Moving caliper pistons

[Constant Mesh]

Before installing new pads in the front calipers I cleaned the pistons as best I could. I tried to rotate them to gain access to those areas at the top and bottom of the calipers.

What's the recommended tool for grabbing a piston and rotating it?

Need a miniature strap tool similar to one used on oil filters, etc.

 

[Panman]

i just took my calipers off and blew the pistons out with air (a little air). I then cleaned the seals with brake fluid and and the pistons with some fine cloth and brake fluid. Time consuming but really fairly simple to do.

 

[Fred W]

Don't try holding the pistons on their outside circumference to rotate them. If you scratch up that surface too much the pistons are toast.

Instead, use a set of expanding pliers, like a pair of external snap ring pliers (remove the thin tips) , to grab the pistons from inside their hollow cavities. You can scratch them up inside their all day long and no harm, no foul.

Lot's easier than completely removing the pistons as you do not have to bleed the air out afterwards.

 

[ionbeam]

A tool junkie may be interested in soft jaw pliers.

The rest of us take a couple of turns of duct tape around the jaws.

 

[Constant Mesh]

Thanks for the ideas. I considered just wrapping a bit of string a few loops round and then trying to rotate it like a top -- very, very slowly.

I tried something different this time replacing the fluid in the brakes. Attached a bit of hose to the bleed screw, opened the valve and let gravity transfer the fluid. Added new fluid as the reservoir emptied a few times. Worked well. Didn't take all that long. Of course my '04 doesn't have ABS brakes so the brake lines are short and the reservoirs are quite high relative to the rest of the system.

Didn't work quite as well on the clutch system. I finished up by just using the MC to pump the fluid through the system. Kept the hose end covered with old fluid in the catch bottle.

No hint of air bubbles being introduced.

 

[Fred W]

The rest of us take a couple of turns of duct tape around the jaws.

Thanks, Mr. Smith.

"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." -- Red Green (aka Steve Smith, Comedian)