Recommendations on caliper piston compression tool
- Thread starter Bmberzins
- Start date
Uofime
Well-known member
What are you working on?
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
I use the Lisle compressors, or vise grip 11r for smaller calipers.
For twist in, I have a pneumatic tool. Previously I used a basic twist in kit from harbor freight.
For twist in, I have a pneumatic tool. Previously I used a basic twist in kit from harbor freight.
Right now a Honda Accord 6 2004. However, I have several other vehicles that I will need to use it on as well.
aka Larry
Well-known member
Single or dual piston? I have the Lisle one and works well enough.
Which pneumatic one do you use?
Uofime
Well-known member
I’d agree with 2ndGrear.
Lisle is nice
Check if you need a twist in compressor, typically on the rear and anything with electric park brake and a few other euro things.
As a tip, also get a bleeder bottle with clear line that fits your bleed fittings. Crack the fitting while compressing the pistons, it makes it a lot easier and you DO NOT want the contaminated fluid that was hanging out in the piston back in your brake system.
Also if you’re changing pads you’re probably well past due to flush the fluid anyway and you’re all hooked up to do it. For me I just go pump the brake pedal until the fluid in the bleeder bottle line is clean (after sucking the old fluid out of the reservoir and replacing with new). On all the modern cars I’ve worked on I’ve never had any issue with fluid reversion at the bleeder when pumping the pedal. That means the one person operation is enough. Motorcycles and classic stuff is frequently a different story.
For now single. Which Lisle do you have?
aka Larry
Well-known member
engineer2
Well-known member
I mostly work on Hondas and I have one of those fancy caliper piston kits. I end up using a 6" c-clamp for the fronts and the universal piston twister for the rears. The newer Honda EPB rear calipers simply push in. Don't twist them!
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have an old MAC/Proto kit like this one that I bought about 30 or so years ago. Works great and especially with the rotating piston style for the E-brake.
However, I bought this one from Lang about 6 or 8 years ago that is now my go-to compression tool.
However, I bought this one from Lang about 6 or 8 years ago that is now my go-to compression tool.
whateg01
Well-known member
I have a version from Amazon and like it a lot....
However, I bought this one from Lang about 6 or 8 years ago that is now my go-to compression tool.
bp460
Well-known member
I have the Lang tool as well.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
"16 piece pneumatic caliper windback tool" on Amazon. I believe mine is an older Ares model, it's blue. They all look about the same.
IIRC you'll need a windback tool for the rear calipers, fronts just press straight in.
I second this idea. It's not a highly technical piece of equipment and the OP said "that won't break the bank".
I also have an Amazon kit - they all look the same according to the photos. I believe mine is branded "ABN". Odds are it's the same as your Ares kit.
I've probably only used it on a half-dozen different vehicles, but every time I have it worked great. Maybe there's some outlier where you'd need a different tool, but I haven't come across it yet. It might not be equivalent to Proto or Mac, but it's the proper tool and does what it's supposed to.
In contrast, I recently bought an Amazon valve spring compressor kit. Those kits also all look identical - but the one I got was junk. I have to bend it back straight with my arbor press after every use. I don't know if all the kits are this flimsy or if the one I bought was an even lower grade that just imitates the "look" of the other cheap ones.
Rusted Nut
Well-known member
I have the Lisle 29100. Works well, quick with lots of force for stuck calipers. It’s plenty big enough for dual piston truck brakes, and you can use one end of it on motorcycle brakes.
www.lislecorp.com
29100 Quick Quad Pad Spreader
A Quick Way to Spread Brake Pads and Compress Disc Brake Pistons for Pad Replacement on Single, Double & Quad Piston Calipers.
www.lislecorp.com
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
I have the Lisle 29100. Works well, quick with lots of force for stuck calipers. It’s plenty big enough for dual piston truck brakes, and you can use one end of it on motorcycle brakes.
29100 Quick Quad Pad Spreader
A Quick Way to Spread Brake Pads and Compress Disc Brake Pistons for Pad Replacement on Single, Double & Quad Piston Calipers.
