Sticky brakes

bertieduff · Post by **bertieduff** » Sun May 27, 2007 11:16 am

Got a sticky rear caliper and skint knuckles.

Can't get the piston to retract. As a result the inner pad won't come out, nor will the caliper come off as with our persuasion the piston has come out further but won't go back so the lot is jammed up

Don't think piston is totally out- no fluid leaks or nowt yet.

The manual talks of a special tool needed to screw the piston down via the two holes in it's surface. Is this required? Thought a bit of careful screwdriver leverage would be enough to force it back.

Am I missing something obvious?.

alicrozier · Post by **alicrozier** » Sun May 27, 2007 11:38 am

Piston needs to be rotated back in.

http://www.elise-faq.info/index.php?title=Pad_change

bertieduff · Post by **bertieduff** » Sun May 27, 2007 11:58 am

Cheers. When all else fails read the instructions

Post by **Shug** » Sun May 27, 2007 12:09 pm

Pair of needlenosed pliers in the holes for the piston tool and wind it in whilst pushing. Just be careful not to slip and slash the rubber boot.

Post by **simon** » Sun May 27, 2007 9:28 pm

What Shug said for winding it back in but that's no use until you get the pad out.

tut · Post by **tut** » Sun May 27, 2007 9:35 pm

Bertie

Have you tried drifting the brake pad out with a cold chisel and hammer?

tut

Post by **simon** » Sun May 27, 2007 9:37 pm

That's what I was thinking too Tut, just make sure you get the chisel on the pad backing plate and not the pad material if you want to reuse it.

jj · Post by jj » Sun May 27, 2007 10:27 pm

If you`re still struggling I could pop down for a look tomorrow evening? Only 5mins away.

Kelvin · Post by **Kelvin** » Sun May 27, 2007 11:57 pm

You can use long and strong needle nose pliers, which is what most of us use. However, there is some risk with this method. Recently I borrowed the pucka Lotus tool (a T bar with a welded disk and two tangs for the piston welded to the bottom of it) and it makes light work of winding the piston back and no risk of slipping. No doubt Lotus charge a small fortune for it.

For the future it's worth getting the car completely off the deck as it makes it easier and safer to work on the car. Removing the rear pads is then a breeze as you simply need to tap/wiggle them forward slightly and rotate the disk. I used to avoid getting the car off the ground as it seemed more hassle but it can save problems like this (as I have had the same problem as your having and resorted to a hammer
and chisel to tap it free).

Cheers
Kelvin.

bertieduff wrote:
The manual talks of a special tool needed to screw the piston down via the two holes in it's surface. Is this required? Thought a bit of careful screwdriver leverage would be enough to force it back.

Am I missing something obvious?.

bertieduff · Post by **bertieduff** » Mon May 28, 2007 1:38 pm

Thanks

Sorