waddisme

How do you spread the calipers to change brake pads with calipers still on rotor? With stock, I always used the David Farmer tip of using 2 flat head screwdrivers to spread them to get room for newer pads. Just curious if there is a trick for the Wilwoods SL6s that use the 7416 pads.
TIA.

RX-Ben

tool -
Really helps to have an old set of pads/backing plates handy as the tool is near the travel limit otherwise.

waddisme

Will those spread the calipers while still on the rotor?

RX-Ben

yes

Bad Karma

First time I used c clamps, wood and it was a pain. Next time I used the screw driver trick and it worked okay, but without a used pad back to try on you can take a chunk out of whatever pad you are prying on.

This past weekend I pulled the welder out and made a spreader that compresses the pistons. It's got a little too much flex in it, i will have to either reinforce it or build another with thicker metal. But it gets the job mostly done, for completely fresh pads and rotors I'll need a small push on my tool with a screwdriver, so, it's not quite as good as sturdy as I need it to be.

0Todd TCE

Old pad and a screw driver carefully against the disc is probably the most common.

Two tips:

1. Open the bleeders- this reduces the back pressure. Put a rag over it and expect to do a quick bleed when done.

2. Do ONE pad at a time- push one back, replace it, move to the second one. Take them both out and all you'll do is fight the sides.


** And 'no' the above Amazon link spreader won't work on the Wilwood calipers. It's made for a sliding caliper.

FASTFATBOY

I have been using one of these.

brkntrxn

Two screwdrivers against the old pads.

waddisme

Thanks for the tips. Got them on and bedded. No room for heat shields - I guess I will have to wear them down some. Thanks for the great deal on the pads also!

BTW - is there an order to bleeding the caliper? I did the inside first and then the outside. Seemed logical.

brkntrxn

Outside first then inside. Same logic as you would normally use: farthest from the master cylinder to closest.

waddisme

Thanks. May redo them again tonite just to be sure. I was kind of surprised at the sparks that were coming off the brakes as I was bedding them in. I have never done them at night so it may just be the first time I noticed that. They are new pads on different rotors than my street ones. Drove car to work this morning and they seem to be working pretty good.

JerryTX

Thread is dead I know but I just had to add, when I was looking for a tool to do this I was rummaging through the toolbox and found it somehow fitting that I was able to find a use for my old drum brake spoons I no longer needed..

Croc999

same here.
but i assume spreader would make it easier...

brkntrxn

Good idea, Jerry. I have one of those in my tools and it hasn't been used in years.