Brake caliper winding back

[DannyVTS]

Anyone got any tips on winding back the brake caliper piston? What tools to use etc?

I managed to get it about 5mm in by squeezing and rotating it clockwise but it's bloody hard stuff!

Yes my fluid cap is open too btw.. Car is a '99 Nissan Primera.

Thanks
Danny

[MDT]

front or rear caliper?

[wildoliver]

You can buy a tool, or if your tight like me I've found an angle grinder key fits in the slots in the side of the piston on my Audi rears and a bar pressed against it to provide downwards pressure while turning the key works well.

It's a pain of a job and to be honest warrants buying the tool.

[Accelebrate]

Used a G cramp and a block of wood on my fronts, and a pair of needle nosed pliers and some brute force for the rears. Press hard, rotate clockwise, they'll go eventually...

[Ozzie Osmond]

G-clamp

[matchmaker]

wildoliver said:

You can buy a tool, or if your tight like me I've found an angle grinder key fits in the slots in the side of the piston on my Audi rears and a bar pressed against it to provide downwards pressure while turning the key works well.

It's a pain of a job and to be honest warrants buying the tool.

There are two types of tool available - one of them is basically a 4-headed block with different pin combinations on each face which fits in a 3/8" ratchet. It does the job but is a complete PITA to use.

The other type is a proper tool which costs more but is much easier to use!

[ferkle]

Halfords sell a caliper winding tool for between 5 and 10 quid. Remember if its a rear caliper it will require winding in rather than pressing as there will be a mechanical handbrake.

[DannyVTS]

Front caliper

Any links to that tool on halfords? When I had a look I think they were silly money for a simple tool.

I'll get a G clamp

[markCSC]

DannyVTS said:

Front caliper

Any links to that tool on halfords? When I had a look I think they were silly money for a simple tool.

I'll get a G clamp

I have this http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

But for the front caliper just use a g-clamp and a block of wood.

[markCSC]

oh and this might help http://www.g20.net/forum/showthread.php?t=95552

[attym3]

It will be a very fine thread so it won't seem like its going back but it is slowly.
HTH

Mark

[DannyVTS]

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

that's all halfrauds is giving me, probably about a tenners worth for £33

[944fan]

Also when winding the calipers back you should crack open the bleed nipple and connect a tube, this stops crud being force backed into the ABS module. On some cars it is also advisable to clamp the flexy hose with the nipple open to prevent from flipping the master cylinder seals.

[gareth.e]

I'll show you what I made when I had this problem...







edit:

so its made out of a bolt, a bracket, some sort of central heating radiator red fire engine turney nob thing, couple of twisty things and another random bracket.

When it got hard to turn by hand I used a monkey wrench thing to grip the twisty thing.

Just search your garage for random bits

Edited by gareth.e on Wednesday 27th April 13:00

[DannyVTS]

I can't see your pic gareth?

[Accelebrate]

[alfa pint]

I used to use a G clamp, until I was trying to change the pads on a mate's laguna and it just didn't have the strength to stay on the hub while pushing the pistons back.

Bought a proper caliper windback tool from a local car accessory place for about £20. Does the job just fine!

[Proxy]

gareth.e said:

I'll show you what I made when I had this problem...







edit:

so its made out of a bolt, a bracket, some sort of central heating radiator red fire engine turney nob thing, couple of twisty things and another random bracket.

When it got hard to turn by hand I used a monkey wrench thing to grip the twisty thing.

Just search your garage for random bits

Edited by gareth.e on Wednesday 27th April 13:00

I like this very much

[DannyVTS]

Accelebrate said:

That's the plan, have you rehosted gareths picture? my work block imageshack if he's hosted it there

[Accelebrate]

No, that's one of my own, his method was much more ingenious!