If you have a 1987 or *earlier* the parking brakes are in the front calipers. The piston has an adjustment that screws out to keep the caliper clearance close to enable the parking brake to function when the cable is pulled. The idea is to keep the piston/pad close to the rotor *without* relying on hydralic pressure. When the pad wears the piston has to come out to do this. When you put in new pads the piston needs to be screwed back to the stop to allow everyone to fit again. There is a tool for about $15-20 that has a disk about the size of a quarter, with an alignment lip, and two pins to fit into the surface of the piston. You use it to screw the piston in. There are various homemade substitutes, the first time I did it I took a peg board item (the one that has two long pins straight out) and bent them at a 90 degreee angle.

Again, if your car is 1988 or newer you don't need this...

the only other "special" tool I use is a motorcycle tire iron. I crack the bleed nipple, use the tire iron as a lever to force the piston home, then tighten the nipple. This will not allow air in as you were forceing fluid out. (after you are done with everything be sure and check the resivor is full to the mark). This tire iron has a hooked end that I put all the way past the rotor swept surface and rest on the inner radius. No scratches and no force on the outer rotor. You could use anything that approximates this. Slow steady force.

Then, if 1987 or older, use the tool to screw the piston in. Be careful and don't catch the rubber seal and tear it. If it is torn you can get a kit to replace it. You can force the caliper the other way to get the piston out to screw it in more. If your pads are worn thin sometimes the piston has been screwed all the way out and is difficult to start back in. this is normal, it will get easier. when it bottoms out it will feel like it did at the start. you are done.

• Brake Tools, ben, Wed, 26 Oct 2005 07:02:45
  • What year car do you have. Makes a difference.n/m, Chaz, Wed, 26 Oct 2005 16:07:20
  • Re: Brake Tools, soneway, Wed, 26 Oct 2005 15:11:07 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Depends on the year, RS , Wed, 26 Oct 2005 08:58:26
  • You talking the 85-86 calipers that need the special, John Roberts, Wed, 26 Oct 2005 08:55:08
  • What tools?, Joe98, Wed, 26 Oct 2005 08:40:12
  • Re: Brake Tools, SMOKINSPG, Wed, 26 Oct 2005 08:13:58
    • Re: Brake Tools, supersaab, Wed, 26 Oct 2005 08:34:53
      • Re: Brake Tools, MaineSaab, Wed, 26 Oct 2005 12:47:13
        • Huh?, Bill S., Fri, 28 Oct 2005 05:22:26

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