Depressing rear caliper piston (94-96) gp

[quinn]

Got all the parts on for my swap from 92 to 94-96 rear calipers on my gp.

The pads don't fit over the rotors because of the "piston" if you will. It looks like you screw it down, but it didn't hardly go anywhere when I screwed it. How do I get it all the way down to fit the pads in?

 

Thanks,

Lee

[Guest TurboSedan]

yeah it screws in. it was pretty hard to turn that thing in. IIRC it slowly got easier the further it went down. i used a long nose pliers as a spanner wrench. just be careful and don't slip the pliers...you don't want to scratch the piston face up.

[sl3196]

C-clamp

[Guest TurboSedan]

C-clamp

 

i don't think you can do that with the '94-'96 rear calipers.

[quinn]

thanks, let me give er another try.

[Guest Anonymous]

C-clamp

 

i don't think you can do that with the '94-'96 rear calipers.

 

88-93 calipers screw in. I thought 94+ pushed in. It's been awhile since I've replaced pads.

[Guest TurboSedan]

when i upgraded my rear brakes i had to screw the caliper piston back in for the new pads ('95 Regal calipers).

[WhiteOut]

A c-clamp will work fine. Just make sure to put the swivel end on the piston, and you should also put a piece of wood or something on the piston surface to protect it.

[Brian P]

Get the little spanner attachment for a 3/8 ratchet. Use it with an extension. Theyre only a few dollars, nuch less trouble than trying to use nose pliers.

 

These pistons also DO retract nicely when you turn them. You don't even need to push them really.

[GnatGoSplat]

No, don't use a C-clamp unless you want to damage the park brake.

You need to twist it in WHILE pushing at the same time.

A caliper tool is handy for that if you have one, but you can also use a brake caliper block (that square thing that goes on your socket wrench and has a bunch of raised bumps on it).

[Guest TurboSedan]

Get the little spanner attachment for a 3/8 ratchet.

 

i totally forgot about that little tool. i didn't even know there was such a thing when i did my brakes. my Haynes manual actually shows a pic of someone compressing the piston back in with a needle nose pliers, so that's what i did. i'm sure the tool would make it alot easier.

[slick]

C-clamp

 

i don't think you can do that with the '94-'96 rear calipers.

 

Worked for my '94. I plan on replacing pads and rotors soon on my '93. It has the 94+ rear GP brakes

[supreme_style21]

My '94 twists in.

[JoroCorona]

I used a C-Clamp on my 93s brakes and the parking brake works fine.

[GnatGoSplat]

I used a C-Clamp on my 93s brakes and the parking brake works fine.

 

Some people have done neutral drops and their transmission works fine too.

[Dannymik]

'95 Cutlass calipers screw in. We should have a sticky for the brakes on these w-bodys!

[ron350]

The little cube tool is a “K-D 3163” and cost about $8. at most parts stores.

 

The factory manual says: “Use a suitable spanner-type tool in piston slot to turn piston and thread it into the caliper.”

 

I have not had one of these calipers apart yet so I can not say if a C-clamp will damage them like some older GM rear calipers.

[WhiteOut]

Why not use a C-Clamp, as long as the end that swivels is placed on the piston all your doing is applying downward force in addition to the twisting motion. I've done it on 5-6 cars all of whose brakes work just fine.

[Euro]

DONT use a C-Clamp. I tried on my 94 rear brakes, and you need that cube tool to screw it in, while using force to help it back in. If it doesn't go in after like an hour and a half of trying, the calipers probably shot.

 

thats what happened to me

[quinn]

thanks guys, got the special tool and screwed them back in. Thanks again

 

Lee