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How are you guys retracting the caliper pistons with these cars? My daily driver has calipers that resemble the C7 calipers and I need to replace my pads. My daily has nicely painted calipers with pistons on both sides. I don't want to use a c-clamp because it will probably damage the finish and I can't use one of the typical brake spreaders I see at Harbor Freight because the calipers are solid on both sides and I can't run a threaded rod through the outer side.
When I replaced my pads I simply used two large nails (for a long flat surface) and pushed the pistons in by hand. It doesn't take much pressure to do so.
Amazon has several different versions at slightly different prices.
If the brake pads have ears on them the tool can also be used on the pads to push the pistons back far enough to get the pads out of the caliper. Then just insert the tool in the caliper and it pushes opposing pistons into the caliper.
I have been using my tool for close to 10 years now.
you can use a paint mixer wooden stick that you get for free at the paint stores between the painted caliper and c-clamp
or a piece of cardboard box folded 3 times over would suffice
Both options FREE, FREE, FREE who does not like FREE?
When I swapped the pads on my Z06 , I just pushed them back against the caliper with my fingers.
+1
Open up the reservoir in the engine bay, which would make it even easier. I usually use the old pads and push the pistons back through them. It usually takes seconds.
FWIW, was planning to use the same very stiff paint scrapper I modified to separate my early 2014 Z51 pads from the very strong, high temp double sided tape used on the pad back. Not easy to get them to separate, took a hammer! That tape was only used on the front pads and was eliminated ~half way through 2014 production. Funny, 3M makes the tape but was of no help on suggestions for removing!
Would have used the stiff scraper on the rotor/pad interface, then a wood wedge. Changed pads on my Grand Sport twice but with relatively new pads did not need to push them back other than a small amount with my fingers.
Method used to separate the front pads on my early 2014 Z51 from the high temp, double sided tape from the pistons. Commonly used in Europe but eliminated mid 2014 production, thank goodness!
large channel locks and rags. Squeeze. If you can't figure out how the spread the pistons you probably should't be touching your brakes.
Someone asking a question about the proper tool to use for a procedure and you infer by that question said person doesn't have the necessary skill to perform the procedure? And you recommend using a large channel lock and rags on nice Brembo calipers?
Someone asking a question about the proper tool to use for a procedure and you infer by that question said person doesn't have the necessary skill to perform the procedure? And you recommend using a large channel lock and rags on nice Brembo calipers?
yes. the rags will keep the calipers safe just fine. or use a piece of rubber, or cardboard, or wood. my point is, there are things you can figure out a lot faster by just standing in your garage and staring at your toolbox than getting on here. This is one of those.
hell, you could do it with your fingers on the old pads!
On the 6 piston front calipers on a Grand Sport/Z06, is there any reason you cannot retract one or two pistons on one side first and then the remaining ones instead of all three together? Finding a 6 piston spreader is eluding me.
On the 6 piston front calipers on a Grand Sport/Z06, is there any reason you cannot retract one or two pistons on one side first and then the remaining ones instead of all three together? Finding a 6 piston spreader is eluding me.
If you open the reservoir cap in the engine bay, you'll be reducing the back pressure, and pushing more of the fluid up there than just moving it to next piston, so your whack-a-mole can be finished sooner : )
I use the same tool on the oversized Akebonos I mounted on my 350Z track car. In fact it was a 'Vette owner who told me about the tool claiming it was the only one large enough to handle the monster brakes he ran. It was the only product I could find that put even pressure on multi-pistion calipers with enough force to full retract the pistons. With new pads plus titanium heat shields I needed every millimeter. Never figured out how people did it with C-clamps without damaging the calipers.
Interesting responses. I track my car a lot so I'm always swapping between track and street pads. I just push in the old brake pad with my hands till there is room for the new brake to drop in?
03-02-2018, 10:13 AM
Retracting Brake Caliper Pistons
