need advice for changing brake pads.....

[Mickus]

Hi guys, I'm really new at fixing cars, I have just ben replacing my brake pads, using the gregory's guide to help me through, but I have gone to change the passenger side, and the nuts on all parts of the brake lines have been stripped, and I can't loosen any of them to push the piston back into the caliper.

the bleed valve is stuck tight as are the nuts on the pipe that comes from the wheel arch and also the bolt that attatches the caliper and fluid lines. ( I have also checked at the fluid resevoir and the nut there is also damaged)

It looks as if the guy I bought it off has tried to undo them with pliers, and so I can't get a grip on any of them, its so frustrating!

So, obviously I can't do anything with my car at the moment, as the piston has closed up too much to even put my old pads back in and go to a professional.......

HELP???!?!?

[delcowizzid]

you dont need to undo any nipples or lines just use a g clamp and press the piston into the caliper or bolt it on and use an old pad and a big screwdriver

[RMXR]

Mate, you do not need to undo any of the fluid lines or bleeders to change pads.

All you need is some way of pushing the pistons back into the caliper as the fluid will flow back into the resevoir. I use a 'G' clamp to push the piston back in; just make sure you push it square at first so it doesn't **** sideways and jam in the bore.

Also check the the resevoir doesn't overflow as you push the piston in.

Once you have each set of your new pads in, and the caliper securely positioned, pump the brake pedal to push the piston back out.

Later: delcowizzid beat me to it. I've got to learn to type faster!

Interesting that my use of the word c ock was automatically edited to **** in my post.

[Mickus]

thanks guys, I still couldn't get the piston back in, but I did manage to get it all the way out, and re-sit it.

I've now re-assembled the caliper and checked fluid, when I start the engine, I lose brakes pressure.

I can feel the fluid build up pressure pumping the brake when the car is off, but if I start the car with the brakes pressed, I can hear a rushing noise as my foot hits the floor.

what did I do wrong?

[5ltvsstaty]

G'day when you say you got the piston all the way out do you mean you actually removed it from the rest of the caliper????? if so you will need to bleed the system you may be lucky and only have to do that brake , but you may have to do all of them and if it has got abs they tell me they are a cow to bleed.


Jon

[bandit10]

sounds like you have air in the system now.

[Brett_jjj]

You will have to undo the stripped bleeder nipple now anyway to bleed the brakes.I have ran into this problem before where some fool has tried to use a cheap spanner or shifter etc to loosen the bleeder and had stripped it.I just locked a set of vice grips tightly onto the nipple and undone it that way.You will need a new bleeder nipple to replace the stripped one.Ive also undone stripped brake line connections this way.Also soak the bleeder nipple or brake line connection in WD40 for a hour or so before attempting to loosen them.

[VrWagz1]

As above vice grips will get the bleeder undone, albeit it will get wrecked a bit more but it will get it off. But it was the wrong thing to do to pull the piston out!! Ontop of now having to bleed the brakes you have introduced quite alot of air into the system. By no means the end of the world or anythin but its just a little more work now and i hope it didnt wreck the seal around the piston in the caliper, otherwise the caliper might weep a little brake fluid which is not good for your breaking ability as it gets on the rotor!!

1st step is to get that bleeder loose and replaced. Then to bleed you dont need it totally undone at all. Only just cracked + 1/2 a turn approx.

Next best thing to do if your on your own is to get some 5 or 6 mm clear hose from bunnings(5mm from memory is best fit, if its to small heat it with hot water to get it to stretch and fit) and slip it over the bleeder nipple and run it down into the bottom of an old 600mm coke bottle with some fluid in the bottom to create an air lock.

Next go and give the brake pedal a few steady long strokes and this should push the air out through the tube and create a constant stream of fluid in the clear tube, this is when you know the air is out. A few more stokes for good measure is always good.(note: dont go all the way to the floor as this can damage the seal in the master cylinder, just go most of the way and back up).

Now go back around and tighten the bleeder nipple back up before taking the hose off. This will see the caliper bled nicely. During the process make sure the master resovoir DOSNT run out of fluid. Keep a close eye on it.

Now go around to the other side and do the same thing over again.

The best way to do pads is to simply force the piston back in with a g clap. I usually place a thin peice of timber over the old pad(so i dont damage it incase i need to re-use it), then position the g clamp in the middle of it and do up the clamp to force the piston back in.