What To Do About My Idiot Mistake???

97gtconv. · Apr 25, 2005

I just replaced the rear brake pads and my dumb@$$ left the emergency brake engaged. :damnit:
I just finished puting back everything and than i noticed it.
I took back everything off. question- where is the piston at when there's no pressure from the brakes?
Do i have to push back the piston so far or what?
What should i do? My car has 4-wheel disc brakes factory w/abs.
thanks, Jason

97gtconv. · Apr 25, 2005

mustang70 · Apr 25, 2005

Are the back brakes on our cars set up like the Explorers? If not, how did you get the caliper off with the parking brake engaged?

bdcardinal · Apr 25, 2005

ya tha tmustve taken some effort getting the rear calipers off with the parking brake applied.

Tony01GT · Apr 25, 2005

If your piston is all the way out and the pads are together, take the outer pad off, and leave the one against the piston on, and use a C-clamp to push it back. Tightened it very slowly!put your pads back on and you should be fine.

green_fow_six · Apr 25, 2005

Tony01GT said:
If your piston is all the way out and the pads are together, take the outer pad off, and leave the one against the piston on, and use a C-clamp to push it back. Tightened it very slowly!put your pads back on and you should be fine.

For the rear, you have to use the piston tool to turn it. I didn't think you could use a c clamp for the rear brakes. I had to turn and turn and turn and turn to get the piston down.

Mike97gt · Apr 25, 2005

NO the pistons on these cars will not go back in with a C-clamp.. the rears on a mustang are not the same type as a explorer or exped. they use mini drum brakes inside the rotor hat. where our cars use the regular disc pads as a e brake.

to get the piston back in so you can get the caliper over the rotors you have too.

1. have the proper tool too turn the piston ( our cars have a twist in piston in the rear) just like a screw or bolt you turn it and it goes back in..

if you don't have the proper tool a pair of needle nose may do it, i have done this in a pinch before..

the piston in the rear has 2 slots in it. if you don't see wedge shaped slots your looking at the wrong thing. the piston is the thing with rubber around it that presses against the pad

ok try and turn those slots with the needle nose, if you can'y then buy the kit too compress the piston, or try autozone they may lend it too you

and if you tried too compress it with a c clamp then while your at the autozone buy a caliper for the side you trid that on.

97gtconv. · Apr 25, 2005

i'm back, i borrowed a c clamp from my neighbor. he helped me out ( by the way he has 70 cuda 340 RT i think). i let him go drive the car and he noticed alittle brake squeal and rubbing sound when coming to a stop but no burning smell or off ballancing problems when braking or accellerating. we're going to compress the piston down again tommorow.

Mike97gt · Apr 25, 2005

97gtconv. said:
i'm back, i borrowed a c clamp from my neighbor. he helped me out ( by the way he has 70 cuda 340 RT i think). i let him go drive the car and he noticed alittle brake squeal and rubbing sound when coming to a stop but no burning smell or off ballancing problems when braking or accellerating. we're going to compress the piston down again tommorow.

no way in hell that piston went in with a c clamp... if it did it's all busted up inside now and inop

the rear brakes on our cars are the screw in type piston you can not force them in so your either lying ( i doubt this) or more likely you just destroyed your calipers...

Tony01GT · Apr 25, 2005

thats funny because i just put a c-clamp on my fronts tonight while putting my front end back together i decided to get new pads while i was at it and it went in just fine and it damage the pad at all. And yes you are right, i forgot the rear are screw in type.

Tony01GT · Apr 25, 2005

if you leave the pad on the side of the piston, tightening a c-clamp on it slowly will not damage the caliper what so ever, I've been doing it for years on all types of cars

Mike97gt · Apr 25, 2005

Tony01GT said:
thats funny because i just put a c-clamp on my fronts tonight while putting my front end back together i decided to get new pads while i was at it and it went in just fine and it damage the pad at all. And yes you are right, i forgot the rear are screw in type.

yeah the fronts are regular pistons. can c clamp those. and not tring too be cocky but i am a ford tech i have done lots of rear brakes on these and the taurus that has the same setup in the rear (if it is a disc brake car) so i know i am right.

he trashed his calipers, i doubt his e brakes work now. or for that matter it may not have rears at all now

not tring too flame whoever said c clamp it. but you need too be carefull when giving tech advice, if he did crush them down with a clamp he now needs too spend a couple of hundred in calipers

the rears on our cars needs too be twisted back in... any other design you can push back in with a c-clamp, big vise grip, channel locks or whatever

but this particular design for the rear is a twist in piston. i don't even want too know how hard you need too push to get it too go back in straight.

maybe him or his friend was smart enough too see this and twisted it while pushing a little.

Mike97gt · Apr 26, 2005

any news on this? did you try the e brake out?

AirWolf87 · Apr 27, 2005

that sux!!!!!!! that is why everyone should spend $20 and buy a shop manual for their car. In the service manual it tells you exactly what tools you need and exactly what you have to do. boards like this are a good place to get tips and openions, but dont treat it like a bible because people make mistakes and give wrong info. not trying to flame whoever said to use clamps the were just offering an openion. just be careful what you post is correct and if you listen to the post, make sure you double check it with some other source.

03 Pony · Apr 27, 2005

I just had new rotors and pads installed on my Mustang and the shop had to borrow that tool from another shop since theirs was the wrong size. I had to go get it for them so they could finish the rear brakes.

topgunz_1 · Apr 27, 2005

most expensive line-lock ever....

Mike97gt · Apr 27, 2005

either he is too pissed too post back or he dos'nt realize his rear brakes are damaged.

97gtconv. · Apr 27, 2005

yeah, i'll admit it that i broke something in left caliper rear one. The right one was making noises so i just said screw it and took it in. it's at the shop getting new pads calipers and hardware. Live and learn

mogs01gt · Apr 27, 2005

go buy the little tool from an auto parts store. Its like 5 bucks and attaches to any 3/8 wrench.

Mike97gt · Apr 27, 2005

97gtconv. said:
yeah, i'll admit it that i broke something in left caliper rear one. The right one was making noises so i just said screw it and took it in. it's at the shop getting new pads calipers and hardware. Live and learn

i saw somebody tell you too push them back in with a c clamp. i tried too get too you before you compressed the caliper back in.. the rear calipers on our cars is a twist in style.

What To Do About My Idiot Mistake???

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