Hi Guys,
I'm stuck in the middle of a job and am desperate for a bit of information please.

I'm renewing the back brake pads and maybe disks (haven't got the other side off yet), but can't get the caliper piston to return inside the caliper.

The car is a "54" plate VW Bora with non-vented rear disks with handbrake incorporated into the caliper (ie no seperate shoes) - I'm told it's the same set-up as the mk4 Golf.

I've removed the reservoir lid to allow fluid expansion and have tried (but not too hard in case I brake anything) to force the piston back in using a G clamp across the piston face and the rear part of the piston housing.
The two bolts have been removed to split the sliding part of the caliper so the sliding part is seperate and being held by the handbrake cable and fluid line.

Any suggestions please as I'm about pulling out what is left of my hair.
I'm fairly convinced I've missed something simple . . . but sometimes you can't see the wood for the trees.

Heres hoping

Romer

Is the brake pedal fully back to its normal position? Only then will it allow fluid back into the reservoir.

HTH

David

Have a look round the caliper for some sort of "wind back" mechanism I remember on the Gti golf you had too wind the pistons back in, its some sort of self adjusting your looking for, just a guess but i think that is what it will be, maybe even the piston its self will wind in.

I think you have to turn it back in. Don't think you can just push it in.

Is it a screw in piston - may not be smooth but "castelated" sort of thing.

Screw in is for the handbrake self adjustment.

ATB

Simon

Just a suggestion.

Don't. know if the golf is the same as a focus, but IIRK on the ford you also have to screw the piston into the caliper as you apply pressure.

Great minds obviously think alike!

Simon

[Edited on 13/1/07 by asn163]

[Edited on 13/1/07 by asn163]

Never done a bora rear brake reline,but other rear brake calipers I've come across,have a self ajusting mechanism built in,which you have to turned the piston,to ensure it returns to its original position,to when the pads were new,for example on the ford sierra rear caliper,there is a special tool for doing this,but you can do it with a pair of long no pliers,so see if you can screw the caliper piston back in some how,good luck

don't you just hate it when everyone can type faster than you

[Edited on 19/05/04 by PAUL FISHER]

Thanks for those comments guys, will check them right now.
The pedal should be at the top as the spring should be holding it there, but will check that as well.
I did notice some cross (semi castleation (sp) on the piston) will check and see if I can turn it.
Any ideas if that thread would be different depending on which side of the car it was, ir will it just be a standard thread??

Cheers

Romer

I'm going to try those things now - will report back.

If anyone has any other comments I'd appreciate them.

Romer

Pretty sure that will be it, you asked the audience and got a 100% screw it back in answer........... locostbuilders at its best.

I would have been first but wasn't logged in when I sent my reply, and got the "no anonymous posting" message!

ATB

Simon

a quick search on google, came up with this...its for a golf i know.

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/06/autoblog-maintenance-201-brake-pad-replacement-part-ii/

quote:

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Originally posted by meany
a quick search on google, came up with this...its for a golf i know.

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/06/autoblog-maintenance-201-brake-pad-replacement-part-ii/

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my dad's octavia is the same car and they need screwing in using a tool, bought or fabricated to rind the caselation in on the piston.

Ned.

probably a bit late now but after you have wound the calipers in and put your new brakes in and refitted the calipers DONT touch the hand brake till you have pumped the brakes out otherwise you will unwind the hand brake mechanism off the piston at best strip and rebuild caliper at worst replace caliper

quote:

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Originally posted by andybod
probably a bit late now but after you have wound the calipers in and put your new brakes in and refitted the calipers DONT touch the hand brake till you have pumped the brakes out otherwise you will unwind the hand brake mechanism off the piston at best strip and rebuild caliper at worst replace caliper

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I've used am angry grinder key to screw them in before. Not sure if it'll fit your calipers though.

If you do get the piston back, make sure when you fit the pads get the peg on the pads lined up with the notch in the piston when fitting them

Finally got them sorted on sunday - bought the caliper piston tool from halfords - £19.99 - not too bad I don't suppose.
Trouble is the packaging didn't list it as being suitable for VW's though. As it happened, it was bang on.

Thanks again for all the helpfull suggestions.

Romer

quote:

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Originally posted by romer
Finally got them sorted on sunday - bought the caliper piston tool from halfords - £19.99 - not too bad I don't suppose.
Trouble is the packaging didn't list it as being suitable for VW's though. As it happened, it was bang on.

Thanks again for all the helpfull suggestions.

Romer

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