got a friend on another board is asking me how to compress his rear caliper pistons on an 86 fiero. It's been my experience on disc cars that you twist in the pistons with a set of needlenose pliars, clockwise. Is this correct or am I off in a tree somewhere? lol.

Thanks!

------------------
1987 Toyota MR2 N/A 5 speed...and yes, it's modded
http://www.atlantamr2s.com
http://www.geocities.com/darionscard

actually it's much easier with a special tool...i know snapon sells them...prob some parts stores...or rent it.

it actually pushes it back in as it twists it back in. Main thing........pushing AND twisting.

------------------
GTDude 87 Fiero GT 3.4
25 years GM experience

Well, you're not in my tree!!

But seriously, you twist the driver's side piston counter-clockwise and the passenger's side piston clockwise to retract them.

A pair of needle nose pliers ain't gonna do it. Fiero brake pistons are a bee-otch to twist. Things will go a lot easier if your friend buys a GM brake piston tool from the auto parts store. It looks like a half-scale hockey puck with 2 nubs sticking out from each of the 2 flat sides. It's also safe to use with impact tools, which your friend just might end up needing.

[This message has been edited by Blacktree (edited 01-19-2002).]

the first time i did my rear brakes i couldn't get them in and gave up and put them back together. then a few months later i heard the scrape and fought with them again, for about 3-4 hours. i didn't notice that you have to take the parking brake piece off the back of the caliper so it could spin back in. once i saw that it went smooth as butter.

------------------
Phil T.

start where you are,
use what you have,
do what you can.

Look in Ogre's Cave (link is at the bottom of the page). Great info on retracting the rear pistons.

pbs, Mark's right... check the cave... How have you been?? I have'nt seen you in a while??

------------------

www.thefibersmith.com
Technical Support (903) 825-7744 Steve or e~mail SmoothGT@gotomy.com
"Smoooooth GT"
Shaved door handles, sidetrim, exhaust outlet's, Custom-Double-side scoop's, sail scoop's, Custom 'sunckn' hood, Mustang decklid scoop, BMW Z~3 vent's, Ferrari~308 headlight cover's, Custom redesigned Fender's, Custom made-front and rear fascia's...smooooth!!!

I know he mentions he has an 86, but just for the record, and my own assurance, Isn't there a certain caliper you Shoudn't twist back?? I think one has a center plug piece, another doesn't. I'm not sure if this designates the two apart, I just thought I was told that one of em isn't good to spin.

heh, wel, I duno if he got it or not, but he at least isn't hammering on them anymore. :doh:

I've been alright...but am out in Cali now. moved here back in december. Sold my civic (thank god) and wound up picking up a classic...62 Cadillac Deville. I'm in the process of doing some work to it. it hasn't needed much but I've gotten to a point where I'm in need of an original shop manual with wiring diagrams.

but other than that, not alot. this car really is my "money pit" that I'm putting money in with the intention of getting it back when I sell it. I expect to make some money if I can, then get another MKI MR2 like I had before and do it right. This time though, with the motor I've been speculating about...

a MR2 turbo motor stuffed in a MKI, tuned to 300rwhp, will net you a 4.7 0-60 time. SO, I"m a bit curious as to how low that time can get. hehe. I'll let you know if I wind up doing another Pearl Blue Soul...

then again, there WAS the idea of a Chevy 350 in the back of a Fiero, 2 tone silver/black, with a hybrid of Archie's bodykit... haven't priced that...yet.

[This message has been edited by PearlBlueSoul (edited 01-19-2002).]

dont' even bother trying to twist them back in.
just disconnect the parking brake cable and use a tool (consisting of a 1.25x4" metal plate with a bolth threaded through it and a T handle on the end of the bolt) to push on the inside brake pad to push the piston back in. the actuator screw on the e-brake will spin as the piston goes back in. this is WAY easier than trying to twist them.

i wasted 3 hours of my life trying to turn them in, then i tried the method i just outlines and it took me 20 minutes to replace the pads on both sides of the rear...

I tried piston rotation... Once... then I looked up the "official" method. I'll never try to twist them again. (I've tried it on both types of piston. Both have the same issues.)

Trust me. Using the clamp seems like a pain but it goes much more reliably and you don't risk tearing up the seals. Once you get the hang of it, you can do the job amazingly fast even tho it seems like more work. (It also forces you to check over the hand brake hardware.)

As mentioned above, this is covered in my cave which is linked on every forum page.

GM makes a tool for the 88 cars. (It doesn't fit 84-87.) The tool is made so it loads against the piston face while turning. Sort of like inside out pliers. (It's pictured in the Haynes book. in the back.)

------------------
11-Sept-01, The day the world as we knew it ended.

I just use a c-clamp with a socket placed over the e-brake screw. Worked pretty good for my 86..

------------------

1988 Quad 4 Coupe 5 speed
1986 GT 5 speed, 1984 SC Auto
AOL: LastMinuteBastrd AIM: SavedbyJebus