I was changing the front brake pads on my 1996 Maxima SE and ran into a glitch. When I went to put on the passengers side caliper with new brakes I couldn't get the caliper to fit because the piece (don't know the name of it) that slides in and out and caliper attaches to would not slide in. I have to guess someone else had this problem, what did you do to unfreeze it? I tried heating but that didn't work and I am open to any and all suggestions!

 

don't heat it up!!!!!!!!!!
need 2 people for this (person 1 & 2)
(person 1) try 2 press the brake pedal SLOWLY until the piston slides out a lil and try 2 press it back in.(person 2) watch so that the piston doesn't *** 2 out.

if that doesn't work lossen the bleeder screw that should do it.

 

Thanks for quick reply but I just found out the name of it, its the caliper pin not the caliper. The caliper moves in and out just find, what I need to know is how to get the caliper pin to slide in?

 

spray some PB blazer on it and get some vise grips and try 2 twist and pull it out.when it **** out get sand paper and sand it smoooth and put some lube on it.

if it doesn't *** out with some vise grips take off the whole bracket and put the pin on a vise and twist and pull. it should work. thats what i do at work hope this helps.

 

Well I tried grabbing it with a plier and I could spin it in a circle but it would not move in or out then after I heated it it wouldn't spin as freely. I also tried putting a screw drive on the underside and trying to drive it out but it wouldn't move. Any other ideas other than disconnecting it and putting in a vise as I don't want to turn this into an all day affair?

 

If the caliper pin is seized, try this:

take the caliper off the caliper mount. Hopefully you have a vise. If not, use two sturdy vise grip pliers. (Or visit a mechanic. )Fasten the caliper pin in the vise and use the rest of the caliper to twist forward and backward. Eventually the pin will crack loose. Inspect it carefully for excess rust on it. You might have to replace it if too rusty. (I often use a brass metal circular brush tipped to my 3/8 drill to clean rusted metal.) Regrease the pin but not too much: it has to slide freely in and out. If to much grease there might be hydraulic lock. Oh yeah , the rubber boots that the pins slide into could be torn, explaining why the water got in and seized the pins. If torn , you have to replace them .
After all this inspection if you dont have all these new parts on hand, I suggest you re-assemble the old pads until you get new parts. No use risking damaging new pads if the pins are seized. Just wait a couple more days.

 

you can go to autozone and rent that tool that will allow you to push the caliper back in.

 

Talking about the caliper pins not the caliper. I've done a little more research on these cars (sorry guys I'm Mustang guy) and it looks like there are two bolts holding the torque member. I guess I'll remove it then throw it in a vise like everyone is recommending, what puzzles me is the caliper pin can rotate freely but will not go in or out.

Anyways, where can I buy a new caliper pin and boot because I knwo these are going to get ruined?

 

Hopefully and aftermarket auto part store supplies these. Else the dealer , which is knonw as being expensive.