help!!.. rear brakes!!
 

hey! guys!. im doing my first ever brake pad change. and hahaa.. im having a bit of a problem.. im changing my rear end brakes... well how do i get the pressure to go back in so i can put on the new brake pads.? cause its not wanting to go in.. any suggestion on how to get the thing back in, so i can put on my new brake pads.? thanks..

The pistons turns back in. There is a proper tool for this but i managed with a pair of pliers. If you look at the piston straight on you will see 2 grooves on the top opposite each other, thats where the tool is meant to fit. Just get some pliers and get a good grip on the piston then turn it.

Yep, the pistons need to turn back in. Clockwise I believe.. Be careful not to rip the rubber boot that seals around it, when using pliers. etc. I always find a large pair of channel-locks or vise grips work well. Make sure your E-brake is off as well ;)

im changing my rear end brakes... well how do i get the pressure to go back in so i can put on the new brake pads.


Are you talking about pushing the caliper back so that you can put new brake pads in? That is, widen the space so that the new pads will slip over the rotor?

I know that might be a stupid question, but it seems to me that what you're saying is... that you want to pressurize the system in order to get new pads to fit in...

In that case, you'll be done in another decade or so.

oh.. ahhaa! i was thinking of that too of turning the piston thingy, but wasn't sure and didn't want to try it and instead wanted to ask you guys!... but thanks! i do really appericate this!.. i got it from here..

1990_whitecomet

did turning the piston to push it back in work? i started the same thing today, actually my dilemma was that i bought xdrilled rear rotors and the are to wide for my calipers. but i got stuck just trying to figure the piston thing out.

ok i had the same problem and i was searching and found this thread (hurray search button!)

and i dont want to resurrect old threads but i have another small question:

Are the little wire clips important? And how do they work exactly? I ask because i only have one... and it just shot out of my caliper so i never really got to see where its used/ how to put it back in.

heres the clip im talking about:
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/2223/brakes3gd3.jpg


thanks guys.

I am just going off of memory here, but I think there is a little hole on the sides of the pads... I beleive that will fit in it... Again... That is only if memory serves me correctly... You may want to pull the other side more carefully and see what it looks like... You can also find the manual for all the projects instructions in autozone... You may want to call them before you go pick it up though... They are getting a little harder to find...

Your correct about the holes in the pads. Remember, the BRAKE PADS! There's actually four little holes, two on both ends. Place the new clip into the holes closest to the rear of the car. As the rotor rotates in the direction of travel, the part of the pads that make contact with the rotors first should be spread apart as to minimize noise.

does anyone know where i can get a tool or something to turn the rear piston? I checked mazdatrix and racingbeat but im in kind of a rush so i might have missed it

i normally use some needle nose pliers for it. stick a tooth in each hole, grip it down and turn..

the clips pull the pads away from the disk when not in use to keep them from dragging on the rotor.

you can usaully get the tool to turn your pistons in at a local auto parts store. i got mine at advance auto, actually rented it from there. needle nose pliers don't always work the best, when the pistons are hard to turn, you can bust your hands up pretty good.

I found the tool for just a few bucks at my local auto parts store. Kraagan I think. It is a cube shaped attachment with square holes that fit over a socket wrench. I think it was near the wrenches. You find which side of the cube fits into the 2 grooves in your caliper and snap the opposite side onto a socket wrench. If the piston isn't stuck too tight you can squeeze the groove and turn it with a pair of pliers, but I'd just get the cube or specialty tool.

They also sell individual brake parts and brake hardware kits through special order, in case you lose some little clip, etc.

Is this a real thread? Does nobody know about this? Has nobody done brakes before? Wow... Go to autozone... buy the brake compressor tool.. its like 6-8 bucks... everybody should have one. Its too cheap to be talking about using pliers and what not. Don't risk fucking up your brakes... just go get one.

I ended up using a 17mm wrench with an extension though the other end (like a T handle i guess) and that sucked...

Its odd that mazdatrix AND RacingBeat dont have it...

Oh and micaheli, yes this thread is real, yes it is my first time doing my rear breaks, and yes i had a question or two. Piss off.

mazdatrix and racingbeat don't carry them cuz they are not rotary specific tools. pick one up at your local auto parts store. good to hear that you got them compressed. :icon_tup:

Since when do you need to turn the piston? Last i heked you use the tool to just push it back in.

If desperate you can also use a c clamp.

you use a c-clamp to push your rear pistons in. something there ain't right.

You use a c-clamp to push in your front pistons not the rear. You turn the rear pistons.