Problem driving out rear brake pad retainer pins.
 

I am in the process of changing the rear brake pads on my 1988 300e and I can't seem to get the pad retainers pressed out. I am driving the pins with a punch from the wheel side of the brakes to the center of the car. I am doing it properly, is there any tricks? I sprayed some WD40 on the pins to see if it might free them up.

TIA,
Steve

Wrong direction, you drive them toward the outside of the car.

Good luck,

Now you'll REALLY have to hammer them pretty hard since you've managed to get them seated pretty well!

Seriously, moderate tapping should work them loose. Had my 8-yr. old daughter help me last month, and she could tap them out.

If you're singing railroad work songs and sledging the pins like railroad spikes, you are hitting too hard! ;)

:D

To remove those pins, first spray some sort of penetrant on the "heads" of the pins - they contain a collapsing collar that holds the pin in place.

And you do indeed drive the pins toward the centerline of the car in order to remove them:)

Hi Steve -

I think Michael's right on the direction - mine also come out by driving them towards the center of the car. Perhaps some models differ Larry? Or maybe someone put them in the opposite way...

Anyway, they can be a nuisance to get out. I'd second the penetrant solution. Spray on some penetrating oil (Liquid Wrench from Canadian Tire is good), let it soak for a while and make sure you hammer the pin out squarely. When mine have been stuck I find that using a small hand-held sledge hammer works better than a regular hammer. More mass in motion=more force applied I suppose (what was that darn equation from Physics 101 anyway...F=ma...?)...a good square hit should free it - just don't miss! :D

I ended up having to cut the pins with a dremel and pound them out. They were rusted so badly they would have probably never come out.

Well, I guess in your neck of the woods, corrosion and inclement weather would play a part in that...sorry it was such an ordeal!