[taylorboi22]

CAn anyone help me i am putting brakes on my 97 Taurus and i am on the back now and i bought one of those funky looking tools to turn the piston in and i can'ts figure out how to use it can anyone please help me? i would really apresiate it!


thanks chad

 

[TrueBlue]

You can just use a c-clamp and a small block of wood to depress the piston. Make sure your cap is off the master cylinder.

 

[SableOHC]

True:

The rear caliper pistons can't be compressed with a C-clamp. They must be screwed back in.

Taylor:
Did you get the one that's a metal cube with prongs and square holes? If so, looks at the sides of the cube to find the one that has the two prongs/bumps that best match the face of the piston. There isn't an exact match on mine, but one side matches better than the other. On the opposite side, insert a socket wrench extension in the square hole and then attach the socket wrench.

It is much easier if you open the bleeder screw on the caliper you are retracting, than trying to force the fluid all the way back into the master cylinder. Don't pump the brakes while the bleeder is open, or you will have to bleed that caliper. Like when bleeding, use a hose on the bleeder screw and catch the fluid in something. Don't dump the fluid onto the ground and try not to get it on your hands.

On my tool, I found it just barely lined up, even on the best match side of the cube. You may need to fiddle with lining the bumps up with the notches on the pistion to find the best fit.

 

[ovic72]

I used a pair of needle nose pliers to adjust my rear brakes caliper pistons. The idea is to use the two grooves on the piston to rotate it. It's smart to loosen the bleeder screw while you do this and if your brake pedal feels soft after you are done, have someone help you bleed the brake you worked on.

 

[Racer X]

SableOHC, actually, the cube won't fit the rear rotors. Trust me, I've been there too many times. And the pliers substitute works, but it reeeeallly really sucks when the pliers slip, and you tear the piston boot so badly that you have to replace the whole caliper. <_<

AutoZone sells a brake caliper reset tool kit that has the right sized tool for the caliper that makes the whole job a bazillion times easier, resulting in you cussing and swearing a whole lot less!

Well, I cussed and swore a whole lot less.

Oh yeah, you want to turn clockwise, and push while you're turning. Bleeder valve open makes it tons easier, but will require you to bleed the brakes when you're complete. Which is something you shuold be doing, anyway.