When performing front brake pad replacement, some techs remove the caliper then compress the piston with large channel lock pliers or c-clamp. By using an alternative method, you can compress the piston before you remove the caliper and save a little time on each brake job.
So how do you do that?
It's easy if the caliper has an opening like that shown in the photo below. Simply take a small pry bar and insert it in the opening as shown. Place the tip of the pry bar against the rotor, and the shaft of the pry bar against the caliper, and pry out. Not only does this compress the piston, it helps you judge how much resistance is present in the piston and caliper slides.
I always open the bleeders before I compress the pistons on ABS equipped vehicles (so dirt won't push backwards into the system), and this method really simplifies that task. You can easily pry the piston in with one hand and operate the bleeder socket with the other.
BTW... This won't work on pistons that need to be rotated while being compressed like those found on some rear wheel disk systems. But you probably already knew that.
Visitor Comments