I actually have two questions. The first one is i heard that the hawk hp+ pads don't have holes on the pads so what holds them in and people told me to buy a tool from autozone to turn the pistons back into the caliper; do i need to rent one or can i just use a c clamp? Any info or links would help.

 

Front or rear brakes? What car? On an FD, don't use a C-clamp anywhere. Turn the rear piston in using open stout needle nose pliers in the slots on the face.

 

it's front and rear and yes it's a fd.

 

The rear pistons turn clockwise back into the caliper. They have two triangular "slots" that you use to get traction on them. You can do it with the needle-nose pliers, or a little tool that you can get from many autopart stores that fits a 3/8" socket, or you can get the Mazda SST.

 

someone told me about the Lisle Disc Brake Piston Tool sold a sears, will it work? It looks like a square box with triangles or circles at opposite corners.

 

Yes, that tool will work to retract the rear pistons (you basically "screw" the piston into the caliper). So will some pliers as others have pointed out.

I am not quite sure what you mean about holes in the HP+ pads to hold them in. The backing plates of the rear pads are supposed to have some little holes in them for the spreader springs (little V-shaped springs that spread the pads to keep them from dragging on the rotors). That isn't for holding the pads in, but I suspect that is what you are talking about. I am not sure if the HP+ pads have them or not.

-Max

 

I'm not sure what holes you are referring to. The only holes that hold the pad are on the front for the caliper pins. They certainly would not work without these holes. I've used every pad that Hawk makes for the FD and they all fit properly, including the spreader springs.
I suggest buying the brake piston tool you mentioned. You could rip the piston dust boot using needle nose pliers if they slip. The rear pads should have a locating tit on the backing plate. One of the slots on the caliper piston needs to align with this tit for the caliper to fit over the pad.

 

Yeah, the holes i'm talking about are for the springs. will there be any ill affects of not having those springs in with the hawk pads? as for the square tool I'm picking that up tommorrow.