how do i fit back brake pads?

With Difficulty !!! Depending on state of the calliper.

1 Undo the two floating calliper bolts.

2. Remove old pads, noting that the rear pad has a locking tab.
the next stage depends on state of calliper and piston !.

3 If you do not have the correct tool, use large pin nose pliers on the calliper face, hold the calliper with one hand and being very dexterous use the pliers with the other hand in a chopstick type motion and spin the calliper clock wise.

This has to be done quite quickly in order overcome the fluid pressure.

About 8 spins should see the calliper piston retract into the body.

If the piston spins freely but refuses to retract the you will have to disconnect the hydraulic fluid pipe which if I remember correctly is a 15mm banjo joint.

4. Now remover the hand brake cable and take the calliper to a bench.

Now repeat the plier and spinning trick again. now the piston should sail backwards as there is no pressure holding it.

If the calliper still wont retract, and feels stiff as you turn, turn it anti clockwise, this will cause the piston to come completely out,

6. Now empty ALL the fluid, taking care with the seals re insert the piston and turn clockwise.

Return the calliper to the vehicle, insert the new pads NOTING THE RETAINING CLIP, re connect the hydraulic hose USING NEW COPPER WASHERS !.

Fit the calliper to the mount using NEW 13mm bolts which are supplied with the pads.

If you had to remove the hydraulic hose, bleed the system, If you managed to wind the calliper back without undoing the hose ( Then you are one lucky hombre !) re assemble, refit wheels and bed the pads in gently.

PHEW !!! sounds complicated but if you are a confident home mechanic the whole job only takes about one and a bit hours.

This does work, I have owned a V40 for some 5 years and changed the rear pads three times.

Dai Jenks
January 2007