I can't believe there's a "trick" to compressing the rear brake caliper piston is there? I'm changing the pads on my '01 GT for the first time since I've owned it. The fronts were a snap, but with the rears I can't get either piston to compress. I have a big C clamp and am pressing the piston right in the center, but they both refuse to budge. I notice that my front pads were worn more than the rear, but not by a LOT, and I hadn't noticed any bad braking as if I was only getting brake from my fronts. What's the chance that both rear are seized? I had one of the rear compressed with the C clamp and tried opening the bleeder valve just a bit for giggles and expected fluid to shoot out, but it only dribbled. The reservoir cap is off during all this...

thanks in advance for any help!

 

Well just as soon as I post this I figure it out for myself. The rear's have to be turned in like a screw. I read that in the book and I thought that was only for alignment of the notches with the stubs on the back of the pads, not to actually compress the piston to accommodate the new pads. doh! oh well better late figuring it out than never.

 

Yeap you need a special tool that you can buy or rent at any autoparts store and at sears.

 

Or just use needle nose pliers in a vise and push and turn them in

 

hell yea to both those ideas...yea it wasn't too long ago someone else in here had that same post. and it's good to see another FL guy in here. wahoo!

 

$8 at Sears, might as well buy it.