My rear passenger brake caliper is locked up. I guess it has been for a while, dunno how tho, but it's totally worn out that brake pad. I took it apart, and I cannot push back the piston inside the caliper with a C-clamp.
My neighbor suggested for me to open the brake fluid under the hood to release the pressure, and it'll be much easier to push the piston back. BUT..when i opened it, there was no pressure, and the piston was still stuck.
Any suggestions to be able to push the piston back? I'd prefer not to buy a whole new caliper set heh.. Any/all help is needed, thanks in advance.

 

Heh, I've seen pistons come out so far that the worn pad drop and the piston contacted the rotor. You going to the need get the caliper rebuilt or replaced. Also see if there is pressure in the brake line itself right at the caliper. Do a simple one-line bleed at the caliper.

 

wow, that's intense lol how do i do a "one-line bleed"? is it when i loosen up the bolt behind the caliper, someone steps on the brakes, and i retighten that bolt..or something like that? i'm not sure, but my dad was telling me something like that lol

 

there is a nut on the caliper itself that will allow you to bleed your brake fluid. There is no way you are going to the able to do this by yourself, those one-man pumps don't work that well. See if your dad is willing to help you out, since the idea is to prevent air from getting into the brake lines.

 

First off, are you sure the caliper is stuck? I only ask you this because you cannot simply compress the rear calipers with a C-clamp like the front ones. There is a special tool (you can rent it or buy it from most local parts stores) that fits into the "teeth" like gear inside the caliper piston. You have to turn the piston in clockwise to get it to compress. I believe the tool is used with a 3/8 drive ratchet.

Try that and then see if the piston is stuck.

Good luck!!

Ted, Chicago

 

Oh interesting... didn't kno that, no wonder in the how-to's it only says how to replace the front brakes haha! ok, i will try that tonight, thanks.
but i think it is really stuck because after i release the brakes, the worn out pads keep on scratching the rotors for a while and it sounds horrible. like, only that side keeps on scratching it and all..dunno really how to explain it -.-

 

also thanks FantasyGod, i'll have either my dad or a few of my friends [that knos cars pretty well] to help me later tonight too, i don't have much time today. but yea, that's what my dad was explainin to me, about getting rid of the air from the lines.

 

Make sure you lube up the caliper seal/piston with brake fluid as good as possible to help unfreeze it.

 

If you have to replace the caliper, replace both at the same time. I seized my right rear last year as a result of not using my parking brake for about 5 years. Brakes are hydraulic. If you do not replace both calipers, you will experience uneven braking.

Don't chintz out with your brakes. Given the damage to your brake pad, I strongly suspect your caliper is toast.

 

aznstormin, you are going to **** when you see rear caliper prices!

 

well, thanks for all your inputs! the piston was fairly rusted, and couldn't turn the piston at all..i ended up spendin an amt i'd rather not say gettin a new rotor, and loaded caliper [included brake pads]..altho only for the one side =\ i only plan to replace the other side soon..if i don't get to it, i guess i'll have to deal with uneven braking for sometime, but it's aiite with me.

 

I didn't have to replace my rear rotors and it was recommended that they don't get machined as they are thin to begin with.

Replace the left side soon. These are brakes you are dealing with.

 

I just went through all this today in the morning. True, you cannot use a C-Clamp. Here is the tool I have

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/ap7860.html

Since this is my 2nd time around, I was very surprised that the piston went in very very easily, yet it seemed to be frozen in that it didn't want to come back out. I used the lever that the parking brake cable pulls to force it, the tool again to compress it, and repeated 3X. See my post in the general forum. My hunch is it's on the blink, but it's working again..... good luck.