Help,

I have a 92 protege lx with rear disc brakes.I have the caliper loose, but cannot see how to get the pads out to change them, I removed the pin and have a c-clamp, i have put pressure on it but cant seem to get the pads out.

 

Don't use a C clamp or you will run risk of destroying the caliper. You need to rotate the piston in to reset. Not a 100% on if the piston needs to be turned or there is a set screw on the back of caliper but am fairly sure piston rotates. Let me check in the morning and make sure so I do not give you the wrong information.

 

Hello,

thanks for checking let me clarify some

I checked for a set screw of sorts on the rear of the piston housing on the caliper, there is none at all. I have seen what you are talking about on a ford escort before, you had to have a allen or torx or something to back the piston, however thisdoesnt seem to be present here. There is the emergency brake assembly that bolts to the piston somehow

also

I dont have the old pads off yet, i cant get them out of the clamshell they are notched at the top on both sides and i must move the caliper one way or another to give clearance for the pads to drop outthen ill need to back teh piston in with the cclamp i believe and get the new pads in or so

Thanks for any help, ive changed brakes on at least 15 different cars and havent run across the mysterious detail im missing here before



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On the backside of the caliper there should be two 14 mm bolts visible. One attaches the parking brake cable bracket and the other is the cover plug for the set screw. Think I can just see it in the second pic. Once that cover plug is off you should be able to see the set screw down inside. Think is take a 4 mm allen wrench. You proably already know but others seeing this might not. Turn that set screw counterclockwise untill piston is fully retracted. You will feel some significant increase in turning resistance when you get there. Once the new pads are installed. Turn the set screw clockwise untill the brake just locks up and then back off 1/3-1/2 turn.

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THANKS

found the bolt and screw, wow what a nightmare these are truly, even lining up the caliper to rebolt it on was hard.

 

My brother once before suffering from removing his mazda brake pad. With the help of the mechanic his problem solved...

Just remove one of those bolts, and loosen the other so you don't have to hold up the caliper.

The pads have an adhesive on the backing, so you were probably struggling against that without knowing. Use a flat head to pry the pad away from the caliper. Once seperated, you can swing the caliper away like you were expecting to. You should only need to do this on the outer pad, since there isn't much surface contact between the inner pad and pistons. But without doing this, (at least the first time) you'll probably never get it off.

Just try it. Hope it may help !!!