Brake Caliper Pistons - How Easy to push in?

[wraith]

I cant do them with my fingers. I just did the brakes on my 2005 GTO and it needed the c-clamp as well. They just warn you not to push them in too hard or crooked but thats really hard to do.

[mike92stealthtt]

I just use some huge channel locks that are taped up to protect my caliper. I never tried using just my hands but I'll give it a try next time and maybe I'll be able to join the macho man club of 3si.

[nikg]

I also did them with my hands. The fingers were sore for the rest of the day.

[etecnifibre]

Originally Posted by mike92stealthtt

I just use some huge channel locks that are taped up to protect my caliper. I never tried using just my hands but I'll give it a try next time and maybe I'll be able to join the macho man club of 3si.

LOL. I must have really "easy" calipers. My hands are NOT the "farmer/sausage" hands as described above, not even close.

Maybe it's from squeezing that mail all day, yeah, that's gotta be it.

[lawdogg]

So I guess it's alright to have resistance to movement in those pistons. I was worried that since they were so hard to move, the calipers were both bad. Sounds like it's normal, except if your car is ungodly clean and nice like etecnifibre's ride.

[chrisincobb]

this is the first time i ever heard of anybody doing it bare- handed. i would never have even tried that. i just use a good old c-clamp and a block of wood (to keep the pressure even) and a turkey baster to remove some fluid from the master cylinder. i hope i never shake hands with you guys OUCH!

[etecnifibre]

I must have something special going on here.

Like I said, I was quite surprised that they went in with me pushing with my hands. I worked at Cummins midrange engine plant, and there were some older fellows there with "ungodly" strength. They had big, fat hands, could carry the crank around like it was a toothpick, flip a shortblock around like it was a feather, etc. I never did understand it!

Maybe I was just lucky!

[j3000]

one really easy way is before you take the caliper off, get a flathead screw driver and put it between the piston and the brake pad, then pull towards you (meaning that the screw driver will press the piston in). Just a thought... but other then that just use a press, very easy and simple.

[sammage]

Originally Posted by bluemax_1

Here's another way to do it (yeah using your bare hands can be a little tough).

When you remove one side of the used pads, you then have enough wiggle space to fit a prybar to against the other used pad to squeeze the pistons back in. Leave the cap open on the brake master cylinder though.


Max

This is how my redneck Ford buddy showed me, works great. Especially since the line on the inside of the caliper make the C-clamp less than ideal.

[slage]

Originally Posted by bluemax_1

When you remove one side of the used pads, you then have enough wiggle space to fit a prybar to against the other used pad to squeeze the pistons back in. Leave the cap open on the brake master cylinder though.

that method won't work on 1G rear's though