What is this thing?

[GrahamDBraun]

This might be a dumb question, but what is this thing sticking out of my brake caliper?

[Stoopcoupe]

It looks like a clip that keeps the brake pad secure

[GrahamDBraun]

It looks like a clip that keeps the brake pad secure

Somehow I can't find any other car that has the clip, then.
Even my buddy who's a mechanic doesn't know what it is, lol.

When you get a chance, would you mind checking if your car's got the same clip?
I'm less concerned and more interested in figuring out what it is.

[BigBuffalo]

The part you have circled is part of the "brake hardware" as you can see it's apart of a little metal piece that goes between the caliper and edge of the brake pad. On some brake pads you have a little loop that sicks out. That tab feeds into the loop. You're pad simply doesn't have one. I've been doing the brakes on my own cars for years now and it just kind of depends on what pads you get.

[justeller]

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/niss ... e+kit,1736

It is part of the hardware kit. It is a clip that helps hold the pad into the caliper bracket to cut back on noise and vibration. It basically a shim. Most higher quality pads will come with the hardware, or you can purchase separate. Def don't want it hanging half out though.

[GrahamDBraun]

http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/niss ... e+kit,1736

It is part of the hardware kit. It is a clip that helps hold the pad into the caliper bracket to cut back on noise and vibration. It basically a shim. Most higher quality pads will come with the hardware, or you can purchase separate. Def don't want it hanging half out though.

Thanks for the responses, guys. But I've got two conflicting answers. Is this an issue or a non-issue? If it is a problem, I'm not sure how I'd go about fixing it, haha!

Thanks you guys.

[justeller]

I wouldn't leave it hanging half out. If it breaks it could end up causing brake damage (i.e. torn piston boot on the caliper, getting stuck between the caliper and the rotor and destroying both). Just pull the wheel and pull the caliper and bracket and see if you can get it back in place. It cheaper to buy a 20 dollar hardware kit then to do pads rotors and or a caliper. Any mechanic should be able to fix it in less than an hour. maybe 20 or 30 minutes.

[GrahamDBraun]

Just pull the wheel and pull the caliper and bracket and see if you can get it back in place.

I'm afraid I don't know what "back in place" should look like, haha!

There's no loop or other kind of spot to put it in. No signs of anything breaking or falling off that might've held it in, either. Both front calipers look identical.

Is it possible that this is simply how the hardware kit is?

[horaciojr]

my ac had the same clip popped out so i popped it back in with some needle nose pliers

[GrahamDBraun]

my ac had the same clip popped out so i popped it back in with some needle nose pliers

Where does it pop back in to?

[justeller]

It should sit on or clip into the bracket. When you pull it apart there should be one on the opposite side of the pad. It looks like from the picture it should just be behind where it is sitting now (instead of being able to see it in front of the bracket, it should be sitting behind the bracket.