Brake caliper pins?

[Micholi]

Ok,

Trying to replace my front brake pads and calipers...a seemingly easy task I have done may a time on many different vehicles...but of course there is ALWAYS a twist!

1994 Ford Ranger 4x4.

Instead of nice, simple bolts to unscrew, my calipers are held on by these funny looking sliding bolt pins. The pins have a gap in the middle, on both ends, where they flex so they can be removed.

Is there any fancy tool I need? Can I just hammer them out? The new pins that come with the new calipers...is there any special way to re-instal them? Or can I just gently hammer them back in?

I can NOT find ANY source material for these pins, no pics, nothing. Heck, they aren't even listed in my repair manual.

Also, one last thing...if I wanted to...could I just install calipers with bolts instead of sliding pins? Or would that take a major overhaul? I would SO rather just have bolts instead of freakin' pins!

Thanks for any help.


Moshpitmike.

 

[Micholi]

I found some info on the site here...but any additional comments are appreciated.

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Ok, Following is a short explanation, or atleast as short as I can make it of factory FRONT brakes on Rangers, Bronco2's and Explorers.

Starting in 1983 and continuing to the end of 1994 Ford used a "split pin" mounted caliper.
With the EXCEPTION of some 1986 and early 1987 (through the end of Feb 87) Ford used the same caliper on ALL Ranger based vehicles
AND the Aerostar on all these vehicles.

Next, the '95-current front brakes use a TWO-PISTON caliper
and caliper bracket, the bracket locates the pads and the caliper simply squeezes them.

Additionally the bracket being removable make the steering knuckle
a "non-wear" item.

Look closely at the "integral" caliper bracket on any split-pin caliper equipped Ranger and you might see what I am refereing to... The pad thrust surfaces tend to get rather hammered....

the two piston brakes CAN be retrofitted onto earlier rangers
and Gen1 explorers.

To do it on a 4x4 requires that you either have a D35 front axle
(either "true" or "Hybred") or are prepared to upgrade to a D35.
(Yes, a D35/28 hybred IS an upgrade over an early D28)
So on a D35 or hybred truck you swap over the '95-97 Ranger steering knuckles, calipers, caliper brackets and rotors (the "spindle", shaft, lockout hubs, etc are all the same and interchangable.)

To upgrade an '83-88 2wd requires swapping the entire I-beam
(Ford changed the balljoint setup going into 1989) with the steering knuckles etc
On an '89-94 Ranger (or '91-94 2wd Explorer) you can simply replace everything outboard of the balljoints

Though there is one slight difference in the '95-97 D35 beams, there is an adjustable steering stop adjustment on the beam. this CANNOT be added to an earlier D35 beam without welding.

By no means complete, but this should get someone thinking about "upgrades" to the point where intelligent questions can be asked...

 

[FritzTKatt]

I finagle a pair of lineman pliers and a 3/16" pin punch to tap them. They can be reused until they are not holding in place or the lips that keep it from drifting are rounded. I forget what they are called but I got new ones from advance auto before.

Squeeze it with the pliers and hit them at the same time.

IIRC the D44 knuckles use bolt in calipers. Could be wrong.