Brake Caliper Slide Pins (info on which goes on top)

If anyone has a definitive answer on what the function of the rubber bushing is, please post it in the comments below! And if you've been forum hopping like I was, you'll appreciate this comment: I'm talking about the BUSHING, not the BOOT! 😁😁😁

[@UNITED2009100]

Some really good information here. The rubber sleeved pin goes on the TRAILING pin. Think about the wheel rotation when the car is going forward. TRAILING PIN! Also using almost any kind of cleaner on the rubber boots or the sleeve which may be down in the hole can cause the rubber to swell. Even using the wrong type of grease can swell the rubber which can freeze up the movement of the pin which can then cause the brake pads to wear uneven and or make them drag wasting fuel milage, causing over heating of the rotors, warpage, etc. Remember where the rubber sleve should go and use the right type cleaner if used at all and use the right type of grease.

[@Godspleb5]

As I understand it...(insert disclaimer line)... The rubber bushing is meant to be on the trailing pin. the leading side of the caliper has a different 'feel' on the rotor than the trailing side and needs to dissipate heat and vibration a little different, and even has a different torsional stress. even bicycle caliper brakes are designed with this in mind. The thing is you are trying to make it easy by saying the leading is always top or bottom on every rig and wheel, but it really depends on which wheel you are talking about and which side the caliper is mounted on. For instance: if we are talking about the Left Rear Wheel, in drive the rotor is spinning counter-clockwise. If the caliper is mounted on the left side of the rotor, then the leading pin is on top, and the trailing pin is on bottom. If, however the caliper were mounted on the right side (which i don't think is usual) the leading pin would be on the bottom and the trailing pin on the top. On the other side of the car, in drive the rotor spins clockwise, therefor if the caliper is mounted on the left side of the rotor, then the bottom pin becomes the leading pin, and the top is the trailing... and so on ...queue the naysayers (but i appreciate seeing the video)

[@labpartnerlp]

I've wondered this and I agree on the trailing. However (while I am an engineer I am neither automotive nor mechanical) I believe the reason is that you want the trailing to "stick more" when the break is released such that the pads then toe out and prevent brake squeal/extreme wear on the leading edge.

[@horasnapitupulu6416]

How about the Lincoln 2013. It has 2 different guide pin. Almost similar with this video was showing. I wasn’t sure about the location of the caliper you’re talking about. Could you pls help?

[@MrBikedrummer]

Well Greg, I hope you can get my comment, 5 years later. I have an 08 Chevy Impala LTZ and have to pull out the slide pins. I think they're jammed. Your explanation is stellar! You wrote the way a knowledgeable technician would write. I can't wait to get this straightened out. Slight brake pedal chatter at slow speeds. Thanks so much!

[@pathruz4043]

The one with an L on it means it's the Lock Pin, the other is the Guide pin and has a G on it. You'll also note that the caliper has matching L and G marks by the holes for where they go.

[@CWK090]

If the caliper on the left or right side of the car is mounted forward of the axle, then the Lock pin is on the bottom. If the caliper on the left or right side of the car is mounted aft of the axle, then the Lock pin is on the top. Take a marker and put a dot on the rotor. Now rotate it like you are driving forward. Where the dot first touches the caliper is the Leading side where the Guide pin goes. Place the Lock pin (one with bushing) in the other hole (Trailing side). Sil Glyde is a silicone based lubricant that won't damage the bushing.

[@abyssalsoul6216]

I gather the caliper pin with the rubber sleeve goes to the trailing side , wheels rotating in a forward position. This then depends on where the caliper is located on the hub. If the caliper is to the front of the rotor then the bottom is the trailing side. I f the caliper is to the rear of the rotor then the top would be the trailing side

[@witsend236]

