My car is on jack stands in my garage getting all four struts done and the rear brake pads. I'm having a problem getting the piston to go back in the caliper, I'm using needle-nose pliers to turn it clock-wise and it went in a little but won't go any further. I've turned it probably 15-20 times and it won't go in anymore so I can't fit it over the new pads. It will, however, fit over one new pad and one of the old pads (25-50% life left in it).
Anyone know of any tricks to get the piston back in there, or do I need a new one soon? Does anyone see anything wrong with putting one of the used pads on there?

 

dont put a used pad in there, itll wear down to the metal by the time the other one is at 50%, its just bad karma. if youve turned it 15-20 times, try using a c-clamp... the added pressure might convince it to move back. just my idea, hope it works

 

I agree...a C-clamp works really, really well...just make sure your brake-fluid reservoir cap is off!

 

napa or other automotive store sell this cube-like tool that you attach to a ratchet and simply turn the piston back in. cost is around $10.

 

lol you have about 4000 more turns when i did mine it took FOREVER very fine threads

 

I ended up putting one of the used ones back on until I can get a hold of that tool. I saw the tool in the manual but who wants to go by the manual?

RockfordMax, I'm not too worried about bad karma, if I was I would have given up on this job last night when I couldn't find a jack. I have two cars, and I just found out neither of them have jacks, I also have two hydrolic jacks and one was borrowed by another orger and the other one broke when I tried to use it BAD Karma!!

 

first of all NEVER use a c clamp on the rear pistons only a needlenose or the special tool. You can use the c clamp though on the front calipers because there designed differntly. It will take alot more than 20 turns to get back in. Like i saw above make sure the fluid resevoir cap is off when your doing this. You just need to be patient or buy the tool and have at it. Just keep turning and it WILL go in.

-Ryan

 

I just went through my rachet/socket drawer and noticed I had a rear piston turner. And all this time I've been doing it with needle nose pliers... Grr... Go rent one, my local autozone has them for rent.
Jae

 

if you've turned it like a bajillion times and it's stuck and won't move, it could be that your rear calipers are bad (frozen). that's what happened to me and i had to get new rear calipers.

 

I think that may be the problem. The piston turned enough to get one good brake pad and one half used one in there, but then it didn't seem to go in no matter how many times I turned it. Even if the inner one wears out sooner I can always throw the other used one from the other side in it down the road. It works fine how it is now so I'm not worried about it. Next up, front suspension items