Brake spreader tool?

[wjamyers]

Ah screw it. In honor of GJ and the ethos of "too many tools" I just ordered the OTC 7034 to be here by Friday so I can do my brakes on Saturday.

I'll let you guys know how it goes.

 

[RBailey]

I don't think you would service rotors while These top-of-the-line $2600.00 race calipers don't provide any way to spread the pistons.

Big pair of channel lock pliers and a good thick, dry, pair of welding gloves.
We normally have to do at least a couple of pad changes and sometimes rotor changes during the 24 hour races, there damn hot !

(Although we have been testing "endless" pads and they seem to work well.)

 

[wjamyers]

I received the kastar in the mail today and played with it a little.

I imagine that it will work sideways or at-an-angle over the rotor with calipers mounted, the paddles are pretty large. If it doesn't work I should have the OTC spreader as back-up sometime tomorrow.

 

[JJThrasher]

well that *****. part of the point of brembo-style brakes is to make switching pads easy by not requiring caliper removal. now I've gone and ordered a tool (from EBAY no less, no cancellation) I will not even be able to use the way I intended.

Are you certain you couldn't slip the edges in there around the rotor, perhaps push on the old pads before you remove them?

because there's no way in hell i'm going to remove my calipers when it's not necessary to do so.

That's just plain wrong. Off the top of my head I don't know of any fixed caliper designed to change pads without removing the caliper. The reason for the fixed caliper is to allow pistons on both sides and allow more force to be applied. Now I won't deny it might be possible to wiggle them out, but seriously its 4 bolts total. Just take them off.

 

[firebox40dash5]

That's just plain wrong. Off the top of my head I don't know of any fixed caliper designed to change pads without removing the caliper. The reason for the fixed caliper is to allow pistons on both sides and allow more force to be applied. Now I won't deny it might be possible to wiggle them out, but seriously its 4 bolts total. Just take them off.

You can do it on Toyota truck calipers just fine. I think the new-ish Lisle spreader (with the 2 'pads' that stick out) are practically designed for just that design.

 

[wjamyers]

That's just plain wrong. Off the top of my head I don't know of any fixed caliper designed to change pads without removing the caliper. The reason for the fixed caliper is to allow pistons on both sides and allow more force to be applied. Now I won't deny it might be possible to wiggle them out, but seriously its 4 bolts total. Just take them off.

You must have missed this:

Feature: Simple pad change with one bolt
cp8350_bridge_bolt_200cp8350_bridge_bolt_closeup_200

Are you tired of taking off your calipers every time you go to the track? Sick of the little spring clips flying across the garage every time you pull out the pads? Frustrated with trying to find a good place to rest your caliper while it's still attached to the brake line?

Benefits:

With the CP8350 you only have to remove one simple hex bolt on top of the caliper. That's it. Loosen, remove the old pads, and drop in the new ones. It will take you substantially longer to raise the car and remove the wheels than it will to change your pads. Swapping pads will no longer be a chore to dread on the Friday night before every event.

Some will argue that without a bridge or cross beam on the caliper, it cannot possibly be stiff. False. The caliper's forged construction and careful design ensure an incredibly stiff structure that provides the firmest pedal feel with minimum flex.

http://www.essexparts.com/shop/competition-brake-calipers/ap-racing-cp8350-caliper.html

I'm sure you're aware that AP Racing is one of the most reputable brake manufacturers in the world, right?

 

[JJThrasher]

Most Brembo calipers look like this....

Now how is that pad getting out of there? Regardless, how are you going to get the rotor off with the caliper on it?

Even the ones without the bridge on top, the pads have lock tabs preventing them from coming out the top. Which is the style we run on our FD car.

Quit trying to be lazy, its two damn bolts to do the job right.

 

[wjamyers]

no thanks.

 

[Steve_P]

Brembo calipers on a mitsubishi Evo, and I also think Subaru STI, do not have to be removed to change pads. Pull two pins and the pads pop out the top. They do not have the bridge on the top like the one in the picture above.

 

[Nanashi]

You can do it on Toyota truck calipers just fine. I think the new-ish Lisle spreader (with the 2 'pads' that stick out) are practically designed for just that design.

Lol I tried this exact comment on the last 4runner brake job I did. Instead of removing the caliper I slid the blue point brake spreader in there to compress the pistons. The blue point brake tool is the same as the lisle unit, an exact clone it looks like. Anyway I ran in too two problems, the brake spreader is actually kind of wide even when fully compressed so I ended up spreading the prisons with a pry bar first just to get the spreader in the caliper. Next issue I had was I couldn't get the spreader all the way in so i ended up compressing one piston at a time. Lol needless to say I just pulled the second caliper off instead of messing around. So no the lisle brake spreader is not designed for this purpose. I do like the brake tool though it works fast and easy. I only have two complaints. One you need to apply pressure to the spreader until it catches in the caliper. I usually end up pushing on it with the same hand that's holding the caliper so the other hand can ratchet. Its a funky process. The other issue I have is there are times when the spreader is to fat and you need to use something smaller or use a pry bar at first to get the pads opened up first.

