# need help how to compress brake piston **URL:** \ **Category:** SON240sx Automotive\ **Created:** [August 8, 2005, 8:10am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-how-to-compress-brake-piston/87779 "2005-08-08T08:10:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dabum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@dabum](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/dabum)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 8:10am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-how-to-compress-brake-piston/87779/1 "2005-08-08T08:10:45Z")
jus like title says, i was doin my rear brakes today and i cant clamp the rear piston to push it down, i tried everything, doesn’t seem to want to go down one bit, now im stuck at home lol gimme some advice ---
**Author:** ![dabum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@dabum](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/dabum)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 8:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-how-to-compress-brake-piston/87779/2 "2005-08-08T08:55:29Z")
fukin piston rotate u bitch ass, i think im gonna end up either filing these pads down with something… seems time consuming or keep tryin till i die ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 8:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-how-to-compress-brake-piston/87779/3 "2005-08-08T08:59:22Z")
^^ yep they are should rotate down. ---
**Author:** ![tsil8o](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@tsil8o](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/tsil8o)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 9:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-how-to-compress-brake-piston/87779/4 "2005-08-08T09:35:24Z")
u need a tool to compress the rear calipers ---
**Author:** ![tsil8o](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@tsil8o](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/tsil8o)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 9:37am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-how-to-compress-brake-piston/87779/5 "2005-08-08T09:37:07Z")
what are u trying to compress it with ---
**Author:** ![s13Junkyard](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/s13junkyard/32/5502_2.png) [@s13Junkyard](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/s13Junkyard)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 9:37am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-how-to-compress-brake-piston/87779/6 "2005-08-08T09:37:34Z")
yup its called needle nosed vicegrips ---
**Author:** ![roast](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/roast/32/5498_2.png) [@roast](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/roast)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 10:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-how-to-compress-brake-piston/87779/7 "2005-08-08T10:02:18Z")
> [@Avery](#): > > yup its called needle nosed vicegrips Or large channel lock pliers. ---
**Author:** ![dabum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@dabum](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/dabum)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 10:19am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-how-to-compress-brake-piston/87779/8 "2005-08-08T10:19:55Z")
i ended up puttin the old brakes back on, their not bad or anything, jus wanna put new brakes in, anyways ill go buy one of those tools tomorrow and do my brakes again. I cant take doing these brakes today again. thanks guys ---
**Author:** ![mr200](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mr200/32/5495_2.png) [@mr200](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/mr200)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 10:34am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-how-to-compress-brake-piston/87779/9 "2005-08-08T10:34:04Z")
Sometimes the rubber dust boot gets stuck, and won’t let the piston turn. This is usually pretty obvious (the rubber starts to twist) Channel locks work the best as far as I’ve ever found. They grip the little indents nicely. ---
**Author:** ![jjm\_240sx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b77776/32.png) [@jjm\_240sx](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jjm_240sx)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 6:56pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-how-to-compress-brake-piston/87779/10 "2005-08-08T18:56:51Z")
The right tool is Universal Brake Caliper Tool. I have one use it at work almost everyday. [http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item\_ID=12409&group\_ID=1682&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog](http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=12409&group_ID=1682&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog) This is the one I use. I can do them on the weekend if you want for a small fee 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![face](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/face/32/5504_2.png) [@face](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/face)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 7:19pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-how-to-compress-brake-piston/87779/11 "2005-08-08T19:19:05Z")
220 bucks (us prolly too…) vs 20 dollar channel locks that work just as well? lemme just think about that for a minute… :-k but in all honesty, i’m sure those work great, most likely better than channel locks. but for the rest of us backyard mechanics, it’s not really an enconomical choice. ---
**Author:** ![x-nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/71e660/32.png) [@x-nobody](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/x-nobody)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 9:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-how-to-compress-brake-piston/87779/12 "2005-08-08T21:55:00Z")
For the backyard mechanic doing rear calipers with channel locks; try this $17.49 tool… ![http://images.canadiantire.ca/media/images/Automotive/TestTune/BrakeTools/0256197_160_sc_189c0.jpg](http://images.canadiantire.ca/media/images/Automotive/TestTune/BrakeTools/0256197_160_sc_189c0.jpg) > **[Shop Canada’s Top Department Store Online & at 500+ Locations](http://www.canadiantire.ca/en.html)** > > Get anything from auto parts to home décor, outdoor living products, fitness/sports equipment, tools and more at Canadian Tire online or one of 500+ stores. And for those who do Front calipers with a C-clamp and have $20; try this ![http://images.canadiantire.ca/media/images/Automotive/TestTune/BrakeTools/0256287_160_sc_189df.jpg](http://images.canadiantire.ca/media/images/Automotive/TestTune/BrakeTools/0256287_160_sc_189df.jpg) > **[Shop Canada’s Top Department Store Online & at 500+ Locations](http://www.canadiantire.ca/en.html)** > > Get anything from auto parts to home décor, outdoor living products, fitness/sports equipment, tools and more at Canadian Tire online or one of 500+ stores. ---
**Author:** ![face](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/face/32/5504_2.png) [@face](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/face)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 10:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-how-to-compress-brake-piston/87779/13 "2005-08-08T22:00:19Z")
if you have a few bucks laying around and you want a specialty tool for the job, sure, why not. but i doubt you’ll need these tools very often, so to me, even that is a waste of money. at least channel locks and c clamps have different applications than just brake jobs, so what will you use these for after you’re done? paperweights? :dunno: on a side note, you can find those tools for 1/4 of the price (4 or 5 dollars) each at your local princess auto :P. ---
**Author:** ![newbieracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e47c2d/32.png) [@newbieracer](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newbieracer)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 10:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-how-to-compress-brake-piston/87779/14 "2005-08-08T22:18:56Z")
I belive CT rents the More expencive caliper tool. ---
**Author:** ![jjm\_240sx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b77776/32.png) [@jjm\_240sx](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jjm_240sx)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 3:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-how-to-compress-brake-piston/87779/15 "2005-08-09T03:29:05Z")
Got mine off ebay used for 60$ has made me hell of alot of money. ---
**Author:** ![martiniracing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@martiniracing](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/martiniracing)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 12:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-how-to-compress-brake-piston/87779/16 "2005-08-09T12:55:31Z")
wow… i never spent money on rear caliper piston tools. i just use my needle nose pliers to turn them ---
**Author:** ![jjm\_240sx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b77776/32.png) [@jjm\_240sx](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jjm_240sx)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 1:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-how-to-compress-brake-piston/87779/17 "2005-08-09T13:42:25Z")
> [@martiniracing](#): > > wow… i never spent money on rear caliper piston tools. i just use my needle nose pliers to turn them Have you done a x-type jag yet?