Front Caliper - Missing Part - Is this a major safety issue?

Noticed that the shim ( brass ) was missing when I bled fluid and replaced pads. No problem with braking and no sticking. I make a point to rock caliber back and forth with my hand to make sure piston is compressing properly before riding. Have a feeling one of the previous owners didn't compress piston far enough when changing pads and didn't have room to slip back over disc. Put a liberal amount of ant-seize on brake pads where they contact piston and caliper body ( not anywhere near the friction surface ) should I be concerned ? Does the shim serve any other purpose than taking up space once pads wear down ?

 

I believe that the missing part is called the anti-rattle shim, it's absence may cause some wear to occur in the caliper as the pads will move around more than intended and you may hear a knocking sound when you apply the brake. As far as safety goes, it's always better to have all the parts that the designers intended for the bike.

 

I'm thinking the shim serves to "spread" the pressure equally across the pad to avoid uneven pad wear. It may also serve as part of the anti rattle/squeal components. There for a reason....+ it's the front brake - 75% of stopping power.....

Dave

 

The basic function of the anti-rattle shim is just that, to keep the pads from rattling and reduce brake squeal.

 

Re: Front Caliper - Missing Part - Is this a major safety is

EXACTLY WHICH PIECE IS MISSING?

 

Nah....not a safety issue----unless you're trying to stop the bike for some reason....THEN it might become one pretty quickly.

Dave F

 

8O Umm...well...pretty much every component of the braking system serves a purpose and was designed so. Take a good look at Fitz fische and point out the part.

 

:wink: not meaning to bump, this unintentional play on works kinda stuck me as humorous and I didn't notice it when I wrote it...

 

Missing Pad Shim bigfitz - thanks for all your other comments guys

 

You need the pad shim; without it the brake is likely to "chatter" or squeal.

If chacal doesn't have them, you can make one up from a small piece of .015" (.40mm) stainless sheet.

This is for a 550 Seca; the Maxim would require a "mirrored" part.

 

great thanks - will do