Many years on I'm adding additional info here in case someone comes across this post looking for help. These rubber bushing are there to help reduce vibration, but may be referred to as lock pins. The non-rubber pin is called the guide pin. I have just done a brake pad change on a 2015 Outlander PHEV. On removal of the front and rear callipers the pin with the rubber bushing - lock pin - was situated in the lower (bottom) guide hole on all 4 brake callipers. The front callipers are positioned ahead of the discs whereas the rear callipers are behind the discs. This means that the trailing edge on the front is the top hole, and bottom hole for the rear. The car has 70,000 miles on so may well have had new pads before I owned it. Now here’s the thing. Most people say - fit the pins on the trailing edge. However the official Mitsubishi workshop manual for the car shows diagrams for both brake callipers having the pins at the top at both ends. In other words training edge for the front brakes and leading edge for the rear. The reason for this is the vibration can produce harmonics through brake lines and the chassis so the pins at the rear counteract this by being on the leading edge. So where does this leave us - yet more confusion…But to get it right… 1. Follow the work shop manual - particularly if it’s official. 2. Do not assume the pins are in the right place if the car has high mileage because brake specialists may not follow manufacturer’s guidance. If you are the only owner and are doing the brakes for the first time then its safe to assume they are correct. 3. If in doubt fit them at the trailing edge holes, but if you experience vibration then you may need to switch them around.

[@MissCase530]

On my last brake job on my 2013 Sentra, I used brake cleaner on them. The front right side pin was locked in when I took them apart yesterday. I had to bang it out. Had to remove the rubber to put the pin back in. It';s obviously a bit loose. The part is $30 at the dealer. Do you know if this is just to stop noise/vibration, which I'm not hearing any, or is it a important thing that needs to be there? I'm type A with my repairs, but the car's over 10 and if it is just a case of overzealous engineering, I'd forgo it.

[@witsend236]

@@MissCase530 Hi, I understand that there are two types of pins with a plastic/rubber sleeve on them. One type has a split hard plastic type sleeve, the other has a non split sleeve. The split sleeve type - is an anti vibration, locking pin and is normally hard plastic. The non split sleeve - is just anti vibration and is normally a hard rubber. I also understand from talking to my local garage the plastic/rubbers etc. can harden or become damaged over time, and can cause the pins to seize in the calliper and can be difficult to remove. This is mostly caused by cleaning the pins with chemical solvents which are not meant to be used as they cause both the material to swell. In short, both types can be removed as they serve a limited anti vibration role, and provided your pins are torqued to the manufacturers requirements you will be fine. If you hear vibration afterwards then you may need to buy new pins. Hope this helps.

[@HH-pj2df]

I don’t know anything about leading or trailing pins but I can tell you for my 2008 Honda Odyssey, for the front brakes, the pin with rubber goes on the top (upward). For the rear brakes, the pin with rubber goes on the bottom (downward). The wear indicators follow the same rule and matches the location of the caliper pin with rubber. This agrees with how you explained it in the video and your manual. I’m not sure if this applies to all makes and models but this is how Honda has specified it in their manual. Hope this helps someone.

[@georgeadams5208]

couldn't find the equivalent manual for my Subaru but thanks to the informed comments here, I see the logic of the orientation issues and it is the same with both brands. Grateful. Get this orientation wrong and the boot doesn't seal...which leads to corrosion that freezes the caliper travel and causes the pads to wear out quickly on one side. Then it is only a matter of time before you are back down at Advance Auto filling the cart with brake parts.

[@jp1548]

Another super important note. (Trailing location of rubber bushed pin of course)...but NEVER use brake clean on this rubber as it will swell and you will not get it back in the hole. If you do get it in there is can keep swelling and start to seize the pin. SOme GM calipers have these rubbers down inside the hole so don't clean them with brake clean or you will not get the pins in. Most dust boots also swell up from brake clean and will not fit right.

[@SirD31V1D]

Thanks for this video, very helpful. I messed up my brakes and I'll be re-fixing them.

[@jp1548]

As greg pointed out it has nothing to do with top or bottom (as calipers can be mounted on the front of the assembly or back) it has to do with lead pin and trailing pin and the vibration/chatter absorption of the rubber is on the trailing pin.

[@dancooper3362]

G = guide pin L = lock pin lock pin goes bottom

[@suckOnThese3]

It's supposed to reduce vibration in the caliper. Dont need it and really they cause uneven wear when they gum up or the rubber swells. Take it off and never worry again

[@MissCase530]

I just had this issue on my 2013 Nissan Sentra. Had to chisel the pin out. Took the rubber off and put it back together. It's $30 at the dealer.

[@John-qs6sc]

The position of where the brake caliper mount will dictate which pin on top. Some vehicle the front calipers mount in the front on the rotor and the rear calipers mount toward the back on the rotor and vise versa.

