How to fix Ford Van front brakes?

Question

I cant get the caliper on after installing new pads

Answer 1

i dont knoy why thease guys are telling you to remove fluid from the resivore ive never done it in 20 years
just open a bleader screw and compress the caliper close the bleader screw [small bolt with a hole in the middle]
while its leaking to prevent air in the line and your done

if your car has antilock brakes to compress it without opening the bleader can ruin the controler $800 to $1000
good luck

Answer 2

If the pads were worn way down, and master cylinder has been filled to capacity recently, -- it proably has more fluid in it than the "bowl" holds after you try to compress wheel cylinders (calipers)! Since the cap has an "air-proof seal on it, the fluidi s trapped,and probably won't let the caliper totally compress,- (you
ight get by with first side, but other side will be much worse!). The problem here is aggrivated, as the fluid will "baloon" the rubber seal ,-(which is actulally a diaphram) when you remove your "sqeeze" from the caliper piston, -the diaphram pushes a bunch of fluid back down the line to push the piston out a little bit, - thus making the "space" too tight to slip back over the new brake pads.

So you have to take some out of the master cylinder "bowl", you can "dip" it with a bottle cap-( very slow), - or you can suck out some with some kind of syringe type (similar to a "turkey baster"), - or at least take cover off when you compress the "caliper cylinder". This will let the extra fluid run out on the ground, - if you are in your driveway, (on concrete, or "blacktop"), it won't hurt much, after you are done, you can clean up the mess with paper towels or an old rag, and get excess that is "pooling" cleaned up -- water will mix with brake fluid, so you can wash it down with water if you want to (a little dish detergent" breaks it up pretty good!) Don't let it run out in grass or ground where you want to plant anythhing for a year or so, as it takes a while to break down and dissapate!

One more tip, - be sure you pump the brakes up good and put in fluid to proper level BEFORE you drive the vehicle away. You can get a real shock, when you don't have an "pedal" and the brakes don't work, - till you have time to pump them several times and get the fluid back in the brake calipers, (so they can apply pressure to the brake pads)!!

Answer 3

Remove the filler cap on the brake fluid reservoir, remove a small amount of fluid, use a small c clamp or other tool and push the caliper pistons back into the housing. Calipers should then easily clear the pads.