Technical Bloody Rear brakes

Currently reading:
Technical Bloody Rear brakes

hey; i just used the tips in this forum to do my rear brakes (FINALLY GOT THE DAMN PISTONS IN). And I know that the brakes are working, but not sure if it's JUST the front working, or the back as well.

What makes me question is that now my e-brake isn't working. Like, not at all.... I climbed under the car and adjusted the tension to about as high as I could (way more then where it was at before I started the brake job.)

Any tips?
 
Are the rear brakes working at all? Jack the rear end up, spin a wheel and apply the brakes. At least you can check whether the caliper is working at all or whether it's seized

The pads need to be pushed up to the discs by the hydraulics and be touching the disc for the hand brake (e brake) to work. Once your footbrake is working properly on the rears THEN connect and adjust the handbrake
 
Last edited:
Are the rear brakes working at all? Jack the rear end up, spin a wheel and apply the brakes. At least you can check whether the caliper is working at all or whether it's seized

The pads need to be pushed up to the discs by the hydraulics and be touching the disc for the hand brake (e brake) to work. Once your footbrake is working properly on the rears THEN connect and adjust the handbrake

i don't know, but this has been brought up. i'm gonna figure out how to jack the back end up today, put it on some blocks, and test the rear brakes.

if the caliper is seized, can that be repaired or do i buy new calipers?


and THANK YOU for your help! this is my first major job on my car and has been rather daunting but super fun.
 
i'm gonna figure out how to jack the back end up today, put it on some blocks, and test the rear brakes.

Just remember that your car is front wheel drive ..so putting it into gear wont make the back wheels turn ..but could have disastrous results if you try to :eek:
 
Old thread I know and many good answers, but I thought I'd add that when me and my mate George did my rear brakes we found it quite easy with a rewind tool from Blue point. Blue point is basically snap-on gear, but in blue cases not red. It comes with all the different plates, so you do any car, and also 2 winders, 1 clockwise, 1 anti-clockwise. A cracking piece of kit, but sadly quite difficult to track down, or at least it is on-line.
 
I can understand your frustration Joe have you got a large G clamp and a pair of plumbers pipe grips if so take the caliper off its mounting and support it on the disc[cover the disc with something so you dont damage it] then with the G clamp tighten down on the piston a little and the with the grips turn the piston you do need to put some pressure on the piston for it to go in and then repeat the process again screw down with the G clamp and give the piston another turn anticlockwise and slowly but surely you will find it will retract, When its down make sure the piston is in the correct position for the pads to slot in, this is how I did mine just make sure if you do it this way you dont damage the rubber piston seal with the grips these pistons need a fair bit of pushing and don't just screw in easily try it you have nothing to lose.

The only problem I found with the passenger rear side caliper winding back with the way I did it is the G clamp winds clockwise and the piston anti clockwise so its a little fiddly I have been trying to get hold of a G clamp that winds anti clockwise like on the continent but havn't been able to source one if anyone know where I can get one please let me know its not that often we need to change our pads but winding the clamp and the piston the same way does help :rolleyes: and saves considerable cost in buying the kit which includes both thrust bolts £90 :eek:

RESULT- thank you. Did mine tonight in just over 2 hours. The G clamp I used was an engineering one (very robust with proper swivel head so rotation of thread was immaterial) and a think pair of vice grips. That's it now, front last night, rears tonight. Any difference - NO. Not with my right foot anyway. I have the Abarth and, some of you already know, following an accident a couple of years ago lost the tchiatic nerve in my right leg (numbed sentation and loss of power). OK then, tried braking with my left foot, bugger me nearly went through the windscreen :devil:
 
Back
Top