Hey guys, im kinda new to working on cars so excuse my ignorance. I have a 87 na, 4 lug, and the rotors were warped so i decided to get new rotors. when im reinstaling the caliper the piston gets in the way of the brake pad. I know your supposed to turn them clockwise and i do but they only turn a 1/4 turn. They do retract after i turn them but you need to line up the groove with the circle on the bottom of the brakepad and when i turn it back the 1/4 turn it starts to come out again! I dont know what im doing wrong??? how do you properly line everything up?

My second question s about the screws that hold the rotor to the hub. I was missing one of the 2 screws and went looking for another replacement but couldnt find one. A mechanic told me that i dont need them cuz the pressure from the rim will hold the rotor. Is this true? or do i need to go to a junk yard and try to find another screw??
Thanks Jon

 

NAPA has the proper screws. I don't know the part #

 

If you are trying to retract the piston then just open the reservoir and use a c-clamp or something similar to push it in. I dont know why you would be trying to rotate it?

 

wait.. is this front or rear caliper.

The fronts should just squeeze together, grab a C clamp. The rears however, screw in (Jahoo, this is why they're trying to rotate it).

PaulC

 

It is the rear brakes im working with. Should the pistons turn in more then 1/4 turn? i dont have the piston wrench but im just using pliers. would removing the cap on the brake fluid relieve pressure so i can turn it in easier?

 

Yes. Ok, here's what you do. Head to Pep Boyz, Kragens, autozone, whatever. Go to their tools section, and look for a brake piston tool. The one I have is round, with two "studs" sticking out of it. You stick it in a 3/8's ratchet extension.

Pliers isn't going to get you enough torque to turn those pistions easily. WHATEVER You do, don't use pliers to turn the outside of the piston and mess up the surface of the piston.

PaulC

 

I think I used a 13 cm wrench with a 10cm wrench stuck through the closed end of the other wrench. Use the open mouth of the wrench to twist the piston counter-clockwise(if memory serves). Mazda SST my ***!

Steve

 

Innovative But next time drop over the mountain, I'll let you borrow mine

PaulC