Damn, I couldn't budge the pistons once I took off my old pads, so I started my car and pumped the brakes which didn't work, so I turned my car off and pumped the brakes and a caliper piston popped off!! any how, i decided to disconnect the caliper (draining it of all brake fluid) and took it off. Still, I cannot push the pistons down, please help me!!

thanks

 

Take a brake pad, and place it on the piston. Then take a ball peen hammer and tap the piston back in.


Seriously...

 

i used a C clamp and it still won't budge....

 

Hmm, wonder if some liquid wrench will loosen it up.

 

You turn it clockwise and it cranks in. use a big wrench or needle nose pliers to fit in the slots on the piston and crank it, dont worry you cant over crank it. Mazda sells a special tool to do this. Also the pads have tabs which will go in the slots on the piston, so line the piston up.
I never thought I would need a manual to change brake pads til I got my FD!!

Also this info only regards the rear brakes.

 

thanks...any info on the front brakes

 

You dont want any pistons in your car, trow it out and replace with a rotor! Sorry guys, just couldnt help it

 

I had the same thing happen to me today while swapping out some slotte/cross-drilled rotors and new Hawk pads. One of the pistons was like stuck up front. Make sure nothing is crimiping the piston like the little rubber boot. It took us forever. It wouldn't budge, but finally I got it to budge then it went back in like normal. Basically, I don't know what I did to fix it, but I got lucky and it retracted. Basically keep trying. I was getting a little worried when it wouldn't budge. Use a big C-clamp and make sure the rubber boot is not binding the piston or anything in the piston retraction slots. Sorry couldn't really help you, but just wanted to give you hope and let you know that it happened to me too

 

The problem is that the piston is slightly "cocked" in the bore. When you force it the chrome plated steel piston digs into the aluminum caliper body. Forcing will work sometime, other times you will make it worse. Pull the piston out, clean everything, remove burr from caliper (use finger and brush it off or some very fine sandpaper). Reinstall with your hand, it might help to use a little lube (WD-40) to reinstall piston.

Good luck.
Jeff

 

thanks guys, i'll give it a try

 

I was thinking again....

Use a VERY VERY VERY thin film of grease on the piston to help get it back in once it is out. That works better than the WD-40 I suggested earlier.

Jeff

 

Also Get a rebuild kit and replace all the rubber seals and dust boots while you have it apart - the kits are only $25 or so from a Mazda Dlr.

 

You opened the bleeder valve before trying the c-clamp, right?