Anybody got one of these? Worth the investment? I am really tired of pushing caliper pistons back in without a proper tool when changing pads, and I don't like opening bleed screws unless I'm also bleeding at the same time. This is like the tool the LeMans teams use to change pads during a pit stop.

http://www.zeckhausen.com/Tools/cali...n_spreader.htm

 

Seems very cool. Is it really ~$200?

 

Yeah it's $225. I found it on a few different sites but it's the same price on all of them.

 

If it weren't $225, I'd have one.

Right now I use a channel lock with some rubber hose on the caliper side. If I had an old brake backing plate welded to the other side, it would at least do one side at a time easily.

 

For >$200 I'll keep using the old pads turned sideways to spread the pistons. Works pretty darned well really.

 

I loosen my speed bleeders and use two pony clamps (one on each exposed piston), doing one pad at a time:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100120790

which is about 1/100 (ok, 1/50 since there are two) the price, and a lot easier to put in the toolbox. The blades are about the same width as the piston, so a little rocking back and forth is enough to get a cocked piston to go in.

 

Am I the only person who can clamp down a set of 4 pistons using the pad in place and my hand??? Seriously, it takes a sec, but I can do it! Anyway, just ordered myself one of those spreaders, I do enough brake jobs on the side that I think it will be worth it to own one. Especially with bigger vehicles.

 

That sounds like what I said just above there. Take the old pad, turn it sideways, and pry against the pistons using the rotor as the fulcrum. Works well, is fast, and FREE.