Ok I was stupid and tried to compress the piston after I took the caliper off the bracket while changing my rear pads. Now I can't get the piston to go back in. No matter how hard I try. I have tried two different C clamps and it just holds strong mocking me
Any suggestions?

 

Yeah, it's a weird design of the rear calipers/parking brake assembly. In order to compress the piston, you must rotate them clockwise. The work like bolts. They can be REALLY tough to screw back in though, so get a good pair of BIG pliers and grab on tight. Just be careful not to pinch the rubber boot. Good luck!

 

Wow, Ok thank you.

 

They make a tool that goes on a ratchet that goes in there between the x on the piston that allows you to use a ratchet...I have always used the pliers but that socket sure would be nice.

also when you put the caliper back on check and make sure that the little bump on the brake pad fits into one of the groves of the x and not the x itself because it will push the brake pads crooked if you don't...I had a mr2 and it was the first time I had changed pads on that kind of setup and I didn't line up the x right and it screwed up my pads in a day.

so take it from someone that messed up and make sure it goes in there right.

 

i recommend using the socket for this job. i own one and i've used it multiple times on all sorts of cars. it's worth the 15 bucks i paid for it. . .

 

I use a pair of needlenose pliers and stick in the grooves.. it's better on the piston (for sealing reasons) not to damage the outer piston surface..

also, the tool I use to change the discs on my grinder are the exact same size to fit. it's just a piece of flat metal with 2 notches in it at the correct spacing. works like a charm.

 

Snap-on and MAC do sale a brake tool for this type of brake design. But they are very expensive. Be careful when u use plier to turn the piston because u can catch the rubber cover.

 

i used vice grips

 

$10 tool= pliers=*$^@!#&%

 

A question that goes along with brakes. Think the Brembo big brake it for the 300zx (newer ones) would work on a maxima? I heard they would, and i heard from others they wouldn't, but i've not heard from any owners.

 

They need to be machined to to fit, clearance issue...

 

JCWitney sells the tool for like 15 bucks or something...

I have one you could borrow.

 

It will bolt on, but you'll have to mill the rotors by 3mm radius (6mm off the diameter)..

This is the same for the Skyline or Q45 brakes.

ALL RWD nissans use the same brake geometry. I.e. you can pull the brakes off a 300ZX or Q45 or Skyline and swap them all around. everything will bolt right up.
But the suspension geometry is a tad different on the FWD cars. the caliper brackets are moved in 3mm from the others, so the brakes won't just bolt right on. cut 3mm off the radius of any of the other RWD nissan brake systems/kits and you're ready to go.

 

I was away from my Haynes manual when I asked. Otherwise I could have just read that, oh well. Thanks for the responses. Pepboys only had the tool for front calipers so just used needle nose pliers like Matt said