I have a 96 F150XL 4x4. My buddy and I replaced the front brake pads today. It appears that I only have one "clip" (across bottom of drivers side pads) left. My question is: am I only supposed to have bottom clips? It looks like there is a groove for a top clip as well. Not talking about the positioning clips on the pad itself.
Thanks for any advice you can give?
Phil.

 

If it's like my 92 f150, there are 2 hollow tubes
that hold the pads in. One top and one bottom.

Mine actually almost fell out.

I pulled into a parking place and had the wheel turned all the way.
I could easily see the inside of the caliper and both clips were hanging out about 4-5 inches.

Autoparts store have them but they don't necessarily come with new pads

 

There are supposed to be the anti-squeak pads top and bottom. If installing new pads from quality manufacturer, the new clips would be in the box. My new pads and clips were a very tight fit. The were Raybestos made from Carquest.

 

The clip that clips onto the bottom of the pad right? Yes there's only one per side for those, for the inside pad. They're anti-rattle clips. Hope you're not talking about the clips that keep the caliper from falling out.

 

We took the front wheels off, took off the brake Caliper. (10 or 13 mm bolts north and south inside edge of the brake assembly, have to have the wheel turned in the opposite direction) then removed the pads. One side had a bottom "clip" that spanned across the rotor, locked into the caliper and locked he pads in place on those metal wings that are the backing for the actual braking material. I'm pretty sure I need 4 and I only have one. There was no clip that seemed to hold the caliper in place, the caliper was bolted on. 91 Chevywt: You sure you're not thinking of a Chevy brake assembly, someone told me they are held with glue, clips and velcro:-).
Either way there is no way for the pads to come out, the calipers have groves that hold the pads. Anti squeak/anti rattle seems to be a good name for what they are, but they are clips rather than pads. Without them the pad has about 1/8" of play so when you back up & brake they move down (clockwise on the rotor)1/8" and they move conversely when you go forward. These clips might also prevent the pads from "grabbing" at the first point of friction. I noticed that the pads I took off were not worn evenly. So I will get a set of clips.
Thanks to everyone for their comments, Love the fact that this site is here and so many people participate. I am so glad I bought a FORD. (yes, that was another friendly rank 91chevywt, I know you are a senior user but, given the name I couldn't resist!)
Thanks again!
Phil

 

Yeah, I've always used 91chevywt after my first truck, and never wanted to change. Believe it or not, chevy calipers use bolts! I don't consider myself a chevy guy anymore, but my username always serves as a reminder of my old short sighted thinking! I'm more of a ford person than anything anymore

I was a little thrown when I saw the front calipers on my '88 F150, there are no bolts to remove the caliper. There are two large pins/clips that you drive out, they go in a diamond-shaped groove, and the caliper fits tightly in a bracket. This is the first time I ever saw a brake caliper that doesn't bolt on.

The clips often come in a "hardware kit." When I went to the parts store to get new pads and calipers, I asked for the caliper bolts and slides, without ever looking at the setup. They brought me out the hardware kit, and I thought hell, looks like I'm reusing the bolts, cuz I didn't know what that crap was. Luckily, new calipers come with the clips. Your truck is a lot newer than mine, so maybe you have a different setup.

 

I can't comment if they are anti-squeak clips or clips to hold it all together without seeing them, but I will chime in anyway. I work at a factory that makes virtually every aftermarket brake that is on the market today and many of the OEM brakes. The brakes are made to customer specifications. Most customers don't want to include ANYTHING that adds to the final cost. This includes clips that are very often needing to be replaced by the time you need new pads. Even the Motorcraft brakes at the dealer don't usually include these clips. That being said, a more expensive brake is more likely to have the extra little parts.
I actually work in research and development, so I'm not packing the brakes into a box all day and I don't know the specifics of what's going into the box. I do have to build up braking systems quite a bit and it's very frustrating because parts that should come together, don't. For example, a caliper bracket comes by itself, the bolts to hold it on the car are another item, then the caliper, then the bolts that hold the caliper to the bracket, then the clips/rail slippers that go into the bracket, then the banjo bolt that holds the line to the caliper, then those two little brass washers, then...you get the picture. Every little part has it's own number and the parts guy doesn't always know what ISN'T included. Such a pain.

 

If the clips look like a S from the side, they are the Anti-Sqeak clips...Not needed....And are a PAIN to find....

I replaced the front brakes on my 94' and they fell apart in my hands (The Clips)...Didn't replace them, and had no issue with them...

But if they are like the 92' style, there are 2 sets of 2 "wedges, they have to be hammered in/out and form a square on the caliper/assembly....If thats the case, you should have 2 sets, 2 in the top hole, and 2 in the bottom hole....

-Wes

 

I lost it the first time I saw that glue had a part number.