Finished replacing front rotors, pads and caliper pins this weekend and had issues with installing that caliper spring clip. The old one was very rusty and I had to pop it out with a screwdriver. The new clip did not seem to grip as good in the 2 caliper holes and actually popped out of place while trying to mount the tire. Today after about 30 miles in multiple trips, I was moving about 50mph when I hear a LOUD bang in the front drivers side, figured that stupid clip just came loose and the wheel shreaded it. Stoped at my destination and looked between the rims openings and the clip was gone.
Question, is this clip really necessary? Can I drive without them. Thinking of stopping at my local dodge dealer to see if they have a better steel clip. I purchased the spring clip kit with rubber caliper slider pin bushings from Advance Auto.

 

Did your brakes make a grinding sound without them? I recently replaced calipers, pads, and rotors on a '99 2wd and I've got a horrible grinding sound from the front that stops when I barely touch the brakes. I didn't drive it very much after I got it before the brake work, but I didn't hear it and have never heard anything like it before...

 

Talking to a local shop I had my truck in for loud noise after doing my brakes and finding out my lower ball joint on driver side was shot. We talked about this clip and he said, it was the anti-rattle clip. It holds the caliper up and prevents up and down movement. Without this clip the caliper will move up and down when the brakes are applied and the pads grip the rotor. This movement could be the noise you are experiencing. The pads could be moving up and making contact with the edges of the rotor.

 

Where does that clip fit? Pretty sure I don't remember those, could be my culprit!
Thanks

 

Fits into the 2 holes in the caliper and the flat ends of the clip under the caliper bracket or I guess would also be the knuckle the caliper is mounted to. Have to place one flat under the first side, then using a screwdriver bent the flat side of the clip under the other caliper support. To get the clip into the 2 caliper holes place the screw driver under the clip and rotor hub, compress the clip and tap the tabs into the 2 holes using a small hammer. The clip will then hold the caliper in place and there will not be any up and down movement of the caliper.


The clip fits really tight when correctly installed. Depending on who makes the clip, I found the lower bends on the clip, close to the rotor hub may slightly touch the hub while driving and make a slight scraping. I had this for 3 years, but never hurt braking, only heard a low scraping noise once and a while.