Quality C-Clamps For Changing Brake Pads

[expfcwintergreen]

I bought about a 10 or 12 inch Craftsman C Clamp for changing brake pads but messed it up changing the pads on a 2009 Dodge Caravan.

How big does a c clamp need to be to work on sedans and passenger vans? Who sells good quality preferably American, Canadian or European c clamps?

 

[jchetty]

I prefer spending a few buck for the tool below. Cheap, reliable, and easy to use. I have used c clamps before this buying and in a pinch still will, but this one is faster, and is easier to apply more pressure to the piston..

Maybe not noticeably faster, but for $7 it is worth it. Most auto stores sell it as well

http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-24400-Disc-Brake-Spreader/dp/B0002SQU9K/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1407086117&sr=1-1&keywords=disc+pad+spreader

 

[bsaint]

Wow that's all that is? I can make that at my shop.

 

[texasfiremedic]

Use this instead:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/141245312897?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

According to the tool truck equivalents guide it is the same one snappy sells.

 

[CJM8515]

You messed it up pushing piston calipers in on a minivan? If it was truly very hard to push them back in then you have bigger problems. Ive used an 8" and a large set of channel locks before no issue. The ebay tool is nice and worth it, my buddy has one.

 

[AndrewV]

Was it a rear caliper, and was it a windback style piston?

Any larger c-clamp will work on a non windback piston.
Look up a speedy caliper depressor here.
A lang/kaster ratcheting. Piston depressor is my favorite. here.

 

[ArtDeco]

You messed up a C clamp changing brakes? You, sir, I want to party with

I had a Lumina w/rear discs that never did turn back in. POS brake system.

 

[Techie1961]

I use a steering wheel puller similar to the one in the photo. Has worked like a charm for many years.

 

[soloz2]

I've always used some cheap c clamps from HF.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

 

[ex-x-fire]

Hit the garage sales for some old ones, then newer stuff at the box stores bend.

 

[Fedwrench]

as others have mentioned, the brake pistons on a non integrated parking brake caliper shouldn't require a lot of effort to compress.

There's a whole niche market in brake piston compressing tools. Some like the linked lisle squeeze tool is quicker than the lang tool linked.

 

[MrJason]

Hit up a local pawn shop, since they've potentially got c clamp in on pawn, that they want to move quickly.

Older c-clamp mfgrs are your best bet.

 

[jim1987]

Umm


My Chinese 10" Irwin works just fine on the '84,'92,'96,'98 and ,'99 vehicles we have
.

 

[PBCampbell]

Maybe look into a forged C-clamp?

 

[383 240z]

I vote "get the right tool" Here is the one I use:
There are different heads that go on it, so you can use it on rear calipers with integrated parking brake, large single piston, or smaller single piston calipers.

It's a little heavier duty than this one:

For dual piston calipers I had to buy this one:

Keith

 

[jchetty]

The Lang is nice. I was under the impression OP wanted something relatively inexpensive. I have a bookmark of brake caliper tools that are $$.

Are you doing front or rears?

Push backs are like this- hollow

Some rears are windbacks. Some look like this, some have like a cross. If they are not hollow center and in the rear, most likely windbacks

The following are all windbacks.

 

[turmlos]

I picked up one of these when they were on sale for around $13:

Craftsman Heavy Duty Disc Pad Spreader for Single and Dual Piston Brakes

Much preferred over the cheaper plastic knobbed models

 

[retrobuilder]

I just use one of the old worn pad (steel backing plate) as a push plate over both or the single cylinders and a apply force with a 6-8" F clamp.

Never have a problem plus stiffer than many of the tools.

 

[Badattitude]

I vote "get the right tool" Here is the one I use:
There are different heads that go on it, so you can use it on rear calipers with integrated parking brake, large single piston, or smaller single piston calipers.

I have that one and found that it's easier and quicker to just take the adapter off and use it with a 6" extension and 3/8 ratchet. No messing around with a couple wrenches

 

[454ragtop]

Had one of those caliper tools as shown in the second post, not impressed, sold it. I find an 8" C clamp works much better, for the simple reason that here in the rust belt, you often need to use the clamp to get the caliper off the rotor. The ancient Cincinnati clamp I use, the swivel pad fell off, was going to put it back on, but found it actually works better as a caliper tool without it. Can often find these at flea markets or yard sales for dirt.
HTH, Jim

 

[bczygan]

I use the old inside pad and a woodworkers steel bar clamp that's laying around.

Sometimes I forget to loosen the cap on the master cylinder. That makes it much harder.

 

[Jrsixx]

Use this instead:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/141245312897?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

According to the tool truck equivalents guide it is the same one snappy sells.

Have that same one that's labeled as a Blue Point. Great tool especially for notoriously "tight" calipers, Ford trucks come to mind. For the windback style, I have an OTC kit I bought 20 years ago...works great.

 

[gungatim]

I just use my large pair of channelock pliers, the biggest one they sell. quick and easy...