Hi all, ever since i bought this Stilo (about 6 years ago now) i have always had a problem with what i assumed was a sticking caliper on the rear brakes. The problem shows up as a squeek from the rear which you could eliminate by either acceerating out of it or by dabbing the brakes.

I have asked a few tiomes now when it's been in for service for them to check it & always the answer has been they could'nt find anything wrong. Well yesterday it was making a ghastly noise, very embarassing to drive so this moring it jacked it up at the back & had a look myself - what a mess i found,

The disc lining was actually shattered in places, actually pieces of disc material missing just the base metal ! The pads though for the most part were in good shape (at least 4-5 mm thick) which came as a surprise. I removed the whole caliper/disc/pads etec & wirebrushed the backjplate etc clean.

Now then obviously new discs & pads will be going in but i'm not sure if the calipers require replacing as well . There's no fluid leaks from it but at present i'm not able to retract the piston into its chamber. Now i have done loads of brake repairs over the years but not come across ones where you need to use a special tool to retract them, usually i have been able to push them back with the handle of a hammer or something .

I have tried brute force to push it back but it just wont budge, seems solid but i saw it move outward quite smoothly when i was dismantling. Is there a way to retract it without getting this special tool (as i remeber it only does one side anyway so what do you do with the other side ?

Any help appreciated.

Graham

Yes you have to push and turn the piston the same way as rotation of the wheel in a forwards direction.

I just use a long jack handle and lean on it with my chest and then turn the caliper with pipe grips. Once you have done it once its easy as pie next time.

There is a good ebayer that sells the callipers at a very good price and brand new too.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-STIL...arParts_SM&hash=item27c0c851ab#ht_1793wt_1346

Thanks Muppet 1, sounds like a job that needs 3 hands. i will have a go at it tomorrow. Also thanks for the info regarding direction to turn, i read that as anti-clockwise for nearside then & clockwise for offside then.

That is a good price, especially when they are asking about £25 for used ones on Ebay & i would still have the problem of retracting the piston. I'm assuming new ones come ready retracted ?

Graham

Yes they do, Nice quality stuff from him and cheap but they don't look or feel cheap.
In fact I get most stuff from eBay now for my car.
Sometimes its cheaper from a local factors but not often,

Muppet1 I tried again to get the piston back in but it's no go , i reckon the caliper is shot (always been sticky) so i have bought a set of them off that company on Ebay. They guarantee next day delivery & at £86 or so a pair it's not worth messing a new set of discs & pads up for . Let you know how it goes.

Graham

Yes for the sake of that its just as well to replace them both.

They do usual retract fairly easy if they dont then they are shot i think.

Just an update on the problem .

Got the new calipers from the company you recommended muppet1, bit of a cock up witth delivery but still only took them 2 days. For some reason i had it in my mind they would be complete withthe mounting bracket but of course they were'nt & that's extra. Bit of a shame putting nice shiny calipers on the old bracket but i wire brushed it best i could. They went on nice & easy & the only awkward bit was fitting the new disc pads to the old bracket with the old clips. For some reason the new pads came with 4 new bolts for the caliper mounting but not new clips to hold the shoes, would have been better other way round in my opinion.

Anyway, got them on & bled the brakes with my Gunson Ezeebleed (first time i've ever used it ) & it was a doddle. Car now brakes well, there's no sceeching at any time & i'm convinced it's driving smoother (probably cos the brakes aren't binding. Hopefully the MPG should improve as well, thanks for your help & i can definitely recommed that supplier.

Graham