Holy Moly

[The emperor has no clothes]

I think time may be passing me by. I’ve done brakes on countless bikes, cars, trucks, even snowmachines. Brenda’s Miata started making some noise from the right rear. After looking things over I thought maybe it was a wheel bearing going bad. But the brake pads were about 3/4’s used up. Figured I do those first because they would be needing it soon anyway. The job wasn’t too bad, until I got to compressing the caliper. I tried prying it with a screwdriver and the old pads. Nothing. I tried a C clamp. Nothing. I then tried a pipe clamp. Still nothing. I was starting to get a little concerned that I was going to have to tow the car to a shop and have it done. I was getting hot, frustrated, and pissed. Came in and took a break. Looked it up on YouTube. Evidently it requires a tool that screws the caliper in. I’ve never seen that before. Got the tool, and I was done lickety split.

I’m glad I didn’t really crank down on that pipe clamp.   (I guess even an old dog can learn a new trick) thank you YouTube  

(It was a brake rub of some sort, the noise is gone)

[cookiedough]

yah,  brake noise is frustrating.  I replaced new brake pads but my rusted front rotors outside edge surface even after filing the rust off was still rubbing every revolution.  So, coughed up the dough and replace the rotors and no more noise.  

those calipers pressing back in is a pain in the butt some go, some do NOT budge even with a lot of force from a C-clamp or channel lock pliers, etc.  

I also have issues sliding the new brake pads in place, especially the rear/back ones closest to car even after filing off all the rust down to bare metal surface on the housing all around where the brake pad grooves/slides into, VERY tight fit for sure.  I think the coating on the new brake pads is just enough to prevent easy slide in of the new pads even using synthetic wheel bearing grease on those surfaces.

[f6john]

I think time may be passing me by. I’ve done brakes on countless bikes, cars, trucks, even snowmachines. Brenda’s Miata started making some noise from the right rear. After looking things over I thought maybe it was a wheel bearing going bad. But the brake pads were about 3/4’s used up. Figured I do those first because they would be needing it soon anyway. The job wasn’t too bad, until I got to compressing the caliper. I tried prying it with a screwdriver and the old pads. Nothing. I tried a C clamp. Nothing. I then tried a pipe clamp. Still nothing. I was starting to get a little concerned that I was going to have to tow the car to a shop and have it done. I was getting hot, frustrated, and pissed. Came in and took a break. Looked it up on YouTube. Evidently it requires a tool that screws the caliper in. I’ve never seen that before. Got the tool, and I was done lickety split.

I’m glad I didn’t really crank down on that pipe clamp.   (I guess even an old dog can learn a new trick) thank you YouTube  

(It was a brake rub of some sort, the noise is gone)

I learned that lesson in the mid 80’s .  My 85 Maxima required the same little tool, which I still have, imagine that. So I wasn’t surprised when my son’s 91 MR2 need the same tool.

[Serk]

my son’s 91 MR2 need the same tool.

Oh man.... Turbo or  N/A? Does he still have it? I still miss my MR2... 

[f6john]

my son’s 91 MR2 need the same tool.

Oh man.... Turbo or  N/A? Does he still have it? I still miss my MR2... 

His was N/A. It’s been gone a long time. It was his first car and he loved his too but he was a little hard on it, but he still got a good price for it. I was instrumental in his purchase as I had a short stint selling cars for Toyota in the early nineties and the car in question was a demo model and later the dealership owner’s daughters car. When it came up for sale in 1997 I took my son to look at it and he bought it on the spot.

[Hook#3287]

I just learned about those screw pistons when I replaced all rotors and pads on my caddy.

When I ordered the parts, my napa guy asked if I needed "the tool".

I had no idea, so he sent the kit that had it over just in case.

Didn't need it and a mechanic buddy told me the difference why, but I can't remember.

Something to do with the ebrake I think.

[scooperhsd]

Volkswagons have needed that tool since at least 2000.