I tried to cahnge my rear break pads this weekend. I was able to the rear passenger side caliper off, change the pads and compress the piston using a 4" C-clamp. However, on the rear driver side I nearly broke the C-clamp and was unable to compress the piston at all. Luckily I was able to get he old pads back on which should be good for a little longer, but I am worried that the rear driver side break piston in frozen.

I know this can be a common issue with older cars but my 8 only has 48k miles on it so I wouldn't expect it.

Any advise? Different strategy to take on compressing the piston?

 

I havent done my rear pads yet, so Im just guestamating, Im pretty sure with the rear calipers, you have to rotate the piston in a clockwise direction as you compress it. Please chime in if Im mistaken.

 

You should learn your car before you dive into something like this. You could have/may have damaged the rear calipers. They screw in.

 

Ha! I did the exact same thing.... Bent the c-clamp on the rear piston. It didnt do anything to it, but i was scared until I got the replaced, heh

 

BRAKE (not break)

DIY (easily searched):

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...DIY+rear+brake

 

release the e-brake and open the brake fluid cap to equlize the brake pressure... did mine with a friend (whitenight) about a month ago...

 

I did my own brakes and the rear ones need a brake screw tool you can rent at autozone or any other auto shop for free. Or if you can find anything laying around strong enough to turn the piston back. Good Luck!

 

Probably a broken brake so break is the correct spelling !

 

The C clamp does not have enough psi to break the piston.....the only thing that is going to break it the clamp he used to compress the piston! It will screw back with the proper tool.

 

^ It's not so much a matter of psi wrt compressing the rear brake caliper piston, but rather that it must be rotated to compress.

A 'C' clamp (or 'G' in Oz) or large slip joint pliers are fine for compressing the front pistons tho'.

 

i just use a pair of needle nose pliers to screw the rear caliper pistons in, works just fine

 

The threaded insert inside the piston is designed to break before the stud. The stud that goes into the insert is hardened metal while the sleeve isnt.

The giant C-clamp bent because my friend insisted that two men with a c-clamp can compress the piston that requires turning (which did work for the passenger caliper). I had to buy a replacement caliper because I couldnt get the internals itself. Learn from my mistake:

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/driver-side-rear-caliper-ruined-threads-pistons-sleave-what-do-202304/


I hope the OP has better luck after c-clamping his rear calipers. Next time use the tool or needle nose pliers and try not to stab yourself in the hand.

 

Perhaps, but the dedicated toolset loaned from Autozone, or bought for short money from Harbor Freight, makes life much easier.

Anyway, this has already been well discussed in the DIY's.

 

Research, research, research. I hope you didn't damage your rear calipers. Prior to me replacing my rear rotors and pads I spent a couple hours researching how to do it and what tools would be required. This should be your first step before doing any maintenance or modification to your car. You live and learn my friend.

 

Wow, I don't think I am strong enough to BREAK the BRAKE piston wit the c-clamp. I did the front ones using the same technique, my mistake for assuming the back was no different. I'm going to rent the toolkit from autozone and give it another try this weekend. Thanks for the help guys.

P.S. Sorry for my horrible spelling.

 

I used channel locks to compress the rears. They allow it to turn as its compressed without having to use any special tools.

 

^ Sorry Doc, but I gotta raise the BS flag on that one. The right tool for the job - you know that!!

 

Yeah having done the rear brakes on a couple of 8's I don't see how that is physically possible.

Not sure if this is exactly like our rear calipers but.

 

I used this exact tool, it works with a 3/8 ratchet some force and elbow grease.

 

Yep, I used big needle nose pliers last time but that tool work much better, I need to buy it.

 

That inexpensive brake tool kit from Harbor Freight is good because it has tools for all my cars and only $45.00

 

They have a brake tool kit? Cool, I must go investigate.

 

No bs flags needed to be raised, look at the photos from where I painted the calipers. After I painted them I installed hawks pads that I ordered from BHR. I used channel locks to compress the rear piston. The only specialty tool I have for brakes is an impact screw driver for taking the rotors off.

 

Doc, if you have aftermarket brake calipers on the rear then your correct. If they are still stock then the pads you were replacing new pads. Now the front calipers can be compressed but the stock rears need to be ratcheted in as they do not compress except by turning them. We have changed more pads and discs in my garage than you can count and the only one that did compress was an aftermarket rear caliper.

 

I don't call the BS flag on Doc. The right rear caliper's piston luckily retracted when my friend used the c-clamp. Unfortunately, he was able to ruin the sleeve/insert in the left rear caliper's piston.