'86 Trans Am 5.0L 305

Went to the auto store the other day to pick up some pads for the rear and was told that there were 2 different styles of brake pads that came on our cars for the rear. I have 4 wheel disk brakes all around and the rear pads are squeeking. Need to be replaced. Like I said, went in there to get some pads and was shown 2 different styles (shapes) and I would need to know which one my car had. Well, I had no idea there were 2 different styles... so I told them I'd be back later on.

Were there 2 different kinds of brake pads for the rear disk brakes on an '86 Firebird Trans Am? Maybe the person was showing me the front instead... I dunno. I know the difference between brake pads and brake shoes, so I'm not confused there, but the person showed me 2 different kinds of brake pads and I didn't know which to get. Also, I just called them again and a different person answered the phone and said there was only 1 kind of pads, so I'm confused...

I haven't taken the tire off and done this yet, because I don't have any tools here where I live and will need to go over to my father's place to use his and I still gotta drive my car back to get the parts, so that's why I'm asking you guys that know the answer.

Thanks in advance.

 

Just pull the pads and bring them in to the store.

 

And if a person doesn't have a 2nd car to drive????

Not exactly a good answer.....

My guess they were telling you about pads for a 9-bolt vs a 10-bolt. Peek under the rear of your car & see which one you have.

Worst case...Buy both sets of pads & return the set that didn't fit. Thats what I woulda done, since I was already at the parts store.

 

As far as I know, there's no difference in the Delco-Moraine (and/or PBR's on later years) calipers on 9- and 10-bolts.

JamesC

 

The PBRs weren't around in 86(IIRC), and I would think you'd be right....Same calipers, but that begs the question of.....WHY do they have 2 different pads listed?

 

No, PBR's weren't around in 86 as I suggest above (89's the introductory year). There are different kinds of brake pad compounds, ceramic or some such thing, but two different shapes? Seems doubtful.

JamesC

 

There were two very different shapes. They turned the monitor around and showed me because I asked why there were two different types. I also just went to the store again and they couldn't find a box of either kind. I was just gonna buy both and return the wrong ones like what Stephen said... but I left right after I posted my first post and they couldn't find a box of either so I have to wait until Monday for the truck to bring their new shipment.

 

Typical parts store..."Which pair you want?.......We have neither."

 

No the worst part is they said they had 3-5 pairs of each one... couldn't find anything. lol.

 

This place is as entertaining as it is informative.

Stephen's answer is priceless, because its so true.

As a veteran of parts rodeos for longer than I want to admit,
the most viable solutions are either
1) take the part along (no buddy, girlfriend, etc., could help out?) or
2) buy both, and make sure you can return the incorrect set.

But of course, Murphy's Law will assure that NEITHER of the purchased
parts are correct, which won't become apparent until disassembly,
in which case you're back to solution 1)

Good luck,
kk


PS. In the same situation, I had to drive a Bronco w/ only the back brakes
active, to get the proper front parts.
But I was really young & stupid then.


Not to pick nits, but isn't it a bit pretentious to post 2 vehic's in your sig,
an then complain about not have a parts carrier? Just a thought...

 

There is only one type, the number most use these days is 202. A 154 pad will work (that is the pad for the front) but the caliper will not just slide into place, you'll have to put one side in first. Just make sure if you get the 154 dont get any hard compound or the rears will be even more useless in stopping than they already are. If anything, its very easy to modify a 154 pad to be a 202, its just one of the tabs for the wear indicator on the end of the pad is trimmed off.

 

I am waiting for better weather before I take the Trans Am over to step-father's place so I have the tools to take the wheel and pad off then having him give me a ride over to the store so I can take the pad with me and get the right set.

The Camaro is having tranny problems right now. It wants to run all the way through passing gear before it will shift into third... or so it seems. Going to be changing the transmission filter after I get the pads on my Trans Am. Even if that isn't causing the problem, it needs to be replaced if the fluid I JUST put in is already black-ish. I'm thinking the filter is dirty, clogged, etc and isn't letting enough fluid into the transmission to shift correctly.

 

Shouldnt need to do that. If you have the factory rear discs for 86, these are the pads:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...t-come-pad.jpg

Notice the red mark, that is where the difference in the rear and front pads is. The rears they cut off the pad at the red mark, but you dont HAVE to do that, you can still install the calipers.

 

My sympathy & apologies.
Gearhead status is having multiple (hobby) vehicles
simultaneously inoperative.
Nirvana is having enough transportation to deal with the
inoperative hobbies.

good luck,
kk