piston isnt going in caliper nicely

[myg-]

i was changing my brakes but my piston wont compress into my caliper when i use my c clamp on it... i cant put on my new brakes damnit!

this is my first time changing it on this car, im doing it the same ive done on my past vehicles.. are 96 gts different with this or something?

or is my caliper just messed

 

[Stang|ess]

Screw it in?

 

[bigcat]

some calipers do screw in. i think many rear calipers on stangs do that too....

 

[Mustang5L5]

Rear calipers screw in. Turn clockwise

 

[myg-]

you're telling me the brake fluid pushes the piston by screwing/unscrewing itself? that sounds a bit off to me.

 

[Mustang5L5]

No, the brake fluid pushes the piston out normally, the screwing part is because the e-brake uses a screw type rachet mechanism internally. This is common for all vehicles that use an intergrated parking brake in the caliper.


Trust us...rear calipers screw in. Front calipers press in.

 

[bdcardinal]

you have to screw the rear pistons back in. if you force them in with a c clamp you can cause catastrophic damage to the internal workings of the caliper. just go to a parts store and borrow the tool or buy your own. i have the $150 one from MATCO. but you can buy the same thing from harbor freight for like $30. whatever people tell you dont use hte cube one, it will make you want to kill yourself. i used one once and threw it away.

 

[Nater]

you're telling me the brake fluid pushes the piston by screwing/unscrewing itself? that sounds a bit off to me.

Trust us, screw it back in.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

The rear calipers screw in.

You can borrow the tool to do this at AutoZone for a $40 deposit. You can buy the tool to do this at Harbor Freight for $40.

It looks like this:

 

[mijo_latino]

Meh, you could do what i do and just get your big needle nose pliers and go at it.

Ghetto? yes
Possibility of cuts and bumps? yes

Only suggest this if your a lazy bum...

 

[steveb24]

i used my regular press in piston tool (9 bux at pep boys) and locking wrench.. just turn with the wrench, then press in, turn, press in and so on untill you cant get a grip on the piston with the wrench..then u kno ur good.. not really ghetto, and really easy to do.

 

[FivePointStang]

The rear calipers screw in.

You can borrow the tool to do this at AutoZone for a $40 deposit. You can buy the tool to do this at Harbor Freight for $40.

It looks like this:

I got that kit from AutoZone many years ago and I loved it so much I kept it. But back then the deposit was only $20. Too many people must've followed suit.

 

[Mike97gt]

If you already tryied to compress them with a c clamp test the e brake after you are done.. if they don't work then you damaged them..

 

[tomustang]

The rear calipers screw in.

You can borrow the tool to do this at AutoZone for a $40 deposit. You can buy the tool to do this at Harbor Freight for $40.

It looks like this:

Pa must be cheaper, both autozone/harbor freight only charge $30 to rent/buy

 

[myg-]

thanks.. I used my c clamp and vice grips.. accidentely cut a peice of rubber but o well. theyre being replaced soon enough with the cobra system

 

[Mustang5L5]

You could have reused them. Same rear calipers

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Pa must be cheaper, both autozone/harbor freight only charge $30 to rent/buy

www.harborfreight.com says $40

 

[BrutalStang]

no one caught the mistake in the begining of this thread, you guys are losing your touches.

 

[bdcardinal]

actually the cobra rear calipers are different. they are wider to allow for a thinner pad(dont ask me i didnt design the setup). i didnt want to grind at my 115k mile calipers when a new set was relatively inexpensive.