Where to get Porterfield AP63 R4S front pads? Rear pics?

Porterfield will weld a round pin to the back of the pad. When I replaced my stock pads with the Porterfields they had forgotten to do it and I had to ship them back. The stock pads had a square or rectangular stub rather than the round pin. Also I had to file down the pin because it was too long and contacted the brake first.

Steve

If you have pads with no bumps, You can also just tack a quick blob of weld to the back of the pad. If you like, make a sharp edge with a grinder.

Put it high or low on the pad, not in the center.

The pin/protrusion is only to keep the piston from rotating. It' s not rocket science, and might save you a couple weeks, and shipping costs.

Rocky

Good to know!!!

I don't recall seeing pins on the back of these pads.......

quote:

Originally posted by Mangusta:...
Also, does anyone have a pic of the REAR GD535 pads handy? ...
Steve

This is what I got "handy". let me know what view you would like and I'll go take a shot

Coolio!

This will do for now! The pads I have seem to be coated in a black residue.......

I need to look for the pin provision also....but won't be able to lay hands on them until next week.....didn't take pictures...duh!

Thanks!
Steve

from what I have on file is a view of the pin. as you can see, this are also blacken.
If I recall correctly, I had to ask for the "Pantera pin" and I heard I would have to file it to ensure it fits the groove

THanks!

I guess I can either do the welding bit, or exchange them.... I need to order front pads anyway.....

Just to be clear, only two have the pins right? Or do all 4 have pins....?

Ciao!
Steve

Only the ones that contact the rear caliper pistons need pins. To unlock the piston from the parking brake linkage so you can push it back for pad replacement etc, the piston is rotated by means of the slot. The off-center pin in the pad keeps the piston from rotating by itself.

OK, got real lucky with first caliper teardown, all 4 pistons cleaned up nicely! Soaked them overnite in Evap-O-Rust and two came out bitchin, but other two are soaking again for some cleanup work....just aesthetic....useable as is but why not......!

Just tore down caliper #2 and I found one small piston is pitted about 1/4" from top of seal area. Not good. This is area that would be contacting seal when you put in new pads......

Anyone have a spare small (34mm) piston from previous rebuild that they could part with? Will gladly trade beans for a good piston!

Advise accordingly !!! Thanks in advance!

Ciao!
Steve

OK, I think Porterfield put me on as a field tester......

To recap....

The rear pads that came with my car didn't have the "Pantera pin" but I sent them back and they sent me a new set along with a new set of front pads!

Upon checking my front pads for fitment.....I discovered they sent me "unfinished" pads....the hole was not drilled for the locating pin! Sent them back and they promptly sent me a finished set.

Was assembling the one rear caliper that I could at the moment....and ran into the issue that was mentioned above, where "pin" must be filed.... To me, that is dangerous to ship pads that are "unfinished" like that!!! I got no paperwork saying that filing would be needed....and only noticed that it was mentioned above, right now!

The groove in the piston is about .075" deep. The pin is about .090" tall. That is a lot of wrong.....for the money IMHO.

If an unexperienced owner were to assemble the pads without shortening this pin, the potential for lots of bad is great..... wearing rotors unevenly.....gouging up the piston....pads walking in the calipers could wear them in a bad way.....

So, I advised the nice person that was helping me (Wendy) that this needs to be brought to the attention of their engineering group for changes.

I attempted to file the pin, but my files just walked over the top of the steel....perhaps they took on some hardness during the welding process...... So I used my air cutoff wheel and carefully ground them down to fit.

This could be a PITA for a customer....and why would Porterfield want to piss people off.....I'd want to sell more pads!

So, still searching for a good small front piston.......I know they are out there! Found some new ones too, but would be coming from UK, and there are still some unknowns....like dimensions!

Out!
Steve