Edit: to clarify the tool I'm talking about is the one that ratchets to spread open not the gun style.

 

[MattPersman]

Brembo calipers on a mitsubishi Evo, and I also think Subaru STI, do not have to be removed to change pads. Pull two pins and the pads pop out the top. They do not have the bridge on the top like the one in the picture above.

The SRT cars/SUV do not have the bridge either you can pop pads in and out all day just like Tundras and Sequoias

 

[PhilMeUp]

For Brembo and other monoblock calipers the GiroDisc Pad Spreader is the ultimate. It fits into a 6 or 4 piston caliper perfectly.

http://www.girodisc.com/Caliper-piston-spreader_p_5970.html
http://features.evolutionm.net/article.php?id=93
http://www.zeckhausen.com/Tools/caliper_piston_spreader.htm

I find that the easiest way to start pushing the pistons back in is to apply the GiroDisc pad spreader to the outer parts of the pads (ie before removing then).

Once the pads have been pushed back a bit, they can easily be removed. Then the GiroDisc Pad Spreader will easily push all 4 or 6 pistons back in as far as they’ll go.

However, this thing costs a small fortune.

I bought another Disc Brake Pad Spreader some time ago and it’s proven to be extremely useful when doing anything to do with brakes. It’s relatively small and fits in the toolbox, and pushes brake pistons back in easily.

Details for people in Australia:
Radum: http://www.radum.com.au
Stock Number: RDM-BM94-4062
Current Price: $27.00 (including GST)
Link: http://radum.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=8685

Alternatively, do a search for “brake pad spreader” on www.aliexpress.com

Here it is being used on a twin piston front caliper. I’ve positioned the spreader partially over the two pistons to push them both back in at the same time.

 

[bimmerTEK]

Kastar is what I have and will do most brakes but many benz and euro techs use this http://www.ebay.com/itm/310941687425?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649

 

[nicksnothereman]

What do you guys use for brake spreaders? Most of the time a G clamp will probably do the job. I've been looking at getting something a bit better than that, but the Hazet speciality tools are a bit pricey.

So I was thinking if making my own. Long bolt through a nut welded to a backing plate and a swivel nut at the end. Anybody else made something like this?

Btw, how many pistons wind back vs. just push back in?

Old pad and a c clamp. We do it dirty here with the push in pistons man. At least...I do.

Specialty tool? Only for the "screw" ins. Just get a set for what you're working on (i think "OTC" has fairly cheap complete sets for around 50 bucks), better than using say...needlenose pliers. If you're just working on your car just get what you need.

 

[Krokodil]

I've actually ended up making one myself. Will post a pic later.

 

[mroneeyedboh]

Little hijack here:


My 2006 f250 has dual piston front and rear, which tool should I end up buying? Id also like to get one for my wifes 2005 sentra which has single front and single rear..

Although her sentra looks to have those screw in calipers? That would warrant the HF brake kit.. right?

 

[Darius6t9]

05 sentra has push in pistons. I have the dual piston compressor. Use it on both dual piston calipers and single. I still need to get the twist in tools. The caravans and town and country's have twist in pistons.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Little hijack here:


My 2006 f250 has dual piston front and rear, which tool should I end up buying? Id also like to get one for my wifes 2005 sentra which has single front and single rear..

Although her sentra looks to have those screw in calipers? That would warrant the HF brake kit.. right?

Craftsman makes one for the dual piston Ford calipers. I bought it, but haven't used it yet. Seems well built.

 

[mrborohachi]

KTC japan pad spreader

http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/mutsuura/item/10013669/
^that's a Nissan 300zx 4 pot caliper

Datsun-kentigo on e-bay used to stock that one, he's actually how i bought mine. And there is the smaller size just like the last pic in PhilMeUp's post

 

[Canadian Charlie]

I have a Snap On set I got off eBay

 

[90zcar]

Just got this today off the snap on truck



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CobraRed]

http://www.harborfreight.com/18-piece-disc-brake-pad-and-caliper-service-tool-kit-69053.html

Which is a copy of this even though this is cheaper:

http://www.amazon.com/Astro-Pneumatic-78618-Caliper-Tool/dp/B002RDGMNM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403897412&sr=8-1&keywords=astro+brake+caliper

 

[mroneeyedboh]

Craftsman makes one for the dual piston Ford calipers. I bought it, but haven't used it yet. Seems well built.

Which one?

http://www.craftsman.com/search=brake tools

Can the same one be used on my wife's 2006 sentra