Trying to do the rear brakes here, but I've run into a bit of a snafu... In lieu of spending $60-70 for a compression tool (yes I know HF is cheaper but I can't wait all week for it to ship), I've been using the needle-nose plier technique. The piston is spinning free and easy so I know it's not seized, but the damn thing won't move a micro-meter backwards! I've even got the bleeder open to relieve back-pressure, but no result. I was thinking I would just cut my losses and take the whole caliper off the car entirely so I could get a better angle on it, but I can't figure out for the life of me how to get the e-brake cable off the car!

Any hints?

 

NVM, I found that through a complex manipulation of a squeeze-clamp, I was able to apply significant pressure and rotate the piston simultaneously. I will be happy to share the technique for future reference, if anyone cares to know.

 

Next time use a c-clamp in combination with the needle nose pliers and you'll be golden. That said, most of the time I can just push axially on the needle nose pliers to "thread" the piston back into the caliper...and I'm no bodybuilder.

Good to hear you got it figured out. That "threading" is necessary for the e-brake to self adjust as he pads wear down.

 

It does require a bit of a push while twisting. With one of the calipers, I
needed to alternate between the needle nose twist and push and the
harbor freight tool a while to get it to go in far enough.

 

To get the ebrake cable off remove the Allen screw(looks the same as the ones on the strut towers) on the arm where it attaches to the back of the brake and it will come loose.

 

For $20, the HF tool is a deal, and works a treat! Not to mention you can use it on pretty much any car........

I've changed the rear pads twice on my '03 (the rears seem to wear more quickly than the fronts on DCS equipped cars) and it makes it an easy job........

 

I just received the BMW MINI Laser 3940 tool to rewind the rear piston. Got it on ebay for about $40 shipped from the UK. I haven't tried it yet but I will report back.

 

Is this the tool you speak of?

http://www.harborfreight.com/disc-br...sor-68973.html

 

No. That tool just compresses the piston so you can get new (thicker) pads into the calipers.
Instead, something like this set. I have a smaller set from HF but do not see it on their website.
http://www.harborfreight.com/18-piec...kit-69053.html

 

Cool, thanks! Need to do my brakes before MOTD.

 

As a hint as well . remove your brake fluid cap