Hey!

Putting new brakes on a 2012 dodge grand caravan.

Took it all apart to clean then I found there are two different guide pins!

Which goes where?

One has a cut in the side (guessing to let air by)

The other is much looser in the hole but has a rubber sleeve on the end.

One also had a "square" end while the other has two flats.

This is our only car and I am stranded till I can get it back together.

Thanks!

Mike

ps ...sorry, breaks = brake in title

 

The pin positions are dependent on if the caliper is mounted on the front or rear of the rotor. If the caliper is mounted on the front, the top pin is the “leading” pin, but if it’s mounted on the rear, the bottom pin is the leading pin. The other pin is the “trailing” pin.

The pin with the bushing needs to go in the trailing position.

 

Thanks ...

Just could not find that ... or for that matter what side the "squealer" goes on.

It was not in my manual or shown in any pictures.

Thanks again .... Mike

 

Things like this aren’t usually included even in the factory manuals because it often changes depending on the year or sometimes even the options.

The only purpose of that bushing is to dampen vibration. I’ve heard of some people removing the bushing without any noticeable effect, but I’m usually assembling customer cars, not my own, so I like making sure it’s correct.

Squeal tabs go on the leading edge. Since most of the rotation of the rotor is forward (unless you’re some kind of thrill seeker but I doubt you’d be using your minivan for that ) that’s the edge that’s going to wear the fastest.

 

I have a 2012 GC SXT 16" wheels, and my rear caliper slide pins are identical. I wonder are yours different because you have some sort of upgraded braking system you paid extra for, or a redesign to fix a design flaw? My rear brakes need changed almost every 20K miles.

 

Good question ....

There are two sets of brakes available ... I have the heavy duty ones.

My best guess is that it was upgraded when I ordered the towing package.

Here is a picture of the pins.

You can identify them as one has two cuts on the top (making a kind of oval) and one has 4 cuts (making a square with round corners).

One has flats on the side to allow air to go by so it moves freely ... the other is much looser in the hole but has a rubber sleeve that goes on the undercut at the end.

If I would have realized there was a difference, I would have noted it before I removed them ... took them both out at the same time to replace the rubber seal, clean and lube them.

Thanks .... Mike