The high-performance brakes on James’ Pug need replacing urgently with the MoT just a few weeks away, but can he get the job done in time?
1999 PEUGEOT 406 COUPÉ 3.0 V6
With the MoT approaching, the digital readout on my interior display alerted to me to wearing brakes. Time wasn’t on my side, so Papa Sadlier again came to the rescue and sourced the parts from a local supplier. Sadly, the prices weren’t as low as our usual German supplier, Autodoc, but we had to crack on and get the car ready for its MoT.
I’m not as clever with mechanics as my father – not even close! But I’m good at making cups of tea, so I delivered the first warm mug just as Dad was jacking up the car. With a can of WD40 in his hand, he started dousing any areas that would need removal. As with all 3.0 V6 examples, this car features Brembo front brakes – high-performance parts, often used on many sports cars akin to Porsche and the like.
Due to the risk of fluid overspill when the pistons are compressed into the callipers, we placed some clean rags beneath the brake fluid reservoir after the cap was loosened. Once the wheels were off, we removed the grub screws on one side and managed to drift out the two pins locating the pads and the visible spring clip in the calliper. With the wear sensors disconnected, we were then able to remove both inner and outer brake pads, all the while thinking how much easier this m
