Best brake piston retractor tool
 

I expect to be replacing brake pads in the near future and wondered what tool people have used to retract the pistons. My preference is to be able to retract all six (front) or four (rear) at the same time. I have seen tools that look like spreaders, but haven't found anything through Google. In the past I've used a standard c-clamp, but my other cars were single piston calipers. The DIY posts were helpful for the overall process, but not this particular aspect. I definitely don't want to pop out one of the pistons!

quick grip clamps right over the old brake pads before pulling them out work well... the rubber pad on the clamp keeps the clamp from marking the caliper too! Something like these... http://www.lowes.com/pd_118178-281-5...N%20QUICK-GRIP

I have also used the C clamp and old pad method while protecting the outside of the caliper, however I know the Z will be a different animal with its multiple pistons.
:lurk:

I use this tool. It catches the tabs at the top of the pads and allows you to spread them sufficiently to remove the caliper or the pads. Then you can use it to push the pistons all the way back in. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Disc-Brake-Pad-Spreader-Tool-Mercedes-VW-BMW-Ford-Honda-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem56436ee864QQ itemZ370498529380QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiv eQ5fTools

Bill

Or you could use this tool from GiroDisc

http://store.zeckhausen.com/catalog/...roducts_id=474

not sure what I missed but on my last brake job on the front end I pushed the pistons back in individually. No problems.

If you unbolt the two Caliper bolts and take the caliper w/pads off the rotor, if you push in one of the pistons, won't the other five (three) pistons want to push out of their bores? I'm also looking ahead to when I install single piece pads rather than the padlets.

Yeah I unbolted the calipers I didn't do the pin thing. When I pushed in the pistons I did them all individually and they did not push themselves back out. I did uncap the fluid reservoir in order to allow for expansion. I guess that was the magical touch. I didn't actually spill any fluid, but had the area wrapped up in case.

I must be a bonehead, I just shove a few flat blade screwdrivers in between the pads and rotor, then pry away until the cups are fully in the caliper. :D:D:hide:

Use your thumbs. If that doesn't work, use wide mouth pliers wrapped in electrical tape. One piston at a time works OK. -pp

Yeah. I'll definitely do one caliper at a time. Complete one corner at a time.

Lowes has good 6" ones with plastic pads that won't damage the caliper paint.

Among professionals, that's actually the most common technique...
:hide:

I unbolted the caliper as well, and pushed each piston in by hand as others have done. Worked well and very little resistance.

this was a new challenge to me with the Z06, with all the OE padlets, and I was afraid the pistons would pop out
(I was accustomed to AP calipers on my old car, which did not require removal to swap pads)
So, with the Vette, BEFORE I unbolt the caliper, I use this to push the individual padlets back by their protruding 'ears'

It works equally well for single piece pads (which are my track pads)

this doesn't touch the calipers at all. Fast an easy

How I do it too lol

except if you are swapping back and forth between street and track pads, you may not want to destroy them all by prying at the friction material with a screwdriver :nono:

find a tool truck and get a quality tool for the job your doing, sure it costs more, but its designed for the job, wont break, and its got a guarantee. The brake pads aren't cheap, the caliper isn't cheap, why use a cheap tool?

I use this one too, very good, Lisle makes larger ones, I have one of those that covers 4 pots, if you are rebuilding calipers you'll need to restrict movement of all 6 pistons at the same time if you are using air pressure to push them out, I used these tools to limit the piston travel out as well.[

QUOTE=tommyc6z06;1598755661]this was a new challenge to me with the Z06, with all the OE padlets, and I was afraid the pistons would pop out
(I was accustomed to AP calipers on my old car, which did not require removal to swap pads)
So, with the Vette, BEFORE I unbolt the caliper, I use this to push the individual padlets back by their protruding 'ears'

It works equally well for single piece pads (which are my track pads)

this doesn't touch the calipers at all. Fast an easy[/QUOTE]