front brake caliper piston

lukeg5vti

Active Member
Feb 4, 2012
8
0
alright guys... im having trouble retracting the piston on the front brake caliper of my fr.. ive tried a clamp didnt want to budge ive read somewhere about threaded pistons that need to be wound back in, is this the case with the ibizas?

thanks in advance for any help, Luke..
 

Badger

Active Member
Dec 2, 2012
2,643
7
Newcastle, Staffs
Yes the piston needs to be wound back in.

Pikey Way = Pointy nosed pliers and push hard twisting clockwise.

Proper Way = Brake caliper winding tool for VAG vehicles.
 

spud31

Rail Zip User
Jul 14, 2011
404
1
not on the front there usual pistons with no threaded parts inside.
Id say new caliper as that seized
 

RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
8,134
1,135
South Scotland
Really? I tried squeezing my fronts got nothing, twisted and they went in :p

Luck?

You are sure that you are talking about FRONT BRAKE CALLIPERS, the only reason that the rear pistons need rotated is because these rear callipers include the handbrake mechanism.

Exactly how did you rotate your front calliper pistons using the correct VAG tool?
 

Badger

Active Member
Dec 2, 2012
2,643
7
Newcastle, Staffs
Definitely front calipers lol

I tried pushing the piston back with brute force and ignorance. Then I did the pikey way and the piston went back in, maybe it was just coincidence and I've learnt something new!
 

lukeg5vti

Active Member
Feb 4, 2012
8
0
I've ordered a wind back tool any way for the sake of 7 quid..I didn't have a big enough g clamp to fit round the caliper so only tried a plastic squeeze handle clamp..maybe that's where I went wrong :-/

Thanks for the advice guys
 

Crumpyz

Active Member
Jul 5, 2012
130
1
Basingstoke
I brought a wind back set for like £40 will do any car and piston size...well pretty much, loads of different adaptors. Its on cromwell tools at the moment, even comes with a left handed threaded tool for old cars too. And fronts dont need to be wound back can get push back clamps that run on a thread for like a 10er that work fine.

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Sprogpole

Active Member
Jul 20, 2012
360
1
Leicester
Just put the pads back in, then use a thick screwdriver handle to lever the pads apart.
If you take the fluid filler cap off, they should go back easy. if not, you've got a problem!.
Whatch the the fluid doesn't spill out and don't push them too fast.
 

RUM4MO

Active Member
Jun 4, 2008
8,134
1,135
South Scotland
I think that, dismissing slight rusting on the piston surface, with age, these piston seals harden and that is what makes them stiff to retract, makes me think that replacing these seals and checking and cleaning the pistons every 6 or so years might be a smart move.

For what it is worth, if your car has rear discs fitted, then buying a piston windback tool is a good idea, and, if you reverse the adaptor, you can use it to retract the front pistons - it will not grip on the piston but will just rotate over it and push the piston in - saves buying one of these spreaders or using big screwdrivers(which I have used in the past a lot!).
 
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Johnsbegood

Active Member
Sep 11, 2012
84
0
Worcester
I remember being told by a mechanic when squeezing pistons back in whether it front ones that should push straight in or the rears where they have to be wound back in its best to break a seal that may have developed between the piston and the dust seal. Sometimes after so many years with heat, dampness and cold weather they can rip when u go to push the piston back, thus allowing crap to get in and then seize the piston, this happened on mine! Use something with a fine tip like a cocktail stick or terminal screwdriver to unseal the piston. Then watch the piston rotate whilst pushing the piston in so as not to tear the seal.
 

Crumpyz

Active Member
Jul 5, 2012
130
1
Basingstoke
The pistons come out on these easy if any one was to replace the seals, just wind them out, pick the piston seal out, and take the dust seal off. The new ones go in very easily and I payed like £8 for a complete seal kit for one caliper. Worth doing imo if they are looking tatting or a bit tight.

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