I got pads from autozone and they came with the backing of the front disc brakes. I was assured they were for the rear. So i ground them off so that they fit the rear. The problem is, I dont have any c clips holding the inner pads in place now, so whenever i stop and go the pad slides until it hits the other caliper pin.

Where can i get a pair of C clips for these calipers. Should i be able to get them at autozone/pep boys or some speed shop or do they not sell them separately and i was sold the wrong brake pads?

 

You were sold the wrong pads.

 

So i take it the C clips only come with the pads?

 

There are no "C-clips" in rear PBR brakes. The pads just fit down in the caliper.

Sounds to me like you're not putting them togethr right somehow.

First, get the right pads. Then, assemble them correctly to the calipers. I think you'll find that you don't need any extra mystery parts.

 

There is a retainer wire that wraps around the cylinder in a "C" shape where the ends have little hooks that then get placed over the top of the brake pad backing plate, holding it in position againts the cylinder. This is the C clip i'm talking about. The cylinder itself is not flat shaped, and there is no other means of keeping the brake pad from moving around except for this retaining clip. It's not a mystery part. When i got the pads I thought it was just a part used for making installation of the pads easy, but it appears you need the clips to keep the pads from hitting the caliper pins when braking and accelerating.

 

hrm. I am starting to think that perhaps i'm talking about delco moraine rear calipers. The ones that came with the BW rear in 88

No, not 88. Trans Am GTA from 87.

 

Well that would make a difference.... PBR info might not apply to non-PBR products....

I know nothing about that system; never had one, hope I never do. Only drums and PBRs. Sorry.

 

PBR rear brake calipers have that bar that runs between the caliper bolts right ? Delco ones didn't? I've been trying to find some pictures of the two types of rear disc brakes from the time period but all i can find is pictures of new ones.

I thought the BW rears got the PBR ones, guess they didn't go hand in hand.


I dont suppose if anyone knows if the 87 GTA had two types of rear disc brakes so when i go back to autozone I can be sure i'm getting the right kind.

 

88-back got the Saginaw calipers; 89-up got PBRs. Has nothing to do with which type of rear. However, the only year of 9-bolt that got PBRs was 89, because they discontinued the 9-bolt for 90.

If you have a 87 car with rear discs, it has Saginaw, unless the rear has been swapped.

Saginaw calipers look sort of like cast iron (rusted, usually) for some odd reason. They are smooth on the outside. They mount on the rear with one in front of the axle, one to the rear. PBR calipers look sort of like aluminum, for some other equally odd reason. They have ribs. Both mount to the rear of the axle.

If you're trying to put PBR pads in Saginaw calipers, it's no wonder they seem like something is missing.

 

The pads they gave me have exactly the same mounting provisions as standard front disc brakes (non-pbr) So I dont think i got pbr ones, just front ones. They have the clip on the back for fitting inside the caliper cylinder.

It's definitely saginaw as they mount the way you described. Sometime this weekend i'll have to check and see if the mounting clip comes with the pads or if i have to get them separate.