How to: Retracting the rear caliper.

[Slade901]

I would just like to share my experience on retracting the rear caliper so that I can put a new brake pads on my vehicle.

 

The service manual suggests on using a GM special tool to rotate the rear caliper piston clock-wise.

 

I don't have that the GM suggests but I do have a universal rear caliper piston adjuster. It's a cube type so that it can be used on different types of rear caliper pistons.

 

I put an an extension bar and ratchet attached to that device and tried to rotate the piston (clock-wise) and it does not want to move at all and it keeps slipping. I thought that my rear caliper piston is seized.

 

What I have done instead is put a c-clamp on the device and tightened it so that the device won't fall off and the c-clamp will provide a force pushing the piston in. I use a screw driver to rotate the device (clock-wise) and tightened the caliper at the same time so that the device won't fall off. I used the screw driver to initially rotate the device and then halfway in I no longer need the screwdriver and I just have to tighten the c-clamp and the device is rotating (pushing the piston in) along with the c-clamp as it tightens it up.

 

Here are the pictures:

 

http://www.geocities.com/southbeach/sands/2476/automobile/rearcaliperadjustment1.jpg

 

http://www.geocities.com/southbeach/sands/2476/automobile/rearcaliperadjustment2.jpg

 

http://www.geocities.com/southbeach/sands/2476/automobile/rearcaliperadjustment3.jpg

 

 

[Justin]

Really good idea, at work we have a nice kit that does just about what you did, but kind of all in one. Good to see there's a way to do it with the cube.

[jeremy]

http://www.w-body.com/forum/index.php/topic,27636.0.html

 

to the Brakes/Suspension/Wheels section

[GutlessSupreme]

I could never get the cube to work worth a shit, just can't get enough pressue on it to actually push it back in while rotating. I just stuck a really small block of wood between the piston and c-clamp, and the pressure from the clamp would kind of mold the wood to the face of the piston, and of course in effect turn it in.

[Heza]

needlenose plyers work perfectly too

[GP1138]

The cube I bought works perfectly, just gotta keep it inline with the divots on the cylinder.

[AWeb80]

needlenose plyers work perfectly too

 

Word yo.