Rear brake calipers: doing my head in!

[Mew]

I've been trying to replace the rear pads on an 88 gti but am having a bit of trouble getting the piston back into the caliper. I've got the type of piston with 2 notches in it rather than the type you wind back in with an allen key.

Basically, has anyone got any advice on how to get the piston back into the caliper? I tried winding it in using some circlip pliers but the end of the pliers snapped as the piston was too hard to turn. I then used some mole grips on the outside of the piston but this ripped the rubber boot, and to be honest i'm not sure the piston is going into the caliper any further anyway. It just seems to be sticking out at it's full travel.

Is there an easy way of doing this job???

[AudiA8Quattro]

Go to Halfords, they do a piston wind back tool.

[Gambit]

make a tool

i've an old tyre lever with a bit cut outta the side of it which i use to wind the calipers back in

just used an angle grider to modify the tyre lever! if you want i can get you a pic of it tonight

[Mew]

If i'm thinking of the same thing i have one. Two paddles on a threaded rod that when done up spread apart, pushing the piston back in? The thing is the piston needs to be turned clockwise as it is on a thread. Or do you mean a tool for pistons on a thread?

[Mew]

make a tool

i've an old tyre lever with a bit cut outta the side of it which i use to wind the calipers back in

just used an angle grider to modify the tyre lever! if you want i can get you a pic of it tonight

If you could get a pic that would be a big help! Cheers.

[jezza16v]

Hi, I fit a large jubilee (hose clip) around the piston and then use that to get a grip with a G clamp or similar, This saves you from damaging the piston, you have to keep loosening it and resetting it every half turn 'cos the screw gets in the way. Also I've found in some cases the piston would not go back regardless of how much I wound it until I undid the bleed nipple and let the fluid out. It should'nt be like that but it worked!  

[Mew]

I can now get the piston back in! I had a play around with the handbrake mechanism and for some reason the piston now goes back in!? ALTHOUGH, i can't get the rubber boot that goes over the piston into the ring on the caliper to seal it.

Will an allen key style piston fit on my calipers that have the circlip style pistons as these seem to have a seal that is much easier to get back in?

[rowlers]

I use a G Clamp!!! Cheap cheerfull but works a treat!

[AudiA8Quattro]

DON'T use a g-clamp, you risk damaging the caliper internally.
GSF sell the tool for about 18 quid, buy it and save alot of hassle