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How do I move the piston back during pad change????
Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 5:17 pm
by Spranga
I tried to do a pad change today but could not get the brake piston back far enough to put the new pads in. I tried pushing it in with a G clamp but this did not work. Am I missing anything? In the past (with other cars) I have just been able to slowly push the piston back into position. Any ideas would be appreciated. I thought about bleeding the system but would prefer to avoid this.
Cheers
Dan
Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 5:30 pm
by kula
take the cap of the master cylinder..
i presume u are doing fronts right?
they can be pushed back, while the rears cant, screw them:P
Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 6:02 pm
by Spranga
doing the rears
Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 6:07 pm
by Andrew
you need and alen key
Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 6:48 pm
by adamjp
Go and buy a big syringe from a chemist (like 1\" thick ~ 100ml). Suck some of the brake fluid out of the resovoir first or run the risk of having it come out under pressure when you put the piston back in.
It is cleaner to suck it out first. I learnt this the hard way a few years back.
Re:
Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 7:14 pm
by Spranga
Andrew wrote:you need and alen key
???
Re:
Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 7:15 pm
by Spranga
adamjp wrote:Go and buy a big syringe from a chemist (like 1" thick ~ 100ml). Suck some of the brake fluid out of the resovoir first or run the risk of having it come out under pressure when you put the piston back in.
It is cleaner to suck it out first. I learnt this the hard way a few years back.
Great idea Adam. Thanks for saving me paint work!
Re:
Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 7:17 pm
by Babalouie
Spranga wrote:Andrew wrote:you need and alen key
???
If you look at the back of the caliper, there is a little bolt (I think it's 12mm) that looks like it's directly behind the piston. Unscrew it, and it exposes an allen headed thingy. Get your allen key in there and as you turn it, you'll notice that the piston slides back.
Re:
Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 7:39 pm
by Spranga
Babalouie wrote:Spranga wrote:Andrew wrote:you need and alen key
???
If you look at the back of the caliper, there is a little bolt (I think it's 12mm) that looks like it's directly behind the piston. Unscrew it, and it exposes an allen headed thingy. Get your allen key in there and as you turn it, you'll notice that the piston slides back.
Aaah the mystery is revealled! Thanks Babs. I sure could have used that advice at about 2:00pm this afternoon. I had wondered what that bolt was for but did not touch it as I thought it might be under pressure and I did not want to bleed the brakes.
Thanks for your help guys.
Dan
Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 8:10 pm
by manga_blue
There's a little bit more to it after that. Good idea to check
http://www.miata.net/garage/brakepad.html
Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 2:22 am
by Adam_NAclubman
Also helps to push the piston with a finger or two while you turn the allen key