This is not about my rx7 but about my daily driver. It's a 1992 Honda Prelude. Long story short: Got the discs and pads on the front no problem. The pads and discs in the rear appear to have never been replaced since the thing rolled out of the factory in '92. I broke a bolt getting the caliper away from the disc and on top of that I can't compress the damn piston.

The broken bolt I'm taking to a machine shop to get drilled out. But is there anything I can do to get that piston compressed?

 

I had a badly siezed piston when I rebuilt a set of front calipers for my FC. To compress it, I just put one of my C-clamps onto it and started cranking. I had to crank it so hard I bent the handle, but I did unsieze the piston.

1st I'd reccomend grabbing it with a pliers and trying to twist it. I did this to unsieze a piston on an SA's fron caliper. If that doesn't work, try a c-clamp. Or you could ask the machine shop guys to free it. They'd no doubt have something to do it with.

 

I was using a 6" steel C-clamp hitting the end with a hammer to torque it and it still didn't budge. I might just take it to a shop but i dont want to take the caliper off and have to bleed the lines. Any other suggestions?

 

With the piston being that siezed calpier removal is imminent. You'll have to pull it out. I've had so much brake trouble on FCs... I can almost still smell the brake fluid.

Maybe try the C-clamp with a bar or big wrench as a cheater for more leverage. If you can't get it that way, you'll have to pull the caliper to get better access to the piston. just do your best to cap off the line or it'll gravity bleed the system dry.

 

You have to Screw the Piston Back into the caliper using a "brake block"..It is a small Block like Piece that goes onto a 3/8 Extension.It has small Bumps on it and sits into Two holes in the Piston Face on the caliper.If you are trying to compress the Piston with a Big *** set of Pliers or a C clamp,you are gonna be there a Long time.You may end up Ruining the Caliper...Hope the info helps.

 

um yeah

rear brake pistons are screw in; NOT press in.

 

I did not know that rear pistons screw in. How is that advantageous?

 

^ They work that way because of the e-brake. The e-brake is essentially a screw in the back of the piston that pushes it out when you pull on the handle. You have to screw the rears back in.

 

oh, I thought he was talking about the front pistons.now reading his post again I see he clearly said rear calipers. What I said doesn't apply to the rear calipers.

 

He is not the 1st one to make that mistake. :-)

 

Make sure the piston is lined up. On the rear brake pad backing there should be a little stub. In order fro the piston to clear this stub, the slot on the piston has to be perpendicular to the caliper. If you dont line it up you will wear on the pads at an angle and at a faster rate.