Brake pads on Peugeot 307

Answer 1

• Remove wheels
• undo the two 13mm bolts holding the moving caliper to the frame
• remove the pads and replace with new
• you now need to retract the piston !! be aware this is different from normal vehicles
• To retract the piston you need to turn it clockwise and avoid twisting the rubber seal (If you turn it anticlockwise the piston will push out even further) you do not want this to happen. Trust me it will not retact with a clamp this will damage the caliper. Just keep turning it clockwise and eventually it will start to retract. This takes some time if you do not have the correct tool that fits onto the caliper. (I had to use a wrench). If possible add a little pressure to the piston as you twist it.
• Once the piston has retracted fit into place and re fit the two 13mm bolts.
• fit the wheels and all done

Be aware that due to the piston and that you have to twist it clockwise for it to retract it added about 1 hour to my time. The reason you have to do this is that there is an handbrake lever on the caliper and this is self adjusting. If you depress this leaver the piston pushes out. To retract you cannot simply use a clamp and push the piston, you have to wind it back in. I will say again that this takes some time.

Hope this helps and should save about £50 compared to maid dealer prices. Pads around £25 for just rear.

A simpler way is to buy a brake piston retractor from an auto factors shop cost about £35 and a set of rear brake pads costing £20.

Put car into first gear and chock front wheels and release handbrake.

Slacken rear wheel nuts, raise car using hydraulic jack and place support under back subframe and remove wheel.

Remove only the lower 13mm lower bolt a pair of pliers will be needed to stop the back pin turning while you do this and remove lower bolt only.

Disconnect the handbrake cable and squeeze the plastic barb on the handbrake cable plastic shoulder and push back through the cable support bracket.

The handbrake cable is now free.

The whole Brake caliper will now pivot upwards exposing the brake pads.

Tie the caliper back to support it while removing the pads, sometimes they stick grab the metal edge of the pads with a pair of pliers and remove.

When putting new pads in carefully remove the paint on the metal edges of the pad where this contacts the shim and use a very small amount of copper ease grease onto the metal edge only I.e. not the Pad friction face.

Do not get any on the rotor or pad surfaces.

Use the Caliper piston retractor to push the piston back into the caliper.

It will turn the brake piston as well as applying a push force until the Piston is fully retracted.

Rotate the caliper downwards onto the Brake pads ensuring that these are still in contact with the brake rotor and re-fit lower bolt with new one and tighten.

Connect brake cable and wheel, re-tughten wheel nuts, lower car and re-torque wheel nuts.

Total time to replace both sets of rear brake pads with the correct brake piston retractor will be 30 minutes.

Time without will be several hours of frustration and anger at french car designers !!

Your choice?