I Need Help With Car Brakes

[Bigwoods]

I'm replacing the rear disc brakes on my daughters Cutlass. I have done several front disc brakes, but this time around, I can't get the plunger to retract. I read somewhere on a few cars you have to disconnect the electrics to the antilocks.. I used a C-clamp, and even a gear puller, almost resorted to a hammer, but I can't get it to budge.

any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks

[dhazard]

Bigwood, stupid question, do you have the parking break on? Some cars with disk breaks use a small drum for the parking break others use the disk break pads. What year is the car?

[Bigwoods]

Parking brake is not on. I did think that might have something to do with it. It is a 94 Cutlass Supreme.. I disconnected some clip on wire to the antilocks. Maybe I should have turn on the ignition or something. I sure am confused on this one. It is usually so easy.

And yes, I have already pinched my finger and bled all over. Usually that does the trick and I figure it out.

[alaska teardrop]

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Bigwood - Some rear brakes that incorporate the hand brake require the caliper piston to be retracted by turning the piston back into the caliper.

Question: 1994 Cutlass-Supreme _mileage: 50,000. I have repaired all the brakes on my past cars. A local mechanic has told me that it requires a special tool to replace the pads on the rear brakes. Is this true or is this a ploy to make money? (A lot of money) This is an ABS system. Thank You

Answer: A special tool is required to retract the rear brake pistons.

[Noob]

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=rear+disk+brake+caliper+tool&spell=1

[emiller]

Try rotating the cylinder of the brake cylinder.

[Nitetimes]

What they said, /\ Most all rear disc brake pistons have to be turned in. If you can't do it by hand or a very little help from your clamp pick up a tool from Advance (or your local AP) made just for that purpose. It'll save you a lot of work in the end.

[owenmpk]

On my Saturn the pistons on the rear disc brakes have to be turned so they "screw" back in to the caliper.

[angib]

And yes, I have already pinched my finger and bled all over. Usually that does the trick and I figure it out.

All these screw-the-piston-in comments sound good. However.....

I can't help wondering if you just pinched the wrong finger - suggest you pinch all the others in case that's it........

Andrew

[JunkMan]

My VW Beetle has rear discs, and the pistons have to be truned (screwed) back in also. I managed to do it without the special tool, but it was a real pain in the butt

I used a C Clamp to put light pressure on the piston while I screwed it in, just turning the piston without pressure from the clamp did not work on my car. I think the tool is around $50.

[Bigwoods]

Thanks for the responses. Seems like it get harder to be a "shade tree' mechanic. So I could go buy the tool, which I will probably never use again, or put it back together again and pay someone else to do the job.

Maybe I'll take Andrews advice and pinch some more digits. Usually after one or two, and enough blood shed I get the job done.

Thanks Again. What a great forum!!

[Steve_Cox]

Bigwoods,

Would it be out of line to suggest opening the bleeder valve while trying to turn and compress the piston? I've had to do some stubborn ones that way, they just wouldn't want to budge otherwise. Maybe you did do this and I missed it. Good luck anyway.

SC

[BrwBier]

The piston should have a cross on the face, should be about the same width as a square shank screwdriver. Lay the screwdriver on the piston and put c clamp on screwdriver, slight pressure on clamp while turning piston with screwdriver. the piston will start to go in as you turn and apply pressure with clamp. It would be best if you had a helper. The tool works better but this will also work. One person to hold caliper and tighten clamp, the other screws piston in with screwdriver.
Brwbier

[Bigwoods]

Thanks everyone. I did complete the job, not as much blood loss today. I found the tool. It was a little cube with several prongs on it, for different kinds of cars. Then you just use the rachet to turn the cube. Cost $10. It sure made it a lot easier.

Funny how things work. You get the right tool and figure out the right way to do a job and it becomes so much easier.

[JunkMan]

Greg,

Where did you find a tool for $10? When I did mine, the only tools I could find were about $50 That sounds like something I need to have in my toolbox