How do I compress brake piston?

[Daves69Coupe 10]

How do I compress brake piston?

[t70stang 10]

C-clamp.

[Mike65 475]

I have always used a steering wheel puller. I put the threaded stem into the piston leaving the cross piece against the body of the caliper & screw down on the threaded part & it pushes the piston back into the caliper, or as stated a c clamp, or channell locks & an old disc brake pad.

[Daves69Coupe 10]

Ok ive heard a c-clamp was the way to go but wasnt sure if that was right. Ill be giving the c-clamp a try then.

[Max Power 74]

Use a C-Clamp, and use the old pad as the mounting point so that the piston goes in evenly. Make sure if your master is full to remove some of the fluid so that it doesn't run all over.

[MustangChuck 16]

I had found a c-type clamp at the local hardware store. On the stationary side, it has two fingers, at about a 60* angle. Then on the moving side it has the standard quarter-sized button. I use the fingers on the back of the caliper and the button on the piston. Seems to hold a little better than just a c-clamp.

 

M/C

[kenyu73 10]

Hammer and a big socket!

 

Well, that's what I did 20 years ago before I was introduced to the technique of slow forced compression (ie: c-clamp!). Actually, some cars have threaded pistons where you cant compress them, you have to turn them in. I think those are only newer cars tho.

 

Dont forget to open your brake fluid cover if the calipers are still hooked up.

[Daves69Coupe 10]

The brakes aren't on the car. I'm trying to use a clamp, but it doesn't seem to be compressing the piston. Maybe I just need to keep tightening.

[Daves69Coupe 10]

Do I need to have brake fluid in the caliper?

[miketyler 15]

No, you will fill it and purge the air out of it during the bleeding process.

[Daves69Coupe 10]

damn maybe I need a bigger clamp

[DRASTiK 22]

Hi Dave.

 

Couple of questions:

 

1. is the opening for the brake line plugged with a fitting of some sort on that caliper? If so, un-plug it.

 

2. in that pic, the caliper looks compressed. How much farther do you need it to go?

[Lemon Owner 11]

I was going to say the same thing. It looks to be fully compressed.

[MustangChuck 16]

In the picture, it looks like you have the clamp backwards. Remove the outter pad and use the moving part of the clamp on the inside of the piston.

 

Just my ramblings,

M/C

[LSwat 10]

In the picture, it looks like you have the clamp backwards. Remove the outter pad and use the moving part of the clamp on the inside of the piston.

 

Just my ramblings,

M/C

 

^ This is good advice.

 

Also, as others have stated, it appears to be completely retracted. Is it still not fitting?

[Daves69Coupe 10]

Im thinking it may be fully compressed, I didnt think it was bc its not perfectly flush with caliper. Is some of the pistion supposed to stick out past seal?