I need increase the space between the pad guides to squeeze in the new rotor. it looks like there a four pins that secure the round pad guides. Does anyone know how to loosen and spread the guides? In the picture you can see the guides with the pads removed.

Had a pleasant drive to Yosemite this morning until I hit the hills. No sooner and I see the temp guage going high. Switched on the 6c Ac hack (no tester handy) and watched it go up to 111c. Both fans working,ac on and 100f outside. Stopped, let it cool and continued up the hill. This time it hit 113f before I could stop (AC on).

I'm at the hotel now and noticed that there is a loud squeal noise at the front (no particular side). Let it cool again and started with Ac off. No noise initially but after a minute or two the squeal came on again. A few
minutes later the squeal reduced and then returned louder.

During this time I turned the AC on to see if it helped, but no change to the squeal. Fans both came on and held the temp steady.

Turned off the AC and the temp went up but returned down again after the fans kicked in.

BTW I have a tiptrinic so believe there is a third radiator up there. Is there a third fan?

Given the fans seem okay, any ideas why it got soo hot or it making the strange noise?

Need to drive into yosemite valley so need to determine if it is okay? Wife will not be happy to breakdown there.

My brake light came on as the rear brakes are worn out and the sensors came on.

I am going to change the pads (for sure), following Loren's post in the DIY section. However, I'd like not to change the rotors, yes I know that I should take care of the car that is why I am asking the following:

1- All mechanics tell me I should change the rotors as well. In this forum I have seen that maybe is not needed (watch for cracks etc.) Do I have to change them for sure?

2 - What happens if, following whatever advice from point 1, it is indicated that I change them, but I don't? Does it become a question of noise, vibration, or worse?

3 - Can I drive the car AT ALL with the brake warning light on, driving carefully and using gears to reduce speed? Planning to take it to my buddy's house he has a good setup in his garage, but he's 50 miles of freeway away.



Thanks for help in advance; trying to do the minimum to keep the daily driver going, no performance track days here. Car is 99 C2 Cab.

Another update on the saga on my intermix problem and the repair of the engine. Those of you who have been following it will remember that I had an expansion plug blow out of the end of a camshaft and have been struggling with that problem. Finally sent the cams out to have the ends drilled, threaded and plugged.

Here are pictures of the camshafts. The first shows four intake cams, on the left is a cam with the expansion plug in place, the next shows a cam with the expansion plug blown out, the next is a cam that has been drilled and threaded, and finally a cam with the Hex plug installed.



Here is a close-up of the cam with the expansion plug in place. In this case the plug has not been “deformed” by my home made tool.



Here is a picture of my home hade tool. The tool fits in the end of the cam to hold down the cam when the cam cover is removed. The manuals give specific instructions on the depth/setting of the bolts that fit into the end of the cams. I did not think this was critical, not even being aware of the expansion plugs, so I screwed my bolts pretty far in, pressing against the expansion plugs. I believe this was a major mistake.



Here is a picture of the tool inserted in the end of the cam with the plug in place. The hex driver bolt I used is actually small enough to fit inside the expansion plug. I think it should be a larger size head, so it fits into the end of the cam, but not into the expansion cap, However there is not much room beyond the expansion cap. I have not seen the factory tool to see the size of the bolt heads on it.

Just bought an 05 Cayenne from a local Acura Dealer. There is no compressor or hose to fill up the spare tire in the event of a flat and it doesn't have the air suspension option. The dealer says the vehicle does not come with a compressor and it's an option that was not included on this car. I can't believe there is no way to inflate the collapsible spare tire. Does this sound right?