My rear brake piston will not compress. I am giving it pressure and turning it but it doesnt want to compress. Does anyone have any ideas? I still have the brake cable connected, could that be stopping it? If so, How do you disconnect the brake cable because I cant seem to do it? thank you for your help in a time of need!!!!
2007-04-29 14:13:17 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
You don't say what vehicle, year, etc. to provide accurate info. But rear disc brakes are hard to work on. Depending on year and make most pistons in the calipers have to turn (thread) when being depressed. So the brake cable does have to come off. It is held on many different ways via manufacturer, but the most common is the back of the caliper in the center (where the middle of the piston would be) is a stud with a nut holding the parking brake bracket to cable. Remove that and then try to depress the piston. Best case scenario if moves, worst, piston frozen. It would help to get a manual, which are not very expensive.
Hope this helps and good luck.
2007-04-29 14:25:40 · answer #1 · answered by Ldude 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, yeah, don't press any more! I don't know what kind of car you have, but most have a parking brake attached to the rear brakes and it has to self adjust to compensate for wear.
I assume that this is a rear disc brake. I had a Mercury Sable that I replaced the pads on and had to buy a special tool to screw the piston back into the caliper.
You didn't say what make and year model car you have and all of them are a little different.
Go down to your local auto parts store and ask them if you need a special tool that you can't seem to get the piston retracted. They will probably know. The Sable was a real pain in the a** to get it retracted and the darn tool didn't fit. It might be better to just buy a new or rebuilt caliper and bleed the brakes after changing it. They are really not terribly expensive. Good luck.
2007-04-29 21:26:03 · answer #2 · answered by plezurgui 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes the piston gets stuck try just compressing it without turning it. If the piston over extends itself then it can become ****** in the caliper itself and won't go back in. I've had the same problem on a VW passat so I just put a little pressure on the piston and made sure that it was squared up and then tried to turn it and compress it back in. It took me about a half hour to do this but I was jsut working with a pair of needle nose pliers to turn it. they do have a tool to compress and turn at the same time at NAPA.
2007-04-29 21:25:50 · answer #3 · answered by scott s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
disk brakes in the rear, right? actualy there is a special tool that you are suposed to buy, but i have heard of people getting away with using a pair of needle nose pliers to screw the piston back in to place. the e brake actualy moves adjusts this out. look into a book, you will find the answer.
2007-04-30 05:12:36 · answer #4 · answered by mdk68gto, ase certified m tech 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The parking brake works on mechanical application of the pad to the rotor. The piston is activated by fluid pressure when you step on the brake pedal. How much pressure are you applying? I use a C clamp to squish it down.
2007-04-29 21:21:04 · answer #5 · answered by ButwhatdoIno? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Go online to your car's discussion forum and look for specific info there. They can tell you exactly how to do it.
Good Luck!
2007-04-29 21:20:51 · answer #6 · answered by my2cents 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