[@sadakotube]

Found this while looking for mine. And finally realized why its reversed for the rear. Its based on rotation. Because the rear calipers are mounted on the other side, thus the pins are reversed, but same principle applies. When you rotate the rotor, the first pin it should see is the smooth one and not one with the ridges.

[@brucekuper1944]

2003 front factory installation the slide pin "lock" (rubber bushing) is on the bottom as shown in the factory manuals also. The rubber bushing or "lock" as Subaru references it, provides lateral friction to prevent the caliper frame from moving too freely.

[@UNITED2009100]

Trailing pin per forward rotation is correct. Greg Hogan has it correct. Just watch when you take the pins out and you will see which goes where.. The biggest mistake is not knowing the pins might be different. On one side, the "trailing pin" would be at the top while the "trailing pin" on the back might be at the bottom because sometimes the calipers are mounted either in front of the spindle or behind the spindle. I took one cal bracket off, pulled the pins, cleaned them and then wondered which one went where. So not only did I not know there was different pins, but i also used the wrong cleaner which swelled the rubber. I made my mistake on one wheel only. All the rest were per rotation. I was able to order the rubber parts from RockAuto. Sil Greese from NAPA is very good and not too expensive. Just think about the rotation of the rotor as the car or truck would be going forward. The trailing slide pin would be the one with the rubber bushing if either pin has one. Just pay attention as you take it apart. I didn't realize the two pins were different till I had them apart and then wondered which was which.

[@walterhdonnellan3]

Did you mean it when you said, "On one side, the "trailing pin" would be at the top while the "trailing pin" on the other side would be at the bottom"? If we are talking two front wheels for example, with calipers also on the front of the wheels, trailing edge would be down for both sides.

[@UNITED2009100]

@@walterhdonnellan3 I understand your question as I should have been more clear about top or bottom or left or right or front or back. maybe some cars and or trucks have the caliper mounted in front of the spindle and some behind it. That is usually the case where the front is different from the back. As I understand the pin with the bushing goes in the trailing position when the car or truck is going forward. That pin would be the same on the front wheels and then would be the same on both back wheels. Sorry if I confused anyone.

[@gregoryblair9810]

Mine were opposite on right front brake as per left front brake. Being 3rd owner, who knows where it was. But going with trailing, it IS correct. Thanks .

[@bgood12081]

Thanks for your video and reference to the service manual. I found a similar page on my manual for the 2000 Honda Accord

[@edwardthayer9386]

Good video. It actually depends on the vehicle. Some lexus cars are on top some are on bottom. Vise versa with other manufacturers.

[@juliadennehy]

Land Rover - bottom guide pin.

[@tabasamashfaq1680]

You are a star thank you very much for that information. It will help me on my lude tomorrow 😊

[@realdirt100]

2013 Toyota Sienna rear brakes, the pin w/ rubber goes on TOP. I know this because I just changed mine and that's the way it came from the factory.

[@abyssalsoul6216]

This means that the caliper is mounted to the rear of the rotor so the upper pin is on the trailing side. So yes the pin with the rubber grommet will be on top

[@doranvee5944]

Thank you!! Your video answered my exact question. I hope it is the same for Subaru? I'm not sure why two kinds of pins and why the need for rubber on one and not the other.

[@annagraham6204]

Thx boss. Great logic. Hate and distrust most of KZbin.

[@user-pm8hs6xv5p]

You can also tell when you slide the pins in. If one bottoms out and you hear metal on metal, switch them around!

[@user-dd8um1oo4h]

great thank you

[@fasterdrive221]

The L and G are stamped on the caliper so you cant go wrong

[@pathruz4043]

Obviously it requires very high precision to have both guide pins moving smoothly in their respective hole. The pin-to-hole precision would be easily achieved if there were only one guide pin. But as we have two guide pins operating in high temperaturen we can’t have the tight fit on both pins at the same time. So in my mind it is obvious that the pin without rubber has a very high pin-to-hole precision and the other pin with rubber must have less precision for it to fit into it’s hole. This lack of precision is compensated by the rubber which also prevent noise/rattle. So in other words: one pin is for high precision fit, the other pin with rubber is to absorb the tolerance when fitting two pins in cohesion. Placing the rubber pin in top or bottom position does not make any difference, it will have it’s tolerance absorption function anyway as the drill holes has the same dimension

[@robnation2475]

