got them off and now im trying to screw the caliper back in. the haynes says it can be done by hand anyone have any tips on how to go about doing it, i dont have the correct tool. also, do i rotate counter clock wise or clockwise and do i need a C clamp at all. its 11:30 im i still got one side to go.
thanks,
phil

 

yeah helps if you have tools. yes use a c clamp to compress the piston. use a old pad to do so. tighten the caliper bolts with a wrench or socket by hand. do use air tools. put some antiseeze on the bolts though.

 

You can try to trailerpark rig it by using a pair of needle nose pliers to turn the cylinders back in, but I tried this and it is hard to get them back in, I heard Autozone or Advance may sell the special tool for this, I will defintely go that route for next time cause it's a pain.

 

this should be added to the stickies. IT IS NOT EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE TO POSSIBLE TO RETURN REAR PISTONS BY HAND UNLESS YOU ARE THE HULK!! haynes says you can do it with needle nose...NO WAY. i used channel locks and turned for 45 minutes and the stupid thing still went no where. i finally gave up at 12:15 and put the old ones back on, but im gonna get the tool tomorrow morning. okay, im done venting.

 

did you take the cover off your brake fluid cylinder?

 

Misinformation here, and you found out the hard way. The rear pistons are threaded so unless you are the hulks bigger brother, no no.

Get the tool, $8 @ most places, but better luck next time. One more thing, make sure that the nub on the back of the brake pad lines up with the pit in the caliper.

Taking off the cover won't significantly help either.

 

I guess I didn't change my rear brakes then. I found out the hard way after reading forums that there was a tool.

 

You can do it using vicegrips/needle nose though..Front's you used c-clamp rears you used twist in method with pliers or . The twist in and compress..First time I changed my friends 97 max rotors/pads 3years ago we messed up..went with c-clamp rear..killed 1 caliper got a used caliper from jyard.Repalced it then we just twisted the pad other caliper in with vice grips.
Autozone lets you rent a tool kit like 10/15- comes with various sizes of twist in clamps.The reason its harder to twist them in is because they are old/sticking need rebuilt kit or reman.calipers don't last forever they seize up.

 

CORRECT!!! DITTOS HERE!

they are threaded, so brute force won't work. go to autozone and "rent" the tool for $35. they'll give you $35 back when you return it.

 

Why would you rent it for 4 times the price of the actual tool?

 

The tool you want to use is basically a cube with square holes in the middle. It's a cube because it's a universal device, where each side of the cube is slightly different. Buy it, find the side that fits snugly onto the caliper, then insert a rachet extention into the side hole so that the extention is at a right angle to the caliper. make sure that you press on the cube (pressing into the caliper) as you are turning, or you may slip and strip the caliper.

 

I had the same problem but eventually I got it. I bolted the caliper back on the car without the rotor on then I began turning the piston out first then twisted back in with the pliers. It took alot of muscle to do but it worked. Me and my brother took turns turning it. I actually tried it about two months ago and gave up then I tryed it again last week and got it.

 

'cause i only need it about every 4 years and there is no rental cost, since they give you all you money back when you return it...

 

morone !!!! they screw in and if you listen to this freak your going to do damage to the caliper.

 

I do it all the time he he he



100th Post !

 

UPDATE...got the disc brake tool kit and got the back brakes done in an hour. for future DIYers the back is just as easy as the front with the tool. (free rental from autozone!)