How hard should it be to push caliper piston back?


_JT

_JT

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I'm replacing brake pads right now and I know it takes a little effort to push the piston back, but this will take quite a lot effort (partly because it has gotten out pretty far). I can't visually see it move if I use a pipe wrench. This is how my caliper looks:

427509a3-8a91-4616-9ba2-e464a556126.jpg


If I were to keep my car I would replace it anyways, but it's not affecting braking performance and I'm gonna sell the car so I want to spend as little as possible. So how much effort should it take?
 
That looks pretty rusty and corroded, you should peel back the dust cover on the piston and spray some release oil i.e wd40 then try push it back once it starts moving get someone to push the brake pedal gently and work it back and forth keep hitting it with WD40 when it starts moving.

Otherwise New Caliper tbh
 
Hi mate, yeah sometimes it can be pretty tough other times very easy. Have you got a G clamp handy ? that will sort it out :naughty:
 
I haven't got that but will probably get it. But for now I can't and I'd like to finish the job :( I'll try with WD40!

Edit: and of course I did not take any WD40 with me to my gf :( I just tried again with the pipe wrench and the stream of brake fluid does not get any bigger when I try to push it inward with a pipe wrench...
 
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f00k this ****. My gf doesn't say it but she doesn't like the fact that I'm working on sunday, her father is also offended by that and afraid of the family name in the village. I hate conservative villages... Pipe wrench doesn't work, got no c-clamp and no WD40. Calipers look f00ked so I'm just gonna try and find some other calipers that do work.
 
Using a pipe wrench will just damage the boot. Use a clamp and push it in or eat some porridge ;), also as said clean the piston as it may have surface crud on it, hardly a reason to throw it away.
 
Well, I have to replace the seals then. And seals cost about 25-30 euro a side here. And fo that money I also have properly working calipers with discs and pads.
 
a really good condition caliper will allow piston to moved with decent press by hand, as they get older and dont work as well then g clamp helps and if that isnt working well replace or rebuild, dont take short cuts on brakes
 
I've gotten my hands on a pair of working calipers.
 
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