Compressing rear brake piston???
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
Compressing rear brake piston???
hey guys, I'm doing the rear brake pads today. They're pretty worn (probably the OE pads). I was just wondering if there is any trick to getting the piston compressed to make room for the new pads. I popped the cap on the cylinder, but i've given it all i've got and can't get the piston to budge. It needs to go in quite a ways before there is room for the new pads and I'm just not getting it to move. I did see there was a hex type bolt in the center of the piston do I need one of those special tools to compress it? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'd probably be done by now, but I've already sent my service manual up to my new place in WA.
thanks.
thanks.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Re: Compressing rear brake piston??? (Onyx)
I just used a bar clamp. It works great on the back, the front is the same way, but you need two clamps as it's a dual piston design.
With a little force from the clamp it will move quite easily, can't make it budge by hand. I even used one of the hand squeeze style, worked great.
With a little force from the clamp it will move quite easily, can't make it budge by hand. I even used one of the hand squeeze style, worked great.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
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St. Jude Donor '12
Re: Compressing rear brake piston??? (Onyx)
A C-clamp works if you have the cap off the master cylinder.
All the cars I've ever worked on with disk brakes had to use that, never got lucky with just trying to push it in.
All the cars I've ever worked on with disk brakes had to use that, never got lucky with just trying to push it in.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
Re: Compressing rear brake piston??? (KDuniverse)
Pepboys or Autozone sale one of the brake thingie, use that to squeeze the rear piston in. You need to use the old pad to place it against the piston, use the squeezer to push it in, the sueezer has a metal plate that will be place against the other side of the caliper...
I think the front you need a C clamp to squeeze the piston in. The brake squeezer doesn't work for the front (no room for it)
I think the front you need a C clamp to squeeze the piston in. The brake squeezer doesn't work for the front (no room for it)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
Re: Compressing rear brake piston??? (Onyx)
What year Vette? Some GM's (and foreign makes for that matter) require a special tool which for lack of a better description, looks like a square Hex. You use it with a ratchet and twist the piston back into its bore. If you have this setup and try to compress the piston the old fashion way; ie, with a c-clamp, you will ruin the piston. Again, I don't know if your year Vette has it (or if any year does), but a tell tale sign would be if there are any indentations on the outside of the piston for the tool to fit into. If you do need it, the tool is available at any parts store.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 3,570
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From: Austin, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Dallas, Hong Kong, Elgin, etc.. Texas
Re: Compressing rear brake piston??? (SunCr)
I took a piece of 1/4" flat steel stock about 2.5" wide by 4 inches long. I drilled a 3/8 hole near on of the ends and threaded it for a screw. I then slide the plat where the outside pad goes and turned the screw out to push the piston back into the bore.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,198
Likes: 2
From: Northern CA
Re: Compressing rear brake piston??? (Mez)
All you need is a $5 6" C-clamp. Flip the old pad over so the flat pad surface lies against the piston(s), and compress with the clamp. No need to spend your money on any fancy tools...
Same goes for the front. The old brake pad will compress both pistons at the same time.
Don't forget to open the master cyl and suck out some of the fluid first, or it will spill out.
Same goes for the front. The old brake pad will compress both pistons at the same time.
Don't forget to open the master cyl and suck out some of the fluid first, or it will spill out.
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