I want to redo my rear brakes myself but that damn rear caliper piston will not go in. I know there is a special tool and even my mechanic said it is smallest one he has ever seen. I'm familar with the tool, just not one that small. I'm wondering where I can buy the tool at?
thank you
Mario

 

Helix: http://helix13.com/mini/products/brakes
halfway down the page

 

Thanks Bro, wow!!! its not cheap. I might be cheaper to pay the $80 bucks to my mechanic.
Mario

 

That's what I did...although I have heard of peolpe changing pads w/o the tool. I think they had newer MINI's though...

 

Try Harbor Freight. I beleave you will find the tool for less then $35

 

I bought mine at Harbor Freight for $19

 

The tool isn't pritty but it works and that is what counts

 

I did as well. Have used it several times on a few cars.

 

Here is the link to the Harbor Freight one http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=40732

You can find it on sale for $20 frequently.

 

I did it without the tool on a 06 a few days ago. Needle nose plyers, turned piston 1/4 turn. Then C clamp just a little, then plyers, clamp, you get the idea. Took a lot of patience but they turned in nicely.

 

I have done it this way, on a Maxima, and two days ago on my MCS with the HF tool.
Get the HF tool. Much easyer and quicker.

 

does the HF tool have a small enough attatchment for the mini? I used it for my mazda it worked, I'd be ecstatic to hear that it fits the mini too!

The reason I'm suprised is that Mariokart said it was so small. I used the HF tool without any of the extra plates, just the tool itself, which is the smallest spacing it can do. I guess the mini must be the same size.

 

Yes, just use the invisible adapter disc included in the kit....
(the HF tool works on the MINI back disc caliper without any of the extra adapter discs attached).

 

The Harbor Freight tool works like a charm. It's nice when a cheap tool actually does work.

 

Ditto on the Harbor Freight tool... when we bought ours, we had to modify one of the pinned discs to fit in the MINI's rear calipers, but I believe more recent models come with a disc that works.

 

i used needle nose plyers few times on my 03MCS, then bought 6 or 8" C-clamp which was easier & worked fine.

 

Another needle nose pliers here. I didn't even use a C-clamp. I just put my weight down on the caliper with the pliers and turned it.

 

unless the MINI rear caliper is unique, this is the tool I use w/ all of my rear brake pad changes


http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

 

That tool doesn't fit.

 

I just did my very first brake job on my 02 MCS. I used a 9" C-clamp and it worked like a charm. Don't forget to release the parking brake...

OctaneGuy has a great write-up I used as an instruction manual to familiarize myself with the process. I replaced my front rotors, too! No more mechanic brake jobs for me!!