Brake pad "slippers" - OK to run without them?

[Scoobmaster]

Greetings Explorer owners/gurus:

I am a long-time Dodge/Chrysler car and minivan owner (ducks under thrown rotten veggies) that has come to the Ford side with a 2003 Explorer XLS. I just replaced my front brake pads and rotors on the Explorer yesterday and was somewhat mystified by the way everything was put together. I am used to a caliper that only has two slide bolts holding it and the pads on. It took me a few minutes to figure out that the Explorer caliper comes off with the two smaller bolts in the slide pins, and then you take the "cage" that holds the pads around the rotor off separately with two larger bolts. The little stainless clips ("slippers" is what I have now heard them referred to) puzzled me. they had a "death grip" on my old pads and I had to really pry on them to remove them. My new pads (cheap Autozone ones) didn't come with new slippers, so I tried to clean the old ones as best I could. However, even after cleaning, I felt that the pads with the slipper were held "too tight" and would not "float" or glide easy enough to release and not bind and rub on the rotor when the brakes are released. So I lubed the pad slide area and assembled everything without using the slippers. The caliper glides nice and free on the glide pins and the pads move very easy (obviously).

Now the question for the gurus here.... is this a big mistake? Is it OK to run without the slippers? Are they absolutely necessary for proper brake operation, or more for noise/rattle control? Should I buy new slippers in a "kit" and install them? ALL the Dodge cars I have ever done brakes on have had some "slop" where the pads glide in the top & bottom grooves of the caliper and have no "slippers" placing pressure on them (that is why this system of slippers on my Explorer seemed "foreign" to me).

Any opinions / help is appreciated.

Thanks for letting a "chrysler guy" into the Explorer fraternity

 

[crash594]

You are going to get alot of noise. AutoZone sells a kit for $10. I just purchased a set for a friends Dodge truck.

 

[Scoobmaster]

Thanks for the reply. I see that Autozone has a kit for the Explorer that includes four slippers and the rubber boots for the slides for $7.99. I guess I need to pull the wheels back off of it and install them.

I was afraid that the pads being so 'tight" with the slippers on would cause them to stick/bind and rub the rotors. I guess this is not the case and it is "normal" for pads on these trucks to be very snug in the "slippers". Is that correct?
Have any of you had problems with them?

 

[Opera House]

I bought some Autozone CHINEASE brakes and had to file them where they fit into the stainless spring retainers. Otherwise they were too tight to fit.

 

[crash594]

Some of the brake pad backings from autozone need the edge of the casting filed down some times. They are the only ones I had to do this too.

 

[muzzymaniac]

I too was a victim of the Autozone pads that just don't fit. I made a discovery a while back. What I thought was the pad not fitting was actually the aluminum of the caliper bracket causing the problem. Try this... with the bracket off and the "slippers" removed wire wheel (I use a dremmel) the 3 sides that the slippers seat on. I wish I had pictures to show. You'll see that there is a lot of corrosion in there. Once you're down to bare metal (you'll be able to tell) then clean and reinstall the slippers. Make sure you wire bush the slippers to get as much crap off as you can. Then test fit you pads. I tell you the difference is huge. It made a world of difference in my brake jobs. The work better and last longer. the pads are snug but still move easily - just like they should!