Hi all - if you're thinking about changing the front pads yourself, it's very straight forward, but a couple of tips:

Before you start, get the pin replacement kit (OEM or LR). Getting the pins out inevitably messes them up a bit and it's worth replacing.

Get a pin removal tool (punch), it makes the job so much easier.

The pads push back quite easily - I was worried about damaging the disc, but it went very well!

I'm sure all this has been covered on here before by folk with lots more knowledge than me, but just thought I'd share my recent experience

Cheers

Chris

I’m also just starting the adventure so please carry on.  Joined the X5 45e club
1994 Defender 90 300 tdi

Fronts easy....

Wheel off - jack point just behind each wheel.

Two pins top & bottom - remove top first, but beware spring under tension - punch will replace pin so you can hold and remove - good Youtube video if you search too.

Remove spring (hooks under bottom pin); remove bottom pin; remove centre bolt (13mm socket).

As I say, pin removal tool is really vital - Laser do a cheap one that does the job, search on Amazon/eBay.

With two pins and bolt removed, gently ease the pads back using screwdrivers, but be careful of the discs.

Wiggle the pads free and refit doing the reverse.

Easy

Just done mine. For balance an absolute pig of a job. Full LR service history. They had put the pins and pads in dry 🤡. No way were they coming out with any punch. A thorough bending of pins then restraighten etc eventually freed them enough to get out. One pad was still completely seized in caliper. Eventually pried out. Cheers Land Rover!!

So def buy pin kit for both sides and indeed sensor. Have fitted Hawk pads and Brembo low carbon discs. Filed caliper interfaces clean then lots of brake lube and also copper grease on pin interfaces.

Looking much better for it 👍🏼
 3.0 SDV6 HSE L494

Last edited by RRSporter on Sun Feb 02 2020 7:46pm. Edited 1 time in total

You shouldn't use copper grease on aluminium calipers

Ceramic grease is what should be used

Mike,while we are on the subject of brakes,I’m going to change both my fronts & rears & im thinking EBC discs & EBC low dust pads,which disc do you recommend as their is a few on the site,Drilled,Drilled & grooved as I’m wanting to match front with rears.Price wise isn’t a issue as I’m wanting to change them before MoT in March as I’m sending it to dealers even though I can do it myself as it’s got MoT insurance,I’ve changed the rear pipes myself last year as I didn’t want to risk them till March. Andy.
21 Ford Ranger
Gone but not forgotten
Focus RS Red Edition
2015 RRS AB Fuji.
2014 RRS SC Santorini
2016 VW Amarok
2014 RRS AB Fuji
2012 RRS Red Edition Fuji
2015 Nissan Navara
2012 RRS SE Santorini
2008 RRS White
2007 RRS Santorino

Disco_Mikey wrote:

You shouldn't use copper grease on aluminium calipers

Ceramic grease is what should be used

Tyrefitter wrote:

Mike,while we are on the subject of brakes,I’m going to change both my fronts & rears & im thinking EBC discs & EBC low dust pads,which disc do you recommend as their is a few on the site,Drilled,Drilled & grooved as I’m wanting to match front with rears.Price wise isn’t a issue as I’m wanting to change them before MoT in March as I’m sending it to dealers even though I can do it myself as it’s got MoT insurance,I’ve changed the rear pipes myself last year as I didn’t want to risk them till March.

The drilled and grooved discs, I've found, can give quite a drone under braking. I've only fitted them to my D3 as it's a huge build, and a bit of willy waving never hurt anyone

Redstuff ceramic pads are indeed low dust, and I rate them very highly, having run them on a little hot hatch, as well as the previous brake setup on my Disco, and I'm sure the 6 pots with Red pads will more than meet my expectations

RRSporter wrote:

Disco_Mikey wrote:

You shouldn't use copper grease on aluminium calipers

Ceramic grease is what should be used

Hi Mike

Good info for me and others thanks. 👍

I Would have used the supplied red ceramic grease all over but it ran out on the other side so it’s a bit of a mix. To be fair it can’t be worse than nil which Land Rover used on the pins, can it?!

You'd be surprised...

The differing metals cause galvanic corrosion, and attacks the pad seats of the calipers. Fine on a steel pad carrier, not ideal on a £600 Brembo caliper x2
In addition, the copper grease seems to attack and swell the rubber dust seals

Stick to a ceramic based grease, we use both the Comma version and Mintex, depending on price/availability

https://www.greaseexpert.com/brake-grease-vs-anti-seize/

This is the stuff I use on pads & it’s only a tenner on eBay for a 500ml tin which lasts me ages.

Mike,I can only find green stuff & yellow stuff pads for the L494,I’m struggling to find the red one. Andy.
21 Ford Ranger
Gone but not forgotten
Focus RS Red Edition
2015 RRS AB Fuji.
2014 RRS SC Santorini
2016 VW Amarok
2014 RRS AB Fuji
2012 RRS Red Edition Fuji
2015 Nissan Navara
2012 RRS SE Santorini
2008 RRS White
2007 RRS Santorino

Hi Mike. Cheers for the info for indeed all of us. Had already read this article which is the detail on what you say 👍.
https://pagid.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Copper-grease.pdf
Guess what I’ve already stripped them out, got myself high on brake cleaner 😂 and rebuilt with ceramic grease. More because I though those pins would corrode in again = nightmare!

This is what it now looks like. Ps should I be shocked that Land Rover installed the pad pins dry?? Do you normally reuse the pins and springs all being well? 🤔

 3.0 SDV6 HSE L494

Last edited by RRSporter on Sat Feb 01 2020 10:51pm. Edited 1 time in total

Tyrefitter wrote:

This is the stuff I use on pads & it’s only a tenner on eBay for a 500ml tin which lasts me ages.

Mike,I can only find green stuff & yellow stuff pads for the L494,I’m struggling to find the red one.

RRSporter,are the Hawke pads low dust as that’s what I’m after & if so best place to purchas3 them pls. Andy.
21 Ford Ranger
Gone but not forgotten
Focus RS Red Edition
2015 RRS AB Fuji.
2014 RRS SC Santorini
2016 VW Amarok
2014 RRS AB Fuji
2012 RRS Red Edition Fuji
2015 Nissan Navara
2012 RRS SE Santorini
2008 RRS White
2007 RRS Santorino

Hi Andy

Info came from Dave B on thread below. Yes low dust ceramic. High carbon brembo discs as he suggests too from Autodoc. Hawk are via chap on eBay (very helpful) or direct from him.

https://www.rrsport.co.uk/forum/topic52142-15.html
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=ht...2613614009 3.0 SDV6 HSE L494

Just to confirm, Hawk came from Cambridge Motorsport Parts, Letchworth.

I've also just fitted the Brembo High Carbon Discs to my Disco 4 Commercial, but couldn't get Hawk for this, so using D-TEC Ceramic which came from MPS Trading, Hellingly.

So far so good, and MPS are very helpful.

Dave 2010 3.6 TDV8 HSE (Gone)
2011 Discovery 4 Commercial SDV6 (Gone)
1980 OBLIC 4.0ltr Range Rover (went a long time ago)