How the hell do you push the piston back in when changing e-brake pads?

[Rizzo]

I have done a ton of brake jobs before but I am either stupid today or something is wrong. I am trying to change the drivers side e brake pads and the piston is out too far to get the pads back on. I have tried to push it back in but it must be mechanical and I can not figure it out. I know it's going to be some stupidly easy thing that I am missing but it's driving me nuts and I want to get the pads back on today. Any help would be great. I did a search on here and could not find 1 post on how to do this. Thanks guys.

 

[georgethedog]

I have done a ton of brake jobs before but I am either stupid today or something is wrong. I am trying to change the drivers side e brake pads and the piston is out too far to get the pads back on. I have tried to push it back in but it must be mechanical and I can not figure it out. I know it's going to be some stupidly easy thing that I am missing but it's driving me nuts and I want to get the pads back on today. Any help would be great. I did a search on here and could not find 1 post on how to do this. Thanks guys.

I have not done a brake job on a Viper yet. But, if it does not screw in with a special tool, which you probably would have needed to get it off, then use a C-clamp to force it back in. That's what I do on my daily driver. I use the old brake pad and put it across the piston to push it in and put the C-clamp on it and start turning. Maybe someone else will chime in.

 

[99 R/T 10]

I think if you try to press it in, it will break something. Tom the fuel/oil geek would know more, but it has to be pushed in at the same time you turn it clockwise.

 

[Rizzo]

I tried doing that but the e brakes are not hydraulic so there is no fluid to push back in to the resevoir. The e brakes are mechanical and I'm scared I will break something if I force the piston back in. There was no special tool to get the pads off. That was easy. It's getting the piston back in that is baffling me.

 

[VIPER R]

The piston should have two pinholes where the piston retractor tool goes. Insert the two pins of the tool into the hoes and turn clockwise, this should retract the piston.

 

[KNG SNKE]

Take a picture. It most likely requires a tool to rotate it back in.

 

[TI3VOM]

+1 on the need to be rotated.

 

[TowDawg]

Please post final results with what you had to do after you get it done. My ebrake pads were worn out and I have them out right now while I wait on new ones to get here, which should be Monday or Tuesday.

 

[Black Moon]

The piston should have two pinholes where the piston retractor tool goes. Insert the two pins of the tool into the hoes and turn clockwise, this should retract the piston.

+2 on the screw in clockwise.

 

[KNG SNKE]

Sometimes the C clamp directly on the piston will actually rotate it back in without the tool.

 

[TowDawg]

What is this "ebrake tool"? I've never changed an ebrake pad on any car I've ever owned before, but then again, I've never had a car that actually wears out ebrakes!

 

[plumcrazy]

c clamp....

 

[KNG SNKE]

What is this "ebrake tool"? I've never changed an ebrake pad on any car I've ever owned before, but then again, I've never had a car that actually wears out ebrakes!

It is a square piece of metal with studs in it and it usually has a square plug for a socket wrench. It is used to rotate the piston back into the caliper instead of just push it back in.

ATD-5060 ATD Parking Brake Piston Tool for most Import, Ford, Chrysler and some GM Models - tooldesk.com

 

[VIPER BAZ UK]

You will need a universal ebrake tool or some just Mod a socket to do the same job...

It will need to be pushed in and turned clockwise at the same time... May take a few turns before it catches and winds in.....

 

[Rizzo]

I had no idea it would have to be turned in. Sure enough there are 2 pin holes on the face of the piston which would be for a special tool which of course I dont have. I just used a pair small pliars and grabbed the outside edges of the piston and it turned very easy with hardly any pressure so I didnt have to worry about damaging the sides of the piston. It only took a few turns and it was all the way in. It turns in clockwise. Very easy. I knew it would be something easy. Thanks for the help everyone. Its all back together. Now if the weather would smarten up I could take it out for a drive. If anybody needs any clarification on how to do it let me know.

Thanks.

 

[AbsolutHank]

Most of the popular kits that have the different sized special brake tools do not have one small enough for the E-brake calipers.

 

[EllowViper]

I had to laugh at this since the first time I did mine I wasted hours...like a monkey with a football. And then I figured out it simply turned in. Can't recall what I used, but it was very easy to spin. Glad you figured it out.

 

[VIPER R]

For anyone working on their own cars, best tool is the workshop manual.

 

[AviP]

I have done a ton of brake jobs before but I am either stupid today or something is wrong. I am trying to change the drivers side e brake pads and the piston is out too far to get the pads back on. I have tried to push it back in but it must be mechanical and I can not figure it out. I know it's going to be some stupidly easy thing that I am missing but it's driving me nuts and I want to get the pads back on today. Any help would be great. I did a search on here and could not find 1 post on how to do this. Thanks guys.

Pointy ends of a strong nose pliers in the 2 holes and you just screw it in. Alternatively, you could buy the specific tool for the job - Retractor (Brake Caliper Piston) Miller Part# 6366, if you can find one.

 

[ROCKET62]

Not sure if this tool has the size you need? From harbor freight for only $8:

Four Wheel Disc Brake Piston Tool

 

[lagalaxy13]

Not sure if this tool has the size you need? From harbor freight for only $8:

Four Wheel Disc Brake Piston Tool

I had one, from somewhere else and mine didn't work. Just had to fab something real quick and it worked.