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+--- Thread: F#$^ing brake pads!!! (/showthread.php?tid=852)
F#$^ing brake pads!!! - JackoliciousLegs - 08-22-2004
So I started taking apart my front brakes and I pulled all the pins out. Got the pads out with little to no problems. Then I wanted to compress the pistons back into the calipers to make more room for the beefier pads. 3 of the 4 pistons went back in when I clamped at them with a pipe wrench. The 4th wouldn't go in at all tho.
Then I did something stupid. I hit the brakes once to try to dislodge the the 4th piston, and the 4th didn't move... but another did. Now, there's like 5mm between one piston and the rotor.... and the 4th is still stuck. What do I do? I'm about to just ebrake it over to a shop. Advice?
- .RJ - 08-22-2004
Why are you using a pipe wrench?
- JackoliciousLegs - 08-22-2004
what else can I use to push the pistons back in?
- white_2kgt - 08-22-2004
JackoliciousLegs Wrote:what else can I use to push the pistons back in?
C-Clamp? I have no idea what kind of brakes you use but does the piston have to turn as it goes back into the caliper?
-c
- Mike - 08-22-2004
white_2kgt Wrote:JackoliciousLegs Wrote:what else can I use to push the pistons back in?
C-Clamp? I have no idea what kind of brakes you use but does the piston have to turn as it goes back into the caliper?
-c
honda rears spin back in too...
- CaptainHenreh - 08-22-2004
a c-clamp would work, but the easiest thing to do would be to get some kind of prybar (your old pad) and wedge it in between the rotor and piston, and push it back.
Alternatively, you could take the piston off it's mounting points, get a hammer, put the handle inside the piston, and push it in. It shouldn't take much force to get it back inside the caliper.
- .RJ - 08-22-2004
RX7 Turbos have fixed 4 piston calipers.
Pull one pad out and leave the other in. Use a pair of big screwdrivers to work the other side pistons in one at a time... install new pad. Now do the other side.
- Mike - 08-22-2004
did jack squeeze-in a screw-in caliper?
- Feersty - 08-23-2004
I hope your car is driveable once you need it.
- white_2kgt - 08-23-2004
Also it helps if you open the bleeder screw. I hope this isn't news to you.
-c
- Mike - 08-23-2004
Hrmph, I never open the bleeder screw, just the fluid reservoir.
- JackoliciousLegs - 08-23-2004
Nope, they don't screw in. The rest just went straight in.
- white_2kgt - 08-23-2004
MichaelJComputer Wrote:Hrmph, I never open the bleeder screw, just the fluid reservoir.
if you are not careful and you try to compress a pison back in w/o opening the bleeder screw you can damage the master cylinder, not to mention it makes the whole process of pushing the piston back in easier.
-c
- Maengelito - 08-23-2004
MichaelJComputer Wrote:did jack squeeze-in a screw-in caliper?
i remember watching gerald change rear pads between sessions once. he was workin on the rear caliper, then i went out for a session, then hung out for awhile then came back to gerald about 2 hours later working on the same caliper not knowing that you had to spin instead of push.
- Mike - 08-23-2004
white_2kgt Wrote:MichaelJComputer Wrote:Hrmph, I never open the bleeder screw, just the fluid reservoir.
if you are not careful and you try to compress a pison back in w/o opening the bleeder screw you can damage the master cylinder, not to mention it makes the whole process of pushing the piston back in easier.
-c
That's why I open the fluid reservoir. The extra fluid just pours out of it
I hate bleeder screws and the thought of potentially getting air in the system... I avoid touching them at all costs 
- white_2kgt - 08-23-2004
MichaelJComputer Wrote:white_2kgt Wrote:MichaelJComputer Wrote:Hrmph, I never open the bleeder screw, just the fluid reservoir.
if you are not careful and you try to compress a pison back in w/o opening the bleeder screw you can damage the master cylinder, not to mention it makes the whole process of pushing the piston back in easier.
-c
That's why I open the fluid reservoir. The extra fluid just pours out of it
Did you read what I said? If you have fluid poping out of the resivor then that means it is passing by the MS. Doing that can unlodge the seal and cause you all sorts of trouble. Its pretty easy to pop open the bleeder, screw the caliper back in, insert pad and bleed system. You should be doing that anyway after changing pads.
-c
- Mike - 08-23-2004
I read what you said, it wasn't clear at all what exactly you were referring to. I took it to assume you meant that the large amount of pressure inside the system that would be built by leaving it closed and compressing the piston could kill the MC...
Does fluid not pass by the master cylinder all the time (not all the time, but often...)? I don't see why my method could cause any damage to it, but I don't claim to know the internal workings of an MC anyway.
All I know is I've had a hell of a time with bleeding my brakes in the past, I'd rather not do it
I change my pads all the time, never had a reason to bleed them.
- white_2kgt - 08-23-2004
Think of it like you're asshole, it's a one-way valve. Fluid goes in not out. You are forcing fluid back up the channel, not a good thing to do. I know several people who have damaged their MC's b/c of it. Bleeding brakes is NOT hard. If you want we can do it at Summit and show you how easy it is
.-c
- Mike - 08-23-2004
I know how easy it is, but my brake system is 10+ years old, something always goes wrong when we do it (caliper dies or air is trapped somewhere)... regardless of who "we" is
I'm getting a GS-R front setup this week though, so hopefully those woes will be gone by Summit I will have 4 stock civic calipers for sale soon! Nevermind that 3 of them need rebuilds! (yes, I'm using a leaky one right now... fill it up twice a day and I'm good to go!)
- JackoliciousLegs - 08-23-2004
So rex came over today and we got 3 of the 4 front pads in. I ordered 2 rebuild kits for my front calipers because out of 8 cylinders, 3 were locked. I went out with 3 new pads and one old to get a seat the ones in there so I could drive my car. All I have to say is HOLY SHIT. The car will stop in 10 feet from any speed. lol. THANKS CHAN! I love me some HP+s!
Anyways, me and Rex are going to rebuild at least one of the two front calipers this thursday. I'll let you all know how it goes.