I tried to change the rear brake pads on my 2003 mazdaspeed and realized I need a special key to remove the calipers. Do I need an allen key to do this? Does anyone know what size? Thanks

 

the mazdaspeed brakes are a little different than the brakes from other models of the same year. the pro5 brakes come off with an allen key, but on the msp brakes, you have to spin the pot to retract the piston. there is a tool that your local auto parts store should have, so check there for it. the tool looks like a cube with little tabs coming off of it and you will need the smallest version that you can get if i am not mistaken.

 

Well I'm not even at that point yet. To undo the caliper, i need to use a regular wrench for 1 bolt...but the second screw to undo the caliper is hidden inside of a hole that you cant see inside.

 

I beleive you will an allen head screw in that hole that you will have to back off in order to slide the caliper.

 

I just tried all possible metric hex-keys. None worked. I refuse to believe that nobody in here knows how to take off the brake calipers on an 03 protege!

 

i don't know what you really mean about having problems with taking the calipers off. i have never seen an issue in pulling the msp calipers off, only in backing out the piston. like i said, i haven't ever needed a special tool to pull the caliper. just the usual tools

 

Then help me out here. The two bolts which hold the caliper halves together...one is a bolt, and the other(where the second bolt should be) is a rubber cap. I took off the cap and theres a hole I cant see into. This is on both rear wheels (I did not check the front). I really have no idea what to do

 

i think that i see what you are talking about now. i have been sitting here for about a half an hour to figure out what you were talking about.

first, take the calipers off from the bracket which is hard-mounted to the spindle. this can be done by pulling off the two regular 14mm (i think) bolts that are below the two bolt holes that you are looking at. after you do that, you will pull the calipers off and open them like a clam shell. the second bolt that you are talking about doesn't need to come out. it stays in and acts like a pivot for the caliper to open. you will then be able to access the pads.