How to wind back rear disc brake pistons

You’ll need a rear brake caliper tool to wind back rear disc brake pistons

Rear disk brake calipers with integral parking brake mechanism are quite different that the front calipers. You’ll need a rear brake caliper tool to retract the piston, because you can’t just push the piston back into the bore.

Unlike front disc brakes where you simply push the pistons back in, on rear calipers with integral parking brakes, you need to push and screw the piston back into the caliper bore. That requires a wind back tool that fits into the slots in the face of the caliper piston, and the tool must match the manufacturer’s pattern.

Lisle 28600 Disc Brake Piston Tool is a square block with 6 different peg patterns to fit into face of rear caliper piston. Insert a 3/8″ drive extension and turn with ratchet to screw piston back into caliper bore

Some tool companies sell an inexpensive square block with

pegs on it and call it a rear brake caliper tool. The problem is you have to push the tool and turn at the same time. They barely because they keep popping out of the slots on the piston face.

This Lisle 25000 Rear disc brake caliper tool kit eliminates the pop out problem. You install the tool into the rear caliper (on or off the car), select the correct piston adapter and then screw in the piston. Since the screw pushes against the caliper fingers while it rotates, it keeps constant pressure on the piston while it screws back into the bore.

It’s a single operation with no slip out. It’s pricey but will save you a lot of time and you can use the curse words for another occasion.

Lisle 25000 Rear Disc Brake Caliper Tool comes with 5 piston adapters and the push back tool.

For other wind back tools, see this post
© 2012 Rick Muscoplat