[rbpeirce]

I had a problem installing Pagid pads in the front of my Cayman this year. Several people said I should remove the damper plates, which I did. That gave me the room I needed. I have no idea why I didn’t have to do that last year, but what the heck.

Here’s the question. I got the impression the little pistons should go back in the sleeves so I did. Is that true and why should it be? It is not clear to me that they serve a useful function but I could be wrong. At any rate they are now there at least until the next time I remove the calipers. I have visions of them rattling around in there.

I got one surprise. I had read the plate was a press fit on the pistons. Mine ere screwed on! I had to use a little WD-40 to separate some of the pistons from the plates, but not a big deal. However, unless the pistons need to go back in the sleeves, why do people bother and why did I?

[Dandelion]

You don't need to put the little cylinders back into the caliper piston hollows. As you say, they would serve no purpose.

ed

[TomChan]

Stopping performance is unaffected whether or not the damper plates are installed. But it has been my experience that with damper plates installed there's less or no brake squeal, especially when using track pads. Some track pads are made slightly thicker than OEM, thick enough that the damper plates will interfere.

On my car I kept the damper plates with track pads. On the cars that I am exposed to my car is the only car that doesn't squeal with track pads for what its worth.