Brake tool (piston push back)

AFAICS there are two kinds - the standard wind back type that has a plate the shape of a brake pad like this:

And some other kind for irritating calipers that have no access for such a tool (ie, the Girlings on my bird's car).

However, you should only really need them for back calipers. Front calipers should go in with finger pressure. As I learnt when I crowbarred back some pistons on my birds car then wondered why they were seizing - they were absolutely filthy when I managed to get them back out...

Bruno wrote in news:2eb67f43-f91f-4ccd- snipped-for-privacy@p25g2000hsf.googlegroups.com:

If the Berlingo's brakes are anything like a Citroen AX with ATE brakes, then the handle of a wooden mallet should do the trick!

David.

PS Did my front pads last week. Passed the MOT this week. Don't know who was more surprised, me or the tester!

Is a special tool ever necessary? I've changed pads on many different makes, and never had any problems pushing the pistons back, using ordinary tools, occasionally supplemented by a suitably sized piece of wood. Mike.

It can help with rear calipers. On a MK2 Golf they need to be pushed back and twisted as they're on a thread due to the handbrake mechanism.

BX front brakes are on a thread too for the same reason. But you just use a long bit of metal (aka screwdriver) to engage the slots and turn it.

ISTR using a G-clamp to push pistons back on an older car, and every household should have one of those. And a vice :-)

cheers, clive

IME the self adjusting screw type can be fiddled without using special tools. A separate operation though to just pushing the pistons back to fit new pads to most calipers. I see little point in having a tool just to do that. Mike.

wait till you try to change the pads on a late Merc. you hae to use a laptop to get the 'pistons' to retract (so I am told) you then have to tell it how thick the new pads are !!!!

Trust you to come up with something to defeat my argument. :-)

Sounds like a way to stop owners from doing what is usually a relatively easy DIY job, and charge a lot for doing it. No worries for me though. I doubt I'll ever own a late Merc. Mike.

[...]

Not just Mercs. It's an "electric parking brake" thing.

Chris

It's not "necessary", but it's a lot quicker & easier.

What!!! You have to bash the pistons in with a laptop and then insult the pads! Seems a bit harsh to me.

I've read through all your messages and you've all been a big help!

I guess I'll wait till the next set need changing then give it a go 'the old fashion way'

Many thanks guys Bruno