Hey guys... what do you use to reset the brake piston when you do your brakes? I am in the middle of doing my rear brakes and rotors and can not seem to get the one brake pad on... it seems like the piston will not reset. I picked up this thing from Amazon . Is there anything better that will do the trick that you use?

Thanks...
Chris

 

I've always used an old brake pad and a C clamp. Works like a charm, but the tool you bought should do the same thing.

 

what he said ^

 

Yeah.. it was not budging for anything... I took the cap off the brake fluid reservoir in the engine compartment hoping that would help. I guess off to Lowes to pick up a c clamp to see if that does a better job. Thanks for the advice..

 

C Clamp is they way to go as mentioned

 

Brake pad spreader is identical to one I've been using for 20+ years. Just keep the old brake pad on piston until fully recessed when using spreader.

 

Exactly.

 

Well just to comment on this... it got late the other night and I could not get the piston reset so ended up throwing the caliper back on without any pads and the old rotor. I drove the car down to the Harbor Freight store to pick up an air compressor and C clamp and some other things and totally killed the piston. It grinded against the rotor (was killing me driving the car once I got 2 miles up the road and you hear the grinding) so I have to rebuild the caliper. Just picked up from rockauto.com a new piston and 2 seal kits and picked up self bleeding speed valves to bleed the brake for under $30 with shipping (much cheaper then buying a rebuilt piston at Auto Zone). This afternoon I attempted to do the other side of the car with a 9 inch c clamp... what a breeze, the piston went right in. So the moral of the story, use a c clamp... way much easier when doing so. The funny thing, I was talking with my Mom the other day, her 2011 Maxima needed brakes, she paid 400 for just rears. I picked up rotors and hawk ceramics for 120 and if I had not screwed up the one caliper as mentioned above, it would of been an hour, hour and a half of my time. (first time doing them). What a rip these mechanics can be.

 

are you kidding?

 

Exactly what I was thinking, wow.

 

Jesus Christ...

 

What's all the wows about? The $400 for rear brakes? Well now that I see its $120 for good parts, I say the same thing. lol

 

You've missed the point, I think we are all shocked you would even consider driving your car missing a brake pad, I know I am. Please take better care of your baby than that, next thing you know you'll be cutting springs.

 

Good god man what the hell were u thinking not putting the pads back on?

You take the cake with that one dude

 

Cmon guys... it isn't that bad. I mean I'm pissed I have to rebuild the caliper but I am sure those who track their car do more wear n tear and harm to their car then me wrecking the brake piston. I promise I wont do it again. lol