Paul Simon
New member
I've been attempting to change the rear pads on my sister's 53 reg 1.6 Stilo (only about 40k miles) over the past 2 days. It's turned into a nightmare, and I'm hoping to get some advice here.
First of all, I'm aware that the caliper piston has to be turned while applying pressure, that the offside needs to be turned clockwise and the near side needs to be turned anti-clockwise. I've been using the Draper cube shown here at post #17 .
Here's what I've done;
1. Safely raised the rear of the car (handbrake off, wheel nuts loosened) and mounted on axle stands.
2. Loosened the handbrake cable and unfastened the cables from the handbrake mechanisms on the calipers.
3. Removed the 17mm bolts securing the caliper to the hub and removed the pads from the caliper.
4. Removed the brake discs.
5. Re-attached the brake caliper (to hold it in place whilst using the cube).
and what happened;
Offside
1. Initially, I couldn't get the caliper (with pads still inside) to come off the disc, so I left it and went to work on the near side.
2. I returned to the offside, and found that the handbrake mechanism was seized, so applied Plus Gas, hit it a few times and worked it free. The caliper then came away from the disc (confirming that the handbrake mechanism had indeed seized).
3. I then used the cube to wind the piston in clockwise. It was very stiff, but the main problem was that the rubber seal around the piston wasn't sliding on the piston's groove as I turned the piston (I tried turning the piston in the opposite direction to free it) and it has twisted itself off the piston, and that's where I left the job today.
Nearside
1. The caliper and pads released from this side with some persuasion, but not easily.
2. I lubricated the handbrake mechanism attached to the caliper and it was free.
3. I wound the piston in anti-clockwise with the cube reasonably easily.
4. As Deckchair found, I needed 40mm (minimum) to get the caliper and pads back onto the disk. The piston stopped winding in at 36mm. I tried winding it back out a little (came out easily) and then back in, but no, it wouldn't go any further in, again leaving me with a clearance of only 36mm. I even tried reattaching the caliper with the inside pad inserted to check that there wouldn't be sufficient room to get the outside pad in. That's where I've left the nearside.
Can anyone help?
First of all, I'm aware that the caliper piston has to be turned while applying pressure, that the offside needs to be turned clockwise and the near side needs to be turned anti-clockwise. I've been using the Draper cube shown here at post #17 .
Here's what I've done;
1. Safely raised the rear of the car (handbrake off, wheel nuts loosened) and mounted on axle stands.
2. Loosened the handbrake cable and unfastened the cables from the handbrake mechanisms on the calipers.
3. Removed the 17mm bolts securing the caliper to the hub and removed the pads from the caliper.
4. Removed the brake discs.
5. Re-attached the brake caliper (to hold it in place whilst using the cube).
and what happened;
Offside
1. Initially, I couldn't get the caliper (with pads still inside) to come off the disc, so I left it and went to work on the near side.
2. I returned to the offside, and found that the handbrake mechanism was seized, so applied Plus Gas, hit it a few times and worked it free. The caliper then came away from the disc (confirming that the handbrake mechanism had indeed seized).
3. I then used the cube to wind the piston in clockwise. It was very stiff, but the main problem was that the rubber seal around the piston wasn't sliding on the piston's groove as I turned the piston (I tried turning the piston in the opposite direction to free it) and it has twisted itself off the piston, and that's where I left the job today.
Nearside
1. The caliper and pads released from this side with some persuasion, but not easily.
2. I lubricated the handbrake mechanism attached to the caliper and it was free.
3. I wound the piston in anti-clockwise with the cube reasonably easily.
4. As Deckchair found, I needed 40mm (minimum) to get the caliper and pads back onto the disk. The piston stopped winding in at 36mm. I tried winding it back out a little (came out easily) and then back in, but no, it wouldn't go any further in, again leaving me with a clearance of only 36mm. I even tried reattaching the caliper with the inside pad inserted to check that there wouldn't be sufficient room to get the outside pad in. That's where I've left the nearside.
Can anyone help?