compressing caliper piston

[J3wman]

im putting in new pads but how do you recompress the piston to put the caliper back on?

[J3wman]

bump

[Grin0048]

bump

bump after six minutes? Anyway, I've always just used a c-clamp.

[Vtec1nspir3dCB7]

im putting in new pads but how do you recompress the piston to put the caliper back on?

2 ways that you can do this. (one i'm prob going to be bashed for...)

1. There is a bleeder screw on the side of the caliper. Unscrew it to let the pressure out and make sure that your reservoir doesn't run dry. Change the breaks then re-bleed your line.

2. You could take a c-clamp and clamp the piston back down. *You risk blowing a line this way)

[scudweiser]

with a caliper compressor tool. borrow one from autozone.

[J3wman]

thats what i thought u had to do damn it i rrreeeaaalllyyy dont want to bleed my brakes, guess i gotta

[James Matteu]

Interesting Failure

...*You risk blowing a line this way

I am assuming that you know someone this happened to or this happened to you. I am curious if there were any other contributing factors or if the C-clamp was the approximate cause of the line failure. I have been C-clamping my own brake calipers since 1999 and have not had one single problem. I do take my time, i.e. I give the Brake Hydraulics time (about 10-20 seconds) to push some fluid back to the Brake Fluid Reservior after each 1/2 turn.

[ibr_adam09]

this is how i did it and its completely safe and fast.

1) unscrew your brake fluid reservoir cap.

2) then take your old pads and place them over your caliper piston.

3) grab a "C" clamp and have one end press against the old pad and the other end on the back of the caliper.

4) twist tight until the piston is back in place.

[Vtec1nspir3dCB7]

I am assuming that you know someone this happened to or this happened to you. I am curious if there were any other contributing factors or if the C-clamp was the approximate cause of the line failure. I have been C-clamping my own brake calipers since 1999 and have not had one single problem. I do take my time, i.e. I give the Brake Hydraulics time (about 10-20 seconds) to push some fluid back to the Brake Fluid Reservior after each 1/2 turn.

A guy was in a rush when he did his. His brake lines were in horrible condition and i'm surprised that they made it to that point. I am unaware of the OP's brake lines (ie what condition they are in) so i was giving a warning.

I personally have been "C-clamping" all my brakes on all my cars.

[batever]

Use a big (6 or 8") c-clamp. They cost about $7.00

There is *no reason* that using a c clamp on your *front* brake caliper pistons should break a line unless you have seriously degenerated lines. Or maybe if you have degenerated lines and an ABS system with an ABS booster--I don't know much about ABS boosters. And there is no need for a special tool to do this, just use a c clamp. Make sure your master cylinder reservoir isn't going to overflow as you tighten the clamp. Turn it like a turn, then check the reservoir, then turn it another turn---

If fluid is going to leak out the top of the reservoir and you need to lower the fluid level,, just bend a metal kitchen teaspoon at a right angle and use it to scoop out a couple of spoonfuls of brake fluid into a jar. No need for a fancy siphon or anything like that.

Loosening the bleed bolt is a pain in the ass so it would be my last choice. You don't have to press it that far in to get the pads to fit, either. Plus didn't you always want to own a big-ass C-Clamp? I knew you did!

[batever]

I am assuming that you know someone this happened to or this happened to you. I am curious if there were any other contributing factors or if the C-clamp was the approximate cause of the line failure. I have been C-clamping my own brake calipers since 1999 and have not had one single problem. I do take my time, i.e. I give the Brake Hydraulics time (about 10-20 seconds) to push some fluid back to the Brake Fluid Reservior after each 1/2 turn.

time and the hourglass....

[Leung]

this is how i did it and its completely safe and fast.

1) unscrew your brake fluid reservoir cap.

2) then take your old pads and place them over your caliper piston.

3) grab a "C" clamp and have one end press against the old pad and the other end on the back of the caliper.

4) twist tight until the piston is back in place.

This is the way my dad taught me back in the day and it's the way i still do it now.

[dksix]

Can you blow a brake line if the reservoir cap is off ???? I wouldn't have thought it would be possible to blow a brake line with a C clamp .

[BigBlueVan69]

[deevergote]

There is NO way the pressure of a C-clamp could ever be greater than the pressure of simply using the brakes. The only real worry about using a C-clamp is damaging the caliper boot if it slips off, pinching a line if you're not careful about placement, or gouging the caliper piston itself (which isn't a big deal, but even pressure across the contact area with the pad is a good thing)

Relieving the line pressure and re-bleeding the lines is overkill. Effective, but there's no need for it.