Ribbed "A" Pin, Front: Bottom Ribbed "A" Pin, Rear: Top 1:32

[@jcravatt1]

my 2011 nissan maxima had 2 different sized caliper pins, 1 long and smooth, the other short with a rubber tipped end, i took em both out and didn’t note the orientation, found differing info on forums, luckily found 2 vids w my similar car that had the long bolt on top and shorter rubber tipped one on bottom- and confirmed it on the bottom by doing the front passenger side,

[@davalddert5359]

On 2013 malibu the pin with rubber goes at the bottom on both rear calipers according to the official factory service manual

[@thelikesofus324]

thank you ! you just saved me :-)

[@user-pm8hs6xv5p]

You will figure it out when your caliper sticks and brakes heat up. The one with the bushing goes on top

[@turboflush]

Thank you thank youuuuu. I put them down. Walked away and adht kicked in. Forgot it.

[@gregmish8620]

Good info, thanks

[@kiwilovessports9925]

I just want a straight answer please. L goes on bottom & G on Top?

[@sagitariojahm]

I just find that my honda has one side is on the bottom and the other in the top 😲😞😨

[@dirtygerty577]

so i have a 2012 Honda civic si 4 door and i took my passenger side off but didn't realize one had a rubber bushing till i went to clean it all.... i came to the internet and have only found conflicting answer some saying top some saying bottom and i cant seem to find a correct answer i chose to take the driver side off and see what it was and then just put the passenger side the same.... and the guide pin with the rubber bushing was on the top.... but like i said their were people saying oh its suppose to be bottom blah blah.... makes me wonder was mine set up wrong before i touched it and it is suppose to be on the bottom.... like i said 2012 Honda civic si 4 door thank you so much to anyone who could help

[@jasongiles4151]

If you read on the top of the pic it tells you that pin A uses silicone grease and pin B uses rubber grease that tells me that the pin with the guide grommet pin B goes on the Bottom YOU just have the Read.

[@tony197041]

I was doing my front brake job on trail blazer '08, and did not pay attention when pulling the guide pins for lube, now I am in the same situation as you are Any ideas where either one goes to?

[@MrChristianbowman82]

tony197041 i did the same on my 06 ss Trailblazer lol

[@chasonsnotes]

I just bought new pins and brace. The pins did not come with the rubber for the end of the pin. The auto parts store said they don't know. If it did not come with the pins maybe the rubber is not needed

[@chasonsnotes]

more on the rubber gasket or grommet. The rubber was stuck inside the old brace and it was stuck inside the bottom hole so F it Im not using the rubber but I am going to put the pin that could hold the rubber in the bottom hole

[@chasonsnotes]

ok the pin with the rubber would not fit all the way in the bottom hole so I put it in the top and it went all the way in. Remember this is a new part and new pins

[@ifihadahammer7856]

The "boot kit" is sold separately.

[@noconspiracytheoriesplease.745]

@@ifihadahammer7856 yep. Boot kit includes the rubber bushing

[@redltcamaro]

It’s not a “G” it’s a circle with an arrow

[@joemilton7552]

it's a G and it stands for "Guide," the "L" stands for "Lock"

[@butWhyDad]

I figured it was bottom because rubber on tip prevents shaking/noise so logically bottom will be the one hanging from top.

[@salvadormoran8364]

How about for the honda 2014

[@damonwilliamson186]

THANK YOU~~~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ppal64]

Its not top or bottom. It depends if the calipers are towards the front of the vehicle or the back of the vehicle. The bushing one goes on the trailing edge.

[@miguelsalazar3239]

On the diagram it shows opposite.

[@EIFREC]

lock and guide pin

[@saticoypm]

I read that the bushing is an anti-rattle feature and goes ON THE TOP.... At least on a Chevy Malibu.

[@brucekuper1944]

Subaru it is installed on the bottom from factory 2003

[@miguelsalazar3239]

L for leading pin

[@joemilton7552]

"Lock" and goes on the trailing side

[@clibat]

This video should be taken down. It's just wrong. That's not even a G. Hopefully anyone that watched the video for information also read the comments because they are correct. The best thing to do if you know the car's history is to take one out at a time so you can't mix them up. If it's too late and they are already mixed up, follow the advice on the comments.

[@pathruz4043]

The one with an L on it means it's the Lock Pin, the other is the Guide pin and has a G on it. You'll also note that the caliper has matching L and G marks by the holes for where they go.