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Most motorists perceive the braking system as something monolithic and consisting of large parts such as calipers, discs or the pads themselves, while the small metal clips on the pads are often overlooked or ignored altogether during DIY maintenance. The apparent insignificance of these elements, which experts call anti-squeal or retaining clips, is a serious misconception, since their correct operation directly determines the quality of braking, the level of comfort and the overall safety of the vehicle. Without these small but well-designed parts, the brake pads begin to vibrate when they come into contact with the disc, which not only causes an annoying squeal, but also leads to accelerated and uneven wear of both working surfaces, and in some cases can even cause a partial loss of efficiency of the entire system.
The main function of these clips, located inside the caliper, is to securely fix the brake pad in its guides, ensuring its stable position during operation. When the driver presses the brake pedal and the caliper piston presses the pad against the disc with force, it is these metal holders that prevent it from shifting or warping under pressure, ensuring full and even contact. After the pressure in the hydraulic system weakens and the pedal is released, the elastic shape of the clip actively helps to move the pad back a few microns, which completely eliminates its constant friction against the disc surface during free movement of the car, thereby saving fuel and preventing premature wear.
In addition to its direct function of holding and returning, a high-quality metal clip acts as a miniature shock absorber that effectively dampens micro-vibrations that occur during braking. If these parts are missing or incorrectly installed for some reason, the resulting vibration is not absorbed and is transmitted to the suspension components, which can be felt as a noticeable vibration in the steering wheel or even the brake pedal, and such symptoms are often mistakenly attributed to problems with the discs or tyres. The even distribution of pressure across the entire surface of the pad, which is ensured by the clips, not only makes braking smooth and predictable, but also significantly extends the service life of the friction pads themselves, which is easily confirmed during their scheduled replacement, when pads with serviceable fasteners demonstrate more even and slower wear.
New brake pad sets from most major manufacturers almost always come with a complete set of new fasteners and clips, but if necessary, they can always be purchased separately at auto shops. The cost of these small but critically important safety components is negligible compared to the total cost of a brake kit, and the positive effect of their installation is immediately apparent in the form of quiet operation and precise brake response. Experienced car mechanics strongly recommend replacing anti-squeal clips every time the brake pads are changed, even if the old ones appear to be intact and have retained their shape, as their metal properties inevitably deteriorate over time and under the influence of high temperatures.