I have had zero luck with those. They never seem to get the caliper to move at all?
Firebrick43
Well-known member
If you think you will ever do modern rear disc brakes with parking brakes integrated in you should get a kit like @zmotorsports showed.
I have the Astro version and it works well
https://www.amazon.com/Astro-78618-Brake-Caliper-Tool/dp/B002RDGMNM?tag=atomicindus08-20
I have the Astro version and it works well
https://www.amazon.com/Astro-78618-Brake-Caliper-Tool/dp/B002RDGMNM?tag=atomicindus08-20
TxSteve
Well-known member
That kit looks identical to the HF version I bought.....20?....years ago. I've been able to successfully use it many times on brakes for family and friends....
I bought it originally to do brakes on an old Ford Freestyle that had the twist in calipers.
That Lang tool listed above looks interesting, but my kit works great.
I bought it originally to do brakes on an old Ford Freestyle that had the twist in calipers.
That Lang tool listed above looks interesting, but my kit works great.
Actually that is a good point. Thanks.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
I have the MAC version as well. I had no idea it was available in the Proto brand. Thanks for posting that.I have an old MAC/Proto kit like this one that I bought about 30 or so years ago. Works great and especially with the rotating piston style for the E-brake.
Rusted Nut
Well-known member
Huh. I just used it a few weeks ago on a seized F350 caliper, like seized to the point of smoking the brakes. Was going to rebuild it, but just got new ones instead.
Often opening a giant can of worms getting a bleeder loose! If it's a rusty sorta of bleeder, I'm not touching it unless I have to, and at that point understand I might be buying calipers.
Not too bad on a Honda or other small common vehicles but some of them on trucks cost a day or two of wages!
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Do you open the bleeder? Mine just flexes and skips. Maybe it's defective?
That's always quite the gamble. If fluid was changed regularly it would be a non issue. My car is getting it done this year, IIRC I also flushed it when I bought it ~3 years ago. Old, nasty, moisture filled fluid does nothing good for anyone. I see not messing with something old that has crusty calipers, but if you can, why would you not?
The only downside of compressing with the bleeder open is loosing a bit of feel for how the piston moves while retracting it.
chevy.stroker
Well-known member
You won't be disappointed. You will use the Lang on press in pistons because it is convenient and fast. The other is a good addition to your toolkit for non-press in.
chevy.stroker
Well-known member
Sorry to say, but yours is defective.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
That *****. I'd had it for years and figured Lisle just missed the mark on design.
Last few sets of brakes I've done i just pushed it into the master cylinder reservoir, sucked that out and put fresh stuff.
I know not the best way, but I wasn't going to fight with bleeders unless I have no choice.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
I basically never open them. As you said it isn't realistic in a lot of situations.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I bought the cheapest one I could find on eBay. Works fine.
428PI
Well-known member
I've only had a 6 inch C clamp. The business's always bought the other tools such as for rear calipers. No more than I'll do in my lifetime probably the little square tool that has the tips for screwing the rear caliper will work just fine. Loved the pneumatic one we had at Cmax.
chevy.stroker
Well-known member
I started with a c clamp in the 70's. Works fine until you run into quad piston calipers, or need to rewind them. Although, I have used a c clamp and channel locks to twist in a pinch.
Jeepster04
Well-known member
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Thanks! Always wanted a good kit... Was just $28 for used-like new.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
Astro/Lang/ + a lot of other copies. The ASTRO kit for the rears. For cars that don't use the wind back tool Lange also makes a mini version for the much smaller rear brakes.
rooster59
Well-known member
I’m a nut. Every spring I give the undercarriage a good hose down, + spray off the bleeders. Couple days later I crack each one. We do have road salt.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
I used to as well but needing a rewind tool anyways I bought the kit. Flip one of the big disc around so the pins are facing back towards the screw and it works great to push in standard calipers. So much so I haven't used a c clamp in years.
TxSteve
Well-known member
I never open them either unless I'm flushing the fluid. I just open the master cylinder reservoir to let air out when I'm pressing in the cylinders. Siphon out any extra that might be there...