Help with read pad change

5th February 2011, 20:28

Hey guys need some help pleaaassse!!

Spent most of the night trying to change my rear pads but no luck! look on every forum I came across and have now given up.

This was my first time changing pads, I have an 02 vtr and was replacing the rears for a new MOT.

I bought Mintex pads with the fitting kit and made sure I had a 19mm socket.

So this is what I done,

1) loosened wheels
2) Jacked up car
3) removed wheel
4) Removed brake fluid cap
5) Undone the 2 large bolts at the back of the caliper (19mm)
6) undone the 2 pods to remove the sleeve holding the pads
7) removed the pin and knocked out the little piece of metal and the pads came out
8) put the new pads, metal and pin in
9) CANNOT FOR THE LIFE OF ME WIND THE PISTON BACK IN so i cant put it back together again...

I have tried using a wrench, pliers, screwdriver, clockwise, anti-clockwise, a plastic clamp ( not the strongest) everything i can think of but can't get it to go back in so after many hours i gave up and bolted the caliper back on and left the sleeve off so i could put the wheels on...

Some have said use a G clamp to force it in (I am going to halfords tommorrow to get a strongger one but what do i attach it to on the back of the caliper as it seems to be rubber/air at the back) and some have said I should be twisting the jagged part?

Any advice from anyone? Cannot use the car in its current state.

I took some photos.... cheers

Any helps appreciated

5th February 2011, 20:43

Wow, you've took far too much off there. Normally just drop the caliper off the hub, take off the clips and the pads should drop out.

I'm guessing you applied the handbrake before jacking the car up? Easy mistake if you did.

To be honest your calipers look fubar'd, there should be a slot through the middle of the piston to put in a square bar. You've taken the handbrake off yeah?

5th February 2011, 20:45

Umm.. not sure if it's the same calipers as on my 2000 vtr but I didn't need to remove the caliper just remove the pins and clips holding in the pads... As for the piston it just screwed back up..

Just soak it in some wd40 over night and try in the morning..

5th February 2011, 20:47

big set of grips!one on the back of the caliper one on the piston as you squeese wind it. you can get brake rewind tools if needed.

as said cliper looks a little past it but shouldnt be a problem if it still works ok

5th February 2011, 20:48

The piston screws back in with pressure applied

5th February 2011, 21:03

as already said wind the piston back in.

5th February 2011, 21:21

just use a g-clamp and push it back in.
Your lucky its not one of the newer vag calipers, they have to be pushed and turned and same time

5th February 2011, 21:26

Can get wind back tools from halfords, so get one of them instead of a G Clamp. You need to put alot of pressure on them and twist. Sometimes there is a certain way to do so. Also undo your handbrake...

5th February 2011, 21:34

Hey guys thanks for the advice,

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshB

Wow, you've took far too much off there. Normally just drop the caliper off the hub, take off the clips and the pads should drop out.

I'm guessing you applied the handbrake before jacking the car up? Easy mistake if you did.

To be honest your calipers look fubar'd, there should be a slot through the middle of the piston to put in a square bar. You've taken the handbrake off yeah?

Yeh schoolboy error I realised about 2 hours into trying that I put the handbrake on when jacking the car so took it off and it never helped!

Ok thanks guys so I will:
- soak the thing in WD40 overnight
- Look at getting a wind back tool
- Still get a good G clamp

and then I will try to clamp it and wind it back tomorrow... ( still thinking how it would be possible to apply pressure and wind it back at the same time).

Fingers crossed and I'll give you an update with some more pics,

Cheers.

6th February 2011, 08:09

looks a bit beyond repair, should have a cross set into it for square sections etc. also looks like its come out about as far as it can!

ps: take cap off brake fluid

6th February 2011, 12:40

Ok guys I have an update,

Went to halfords and bought the clamp, didnt have wind back tool. I tried to change the back left and it took 15 mins... SUCCESS.... the piston had a cross shape which I used a screw driver to wind back so it was pretty straight forward.... HOWEVER I still have the nightmare back right as posted up.

