The best caliper piston tool

[signcrafter]

Came to realize I don't have a good tool to push the pistons back in on dual piston calipers. I have a lisle caulk gun type spreader that works good for single pistons, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009OR8V6/?tag=atomicindus08-20. I also have a blue point set for the pistons that you have to wind back in. But nothing for dual piston calipers.

So need to pick something up. From looking my options are to get another lisle caulk gun type made for dual piston calipers, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002SQUTU/?tag=atomicindus08-20 for just under 40 bucks. Or get the lang tool like this for 50 bucks, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0079GQKDE/?tag=atomicindus08-20.

Any other ones worth looking at? If you were in my position and already had one lisle caulk gun type for single piston would you get the other lisle one for dual pistons or would you get the lang or something else all together?

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

Just use a cheapie like this. You can just leave the old inner brake pad in while you use the tool.

You can even use a c clamp between the old inner pad and the back of the caliper.

There is no need to spend $40-50 on a tool for this. That's crazy talk.

I got by for years using only C clamps. I did buy a kit with 10-15 pieces at one point but I no longer have that and I did buy the cheapie I linked at the beginning of this post. It works fine. Not enough length on the threads for some calipers without using the old brake pad, but you can either use the old brake pad or use something like a socket to extend the reach, so it's no problem.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... I use a couple of C-clamps, or a pair of these,...

 

[WhiffySpark]

Just use a cheapie like this. You can just leave the old inner brake pad in while you use the tool.

You can even use a c clamp between the old inner pad and the back of the caliper.

There is no need to spend $40-50 on a tool for this. That's crazy talk.

I got by for years using only C clamps. I did buy a kit with 10-15 pieces at one point but I no longer have that and I did buy the cheapie I linked at the beginning of this post. It works fine. Not enough length on the threads for some calipers without using the old brake pad, but you can either use the old brake pad or use something like a socket to extend the reach, so it's no problem.

That doesn't work good on 4 piston calipers

I use a c clamp on reg calipers. A pry bar on 4 positions before I take them off.

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

That doesn't work good on 4 piston calipers

I use a c clamp on reg calipers. A pry bar on 4 positions before I take them off.

Yeah, that's probably true, but I've only dealt with 1 and 2 piston ones. OP has a 2 piston, not 4, so he's fine. But yeah, you make a valid case that a better tool can be useful in some situations.

Edit: The tool I linked could still be made to work well with 4 piston calipers, though, if you use 2 equal-length sockets (other tools would work for this as well) in the outer pistons which the "plate" of the tool can catch on and use the old inner brake pad for the other end of the tool to push on. The sockets would make the plate push on the inside of the pistons rather than the outside (where it could potentially rip the seals and cause a caliper rebuild to be required) and the old brake pad on the inside would spread the load properly since brake pads are built to not rip the piston seals. Would still be fine for a once-in-a-while solution, though a professional mechanic would probably want to just get a tool more suitable for the job simply to save themselves time.

 

[Buckgnarly]

I have the Lang, very happy with it for two piston. Did not work on a Grand Cherokee rear caliper, too big, but works great on all fronts I have run into.

 

[dnschmidt]

I sell one from TOPTUL that should work. Here's a picture of it and a link to TOPTUL's website: http://www.toptul.com/style/frame/t...id=92173&content_set=color_4&pageName=product.

The lisle tool might be the best but you need three of them. One for single piston, one for dual piston and one for four piston. As the dual and quad versions are too big to be used for anything other than dual or quad. I've used this successfully using the old pads as force spreaders.

 

[K-Dog]

this one does the trick for me.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002SQUHW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Do one initial spread with the old pads. Stick in the new pads, spread a little more, boom. Done.

 

[shockwave]

Had the best luck with just cheap lisle threaded single piston much easier than the bulky trigger type

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

they all work.

 

[RedRabbit]

Dont use a c clamp. they can damage the pistons. I have an old blue point set but a hf would work just as well.

 

[chris142]

Ayuh,.... I use a couple of C-clamps, or a pair of these,...

That's what I have used for decades

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

I use old pad as guard/guide. I never touch the piston itself.

 

[WhiffySpark]

I don't honk you guys understand what he is taking about. I believe he is talking about calipers with positions on the inboard and outboard side.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Dont use a c clamp. they can damage the pistons. I have an old blue point set but a hf would work just as well.

The trick is to use it before you take the caliper off. I push them back with a c clamp because it will verify both the piston and slides aren't locked up

 

[Holzarbeiter]

I use the lang style, been very happy with it, Matco, Snap-on and Cornwell all sell that style for about the same money

 

[Tanro]

I use the lang style, been very happy with it, Matco, Snap-on and Cornwell all sell that style for about the same money

This.

Favorite tool truck purchase this year. Got a blue point because no snap on green exists

 

[TT54l32v]

Pro here that does quite a few brake jobs a week. Say 10-20 on good weeks. I use the Lisle dual on duals and singles about 90% of the time it works just fine on singles. Double screwdriver on 4 pistons.

With the dual tool on singles just put it on one side, mash and if it doesnt move, swap it to the other side and it usually just goes right on in. May have to swap it to the other side after a few pumps. If it doesnt work I borrow the threaded push style from the other mechanic. He borrows mine about the same amount.

 

[Indexmill]

Dont use a c clamp. they can damage the pistons. I have an old blue point set but a hf would work just as well.

Nonsense. Just pay attention to what you are doing.

 

[jsaw]

Ayuh,.... I use a couple of C-clamps, or a pair of these,...

That is what I use most of the time

 

[RedRabbit]

Nonsense. Just pay attention to what you are doing.

If the rear brakes have the parking brake attached, then you must rotate the piston to push it back, not just push it. Trust me I did this on a Mercedes AMG.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Came to realize I don't have a good tool to push the pistons back in on dual piston calipers. I have a lisle caulk gun type spreader that works good for single pistons, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009OR8V6/?tag=atomicindus08-20. I also have a blue point set for the pistons that you have to wind back in. But nothing for dual piston calipers.

So need to pick something up. From looking my options are to get another lisle caulk gun type made for dual piston calipers, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002SQUTU/?tag=atomicindus08-20 for just under 40 bucks. Or get the lang tool like this for 50 bucks, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0079GQKDE/?tag=atomicindus08-20.

Any other ones worth looking at? If you were in my position and already had one lisle caulk gun type for single piston would you get the other lisle one for dual pistons or would you get the lang or something else all together?

I use one of these for dual piston calipers. http://www.searsoutlet.com/Heavy-Du...s/d/product_details.jsp?pid=15130&mode=seeAll

They are on sale for $15 at sears right now. They are usually around $20

 

[rixtrix1]

I use a Lisle 25 750 every day at work on dual and single piston calipers. Mine is 2 years old and works as good as the day I bought it. I am an ASE Certified Master auto technician and have been for 32 years. This a great tool and super simple to use

 

[WhiffySpark]

If the rear brakes have the parking brake attached, then you must rotate the piston to push it back, not just push it. Trust me I did this on a Mercedes AMG.

That comes down to paying attention to what you're doing. Normal calipers a c clamp is fine.

I either use the cube on a sunex kit for wind backs. I still haven't briught the pneumatic kit

Some ford and vw you have to use a scan tool to be able to wind them back