9-3 Linear 2003 front brake pads

[snaab]

I'm having a heck of a time finding the right pads for this job. My 9-3 has 15" rims and has the following general specs..



Model Year: 2003
Body type: 4-door (4D)
Engine: B207L 4-inline, Turbo, PETROL, TURBO (B207 L)
Gearbox: automatique 5 rapports / Front wheel drive
Plant: Trollhattan, Sweden
Market: Model series I, Driver and passenger airbags
Serial number: 064213


The pad thickness of .5" is the issue, as best I can tell and I've had no luck with Oreillys here in Mnpls. The caliper piston has been pushed back to the point the inner pad is flush with the housing and the outer pad is in and fits perfectly snug etc. Even with that its well over a .25 off from fitting over the rotor. Rotors are new and have been compared to the originals. They appear identical based on measurements.
Ive gone through several trials of pads and they all appear to be too thick. If someone can point me in the right direction I would really appreciate it. My wife drives this one so I would love to knock it out ASAP! Let me know what more info I can provide if I need to post pad and rotor part numbers I've tried etc. Thanks,

[AVguy]

Well you should have 285mm front rotors and 278mm rear rotors if everything is stock still. That is a pretty common setup on a Linear.

What brand and part number did they give you?

[snaab]

Thanks for th le reply! The pads are BrakeBest MKD972 and rotors are also BrakeBest 96759RGS

[snaab]

Rotor info 38221081 is also scribed on the side

[AVguy]

Those part numbers look to be correct. Have you compressed the piston as far as it can go? It will stop when fully retracted. Can you measure the thickness of the pad friction material, pad backing plate and rotor?

Pads should measure according to this diagram

http://www.rockauto.com/info/142/300..._DRA__ra_p.jpg

[snaab]

Thanks for the link and feedback! I'll check this tonight when I get home. Im also picking up the rear rotors/pads after work. Hopefully those will fit.

[snaab]

So I dont see a pic button on the mobile app for some reason. Anyway, the outer pad and back plate is approx 3/4 thick = 20 mm. The pad itself is 1/2 inch = 12 mm.

[snaab]

I made sure the caliper piston was recessed all the way back. No wiggle room behind the outer pad. These things are simply not compatible with the rotor.

So maybe its the caliper. Part # 0605 stamped into it with a kinda of Auto emblem?

Edited*

[snaab]

Well i think tomorrow Im going to bring the pads to a local shop and have them sanded down. If theyll do it.

[snaab]

So the shop didnt want to sand them down, i cant blame them. I was looking over the front caliper again and came across more part #s FNG 57/25 6002 with a GM stamp. Looked them up and it was giving 2004 9-3 as the fit. If anyone can recommend a pad that marries well with this I'll give it a go.