Any ideas on how to wind it back? I will be going back out to give it another try, but am i correct in saying the clamp will be pointless as it has to be wound back in and cannot be forced back?

I will try some options to wind it back... wrench etc - failing that i might need a caliper... does anyone know how much it would be and where to find a used back right caliper and also how I would fit it, ( is there a fitting manual? and I presume with a new caliper I would need to bleed the brakes?).

Cheers!

6th February 2011, 12:57

try and undo the bleed nipple to let of pressure then push it in.(be careful not to snap it as it looks very rusty)
I swear my old gti6 calipers used to be just push in, not wind back?

I hope youve taken off the brake master cylinder top?

6th February 2011, 13:24

fronts push in, rears wind in

6th February 2011, 18:07

Good news... Pads are done!

Night steeping in WD40 must have loosened it as I used a wrench and wound it back in!

Finally done my first set of pads... would feel more confident in future...

Now onto replacing the Front Left wishone and then MOT time.... wish me luck haha!

Question... I wont be able to drive it as its not MOT'd... I don't want the brakes to seize up so I will just reverse and froward it for a few mins every morning until my wishone arrives and I book it in for MOT... will this be enough?

Also ... The brakes don't really feel 100%, when pressed hard it doesn't it too hard... could this be because the pads need worn in over the next 100-200 miles? ( I have checked the front pads and they have plenty of meat left on).

Cheers... Glad I joined this forum, good bunch of people !

6th February 2011, 18:09

Also I checked the brake fluid level which is fine ( just incase anyone recommends that).

Cheers

7th February 2011, 10:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeblogs

Good news... Pads are done!

Night steeping in WD40 must have loosened it as I used a wrench and wound it back in!

Finally done my first set of pads... would feel more confident in future...

much harder when the calipers are knackered mate!

Quote:

Now onto replacing the Front Left wishone and then MOT time.... wish me luck haha!

wishbones are nice and easy

Quote:

Question... I wont be able to drive it as its not MOT'd... I don't want the brakes to seize up so I will just reverse and froward it for a few mins every morning until my wishone arrives and I book it in for MOT... will this be enough?

anywhere you can give it a quick run (private land?) as you'll need to bed the brakes in really, and moving it about on the drive isn't really justified!

Quote:

Also ... The brakes don't really feel 100%, when pressed hard it doesn't it too hard... could this be because the pads need worn in over the next 100-200 miles? ( I have checked the front pads and they have plenty of meat left on).

Cheers... Glad I joined this forum, good bunch of people !

try bleeding them? if the pads were that low you'll have sucked some air in possibly!

7th February 2011, 11:34

Hey,

Thanks for the advice, I'll bleed them later when my brother comes back as it sounds much easier with 2!

For the wishbone is a new pinch bolt necessary or could I reuse the old one?

Hopefully will get some some pics up when its all done

7th February 2011, 17:11

Hey,

I bought some brake fluid from halfords dot 4 6.29 for 500ml..... Is this stuff ok to use because it says on back not suitable for fomr citroens that use mineral based fuilds (LHM).

So I checked my owners hand book and maintenance guide that doesn't specify?

Cheers (it's a 2002 VTR).

7th February 2011, 17:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeblogs

Hey,

I bought some brake fluid from halfords dot 4 6.29 for 500ml..... Is this stuff ok to use because it says on back not suitable for fomr citroens that use mineral based fuilds (LHM).

So I checked my owners hand book and maintenance guide that doesn't specify?

Cheers (it's a 2002 VTR).

Should be fine for your car, only applies for cars before 95 I think for the mineral fluids.... If not I need to change mine back as used dot4 for a new flush... =/

7th February 2011, 17:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heftydanielson

Should be fine for your car, only applies for cars before 95 I think for the mineral fluids.... If not I need to change mine back as used dot4 for a new flush... =/

Hey, Thanks!

I actually just confirmed this from the Haynes manual I bought... the cars need hydraulic fluid (DOT 4 ) to at least 116 DOT 4 and FMVSS standards ( which halfords betters).

Cheers!