Changing brake pads,problem with piston

[S15ZENKI]

How do you get the piston back down after you've taken the caliper off? I cant get it back on over the new pads...:confused:

[BeatJunky]

there's a clamp that is used for this (i dont know what its called) and if that doesnt work you may be screwed.

A few weeks ago when I did my brakes my rear driverside calipers piston wouldnt go back in at all and I had to replace the caliper. $80 dammit.... :(

[Phoen_x_s14]

I forgot if its the back or front, but one has to be clamped/pressed down and the other spinned/rotated for it to go down. Its on the Faqs somewhere.

[soulDistortion]

Fronts get pressed, rears get rotated.

There are tools designed for each, but if you want to be cheap...

You can use a c-clamp on the fronts, just make sure you push the cylinder in evenly.
You can use a pair of needle-nose pliers on the rears, but if the piston doesn't turn easily, it's going to be a pain in the ***. You might as well buy the tool for this (it looks like a metal disk with tabs on one side that correspond to the indentions on the rear piston, with the other side made to fit on a socket wrench) if you plan on doing this more than once in your lifetime. Your knuckles will thank you.

Make sure the lid is off the master cylinder while pushing the pistons back in btw.

[Phoen_x_s14]

Thanks for clearing that up, lol one time I did the opposite when changing the brake pads. DAM spent an hour trying to press in the rear brake piston, all that sweat and oil stains for nothing. :doh:

[BeatJunky]

Ahh fudge....

I had no idea the rears were supposed to be turned. I mustve damaged it trying to press it in and ended up dishing out some big bucks for a new caliper. :(

Oh well... live and learn!

[old_s13]

forget opening the MC cap, its called LOOSENING the bleed valve on the caliper, PENDEJOS.

[S15ZENKI]

Ok I got the pads replaced thanks guys. The reason I changed them was because they sounded like they were worn down and scratching the rotors. They arent as loud now but when Im going like under 10mph they still make noise. What could this be?

[Bill Roberts]

They will be noisy until they wear in. Do not use them heavy duty for a few hundred miles..do moderate stops from 30 mph (55KPH) until they mate.

BTW, before I unbolt the caliper, I use a crow bar and pry on the pads to collapse the piston through the slot on the top of the caliper. A whole lot easier than using a clamp..just remove some fluid first (take the cap off)..or open the bleeder ever so little.

[BeatJunky]

Originally posted by old_s13
forget opening the MC cap, its called LOOSENING the bleed valve on the caliper, PENDEJOS.

Didnt forget... JOTO!

[GatorRX]

For what its worth, just bought a universal rear disk brake piston tool yesterday at NAPA for $8.99... SPend the money for the right tool...