ECS

Finally got off my butt and am doing my own pad changes. Got burned at the track. I am planning on using a screwdriver with a large flat head for pressing the pistons back in order to get at the pad. Anyone with other suggestions?

Also, anyone have any gotcha's with this procedure? I am not going to redo the sensors but will put in the squeal discs. I'll tie back the sensor wires.

10 GT3

Use the flathead against the backing plate of teh brake pads to compress the pistons works easiest.

911S3.6

Eagleday makes a really nice pad retractor.

jerome951

I recently bought this and it works quite well:
http://www.lislecorp.com/tool_detail.cfm?detail=309
Think of a heavy-duty caulking gun. Costs ~$35.

Place the spreaders' plates against the top of the brake pad backing plates and just squeeze a couple times. Not sure it will work on your larger brakes.

Larry Herman

That's fine for floating calipers, but not on 4/6 piston brakes.

I just use a set of channel locks (and a rag) to get the pad away from the face of the rotor. Then I use a heavy duty paint 1.5" wide paint scraper to work the pad back. No problems.

Matt Romanowski

Snap On makes a tool for holding pistons in while servicing calipers that works great for spreading pistons out. Check out http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

I've always wanted one of the tools that the pro teams have, but I've never been able to find it.

Toby Pennycuff

Matt,

Do you mean this tool? I'm with you in terms of always wanting one of these. Just never could develop the moxie to go spend this amount of money on a pad spreader! Must be made of stainless steel! But, as we sometimes say here in the DFW area, "it shore is purdy!"

Toby

Veloce Raptor

I just use the pad I am removing from my 4 piston StopTech fronts to lever the pistons back into the caliper in order to receive the new pad. Works like a charm, and no extra tools required.

jakermc

I bought a nearly identical one from GiroDisc. It was a bit cheaper but still very expensive. After using the 'pry bar on an old pad' method for years, this is a pleasure to use. Downside is that its a bit large to take with you when traveling.

Veloce Raptor

Gynecologists use that very same tool, I am told.

Matt Romanowski

That is the one! I won't be buying one with that price tag, but that's it.

mooty

i have both the one in the link and the eagle day tool. both work, but eagle day is much much easier to use, however, it is also about $200 or so a pop.

mooty

i thought it was insane for the price, but i used one my friend had... i think it's like impact guns taking wheels off, once you use one, you will not go back.

especially when you have to change pads on track when the temp of the car, pads, rotor and weather are all high.

jerome951

Actually, Larry, it does work (and I don't have floating calipers).

Instead of hooking it onto the floating caliper pieces, you catch the top of the brake pad backing plates then it pushes them apart.

This is nice in that you get retraction of both pads without pushing on the caliper and you don't get the back & forth motion from retracting 1 side then the other (assuming you want to remove both pads at the same time).

Larry Herman

Cool.