Anti-Rattle Clip Installation on Brakes

1999 FORD WINDSTAR
100,000 MILES • 6 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
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SMATA67
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I just changed the front pads, used Wagner Thermo Quiet pads. Of course no instructions or pictures in the Wagner Thermoquiet box on how to install the clips. Two different sized clips came in the box. The existing install had the shorter clips installed on the piston side with the tabs facing inward towards the car. The outer pads had the longer sized clips with the tabs facing outward. I took a picture of the outer pad, does it look right? I fooled around installing the short ones here also and quite honestly, it too, looks "right", so please answer only if you are sure that what is shown is the correct install.


I installed them like the existing, but the wife complained about a great deal of brake noise before I changed them, so I'm not sure they were installed correctly previously.

Second question, are all four pads identical? Seems like you'd want to have a different ridge type on the outer pads to mate with the caliper body than on the inside that mates with the piston. They were identical in the pad I removed, but forgot to check on the installed ones.

Image:

Also, you can see that I slightly bent the ears on the anti-rattle clip, was this proper? I can undo it if necessary, still haven't done it to the other side.

[img:135932f258]http://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/304117_P1010042_1.jpg[/img:135932f258]
Jan 18, 2009 at 4:47 PM
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JAMES W.
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Ironically, I had to put front brakes and rotors on my wife's '98 Windstar this week end. Each pad manufacturer has their own design of "anti-rattle" clips. Mine had a clip that fit inside the caliper and puts pressure on both pads toward the rotor. I know of people who have installed new pads without any clips at all and gotten away with it. Anyway, glad you got it.
Jan 18, 2009 at 11:19 PM
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SMATA67
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[quote:9c63cf5fc8="smata67"]Well looks like I'm going to answer my own question here. The smaller anti-rattle clips go on the upper part of each pad and the longer ones on the lower, so each pad has a short and long installed on it. I did not do the install right, and neither did the previous one, so this is probably a common issue. You would think the manual or the box of brakes would have had a simple sketch to let you know. I'm posting a picture of the correct way to install these clips here:

Ford Windstar Anti-Rattle Clip Installation:


Someone should make a copy of it for the site, as I do not know how long the picture will be available here.[/quote:9c63cf5fc8]

I also should have added that the tabs on the clips should point away from the rotor at all four locations: the outer pad's clip tabs pointing outward and the inner pad's clip tabs pointing towards the car. This procedure is for the Wagner Thermoquiets, appears all may not be the same.
Jan 26, 2009 at 5:12 PM
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