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Stock 79 disc brakes.

 

Upon closer inspection, it appears the width of themetal tabs on the back of the outboard brake pad are too "tall". There is about 1/16" of an inch gap between the metal tab and the caliper bracket.

 

You need to bend the tab to make the pad tight against the caliper body. A very large pair of pliers, clamp, etc can help here. The manufacturers typically leave them slightly loose to allow for caliper body casting differences. Or remove the pad and tweak the tab a bit at a time until it fits snug. I'd also recommend some anti-seize compound or synthetic brake grease between the pad and caliper and anywhere there is metal on metal contact. This insulates the two pieces to minimize brake noise. I prefer anti-seize compound as it doesn't seem to "wash off" as easy but that's just a personal preference.


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Take the outboard brake pad off and bend the 2 tabs that are away from the hub down a little in the direction of the hub then install them back in the caliper (you may have to use some channel locks to get them back in the caliper once you tighten them up) that should take care of the rattle.

 

Darn it! came in second place

 

Good advice nonetheless


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you can do it on the rig use a pry bar under the pad and hit the tab at the top with a hammer.

 

Thanks guys! Just like the old saying goes, "If you can't fix it with a hammer you have yourself an electrical problem."