Brake caliper piston

cena

Can a caliper piston be compressed without the wind tool that can be brought??

johnayo

I presume it's a rear calliper. What kind of car?

dr.fuzzenstein

Yes, but you have to know which way it winds back. The front ones mostly press in, I used a sturdy pliers to jam them back in, but rear ones either twist and press simultaneously or can be wound back with an Allen key via an opening at the back of the caliper. It's not easy, requires a good bit of elbowgrease and it helps if you know what type it is and how it operates. What car and front or rear?

TheBully

I bought a wind back tool from an Irish online company for €30 delivered! Has paid for itself already as iv used it 3 or 4 times and friends have used it, just buy one and you will have it forever hopefully

cena

Front breaks 07 astra. Would A vice grips work

Mycroft H

I'd buy a wind tool. Some caliper pistons wind in clockwise/anticlockwise (even the front calipers on my C5 have a wind direction).

cena

Mycroft H wrote: »

I'd buy a wind tool. Some caliper pistons wind in clockwise/anticlockwise (even the front calipers on my C5 have a wind direction).

These ones don't go clockwise/anticlockwise. Straight push in

TheBully

cena wrote: »

These ones don't go clockwise/anticlockwise. Straight push in

You can push it in with a bar or a lever of some sort, no need for a tool so!

TheBully

Just leave brake filler cap open while doing so!

mgbgt1978

Mycroft H wrote: »

I'd buy a wind tool. Some caliper pistons wind in clockwise/anticlockwise (even the front calipers on my C5 have a wind direction).

That's because the Handbrake uses the Front Brakes on your C5.

edit; not having a go at yourself. Just pointing out that it's practically always the Handbrake pistons that need to be turned as they are pushed back.

savagethegoat

I use a large pair of grips or a 26 spanner with a mole wrench* attached to twist it. It's fairly simple to do. As said, watch that fluid level though, you don't want it overflowing.

*aka vice grips

Mycroft H

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

That's because the Handbrake uses the Front Brakes on your C5.

edit; not having a go at yourself. Just pointing out that it's practically always the Handbrake pistons that need to be turned as they are pushed back.

No you're right. It's been so long since I've done brakes on other than a C5 or an Xantia

adocholiday

A C-Clamp works for some cars. If the piston just presses in then it's a cheap and effective option

Wheelnut

Yes, but you can push the piston back without a wind-back tool.