It's possible, Charles, but I don't know for certain.

The first time I did my own pads on my '87, I swore the parts store had sold me the wrong set. I have my trusty little window crank Saab brake tool, and I turned the caliper a dozen full turns or so, and I couldn't get the stinking pads in there. I certainly identify with your knuckle-busting tool-breaking experience... though I usually turn the radio up loud in the Garage Mahal and it keeps the neighbors from getting a dose of the salty vocabulary I picked up in the Navy. Luckily, I figured out the technique before I actually broke anything.

The trick is you can't just screw that piston in. You have to screw it and then pry against it. Turning the piston ALLOWS it to move, but doesn't move it. HH made a good point about pistons that are too corroded or rough to resettle in, but that wasn't the case on my car. Once I figured out how to make that thing go ALL the way in (and it goes a lot farther than you think it will) I had no trouble slipping new pads in. You just have to alternately turn it and pry against it to get it to move out of the way. By the way, watch out in your fluid reservoir when you're doing this -- the fluid you force back in may overflow the reservoir if it was full. It's a good idea to suction the reservoir out with a turkey baster before you start.

That U-shaped pin should just slip in with a light tap or a jiggle when everything is lined up right. I never had to force it.

I've no idea where you can get a replacement U-shaped pin... I think that might be something you'll have to order from a Saab dealer. And I'll bet they charge $30 for the stupid thing, too. Might be worth a search of your local junkyards, or give Jim Moncrief at SobStory a call and see if he can get you one.

- = M = -

posted by 208.63.20...

• 87' 900 room for replacing outer front brake pads, Ron Eubanks, Thu, 28 Mar 2002 10:15:41
  • Re: 87' 900 room for replacing outer front brake pads, Russell Giuliano, Fri, 29 Mar 2002 08:32:56
  • Re: 87' 900 room for replacing outer front brake pads, HH, Thu, 28 Mar 2002 13:41:03
    • 90% that HH is right, time for new calipers n/m, JohnK, Fri, 29 Mar 2002 10:19:20
  • Re: 87' 900 outer front brake pads, Monster, Thu, 28 Mar 2002 13:04:41
    • Monster - are there two pad thicknesses?, Charles, Thu, 28 Mar 2002 13:36:20
      • 14mm is the thickness of pads for vented rotors>>>, Anders, Thu, 28 Mar 2002 15:09:06
      • Re: two pad thicknesses, Monster, Thu, 28 Mar 2002 14:08:06 <-- Viewing This Message
        • Re: two pad thicknesses, Charles, Thu, 28 Mar 2002 14:46:44
  • Re: 87' 900 room for replacing outer front brake pads, Eric Law, Thu, 28 Mar 2002 11:04:54
  • You may have bought pads for an older 900 with>>>, Anders, Thu, 28 Mar 2002 11:03:57
    • Re: You may have bought pads for an older 900 with>>>, Rob 85 Turbo, Thu, 28 Mar 2002 17:04:46

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