r-pins where to buy....???

Huh · 04-15-2006, 07:29 PM

Anyone know where I can get R-pins? I need them for my brakes. I noticed that I don't have any on the pin slides for the brakes. I don't know if they are important but they seem it would be.

Early_S_Man · 04-15-2006, 07:41 PM

You mean 'hairpin' clips for the pad retaining pins???

Not all Ate calipers use them ... including the 'M' and 'A' calipers on an SC! Split rings on the pins hold them in place by friction against the bore in the caliper.

Huh · 04-15-2006, 07:55 PM

Well there are holes on the pins so I would venture to guess they are supposed to have them but if friction holds them in too I am okay with that. I am doing a DE next week so I want the car to be in the best shape possible. I just failed my brake pad lining inspection. I replaced the rear and I will be doing the fronts. I can't believe how easy it is to change the pads.

Early_S_Man · 04-15-2006, 10:20 PM

Some calipers take pins that have to be driven out with punches - those are the ones with captive split rings that hold the pin in place. Other calipers take pins that use the bent 'hairpins' that retain the pin in the caliper ... like my 'S' calipers. With my 'S' calipers, a new set of 'hairpins' is included with each rebuilt kit for the caliper.

Maybe you should check whether your calipers have the pins with split rings, or the ones that need 'hairpins' ... even though friction from the spreaders would keep the pins in place for a while, a DE is the wrong time for a pin to come loose!

FYI, I got a set of factory pads for front 'A' calipers a few years back from Vasek Polak ... they had new set of spreader springs, and a new set of retaining pins with split rings in the package, but YMMV!

If you need 'R' clips as you call them ... almost any well-equipped auto store should have some generic clips that will work, but they may require bending to clear your wheels! The factory clips are bent 90° to lay down close to the caliper and clear the wheels. Another alternative would be to get a set of factory Ate rebuild kit for your calipers, and use those clips. Raybestos rebuild kits for Porsche calipers contain Ate rebuild kits inside ... inside the proper blue-and-white Ate box! The proper kits will contain the bent clips I described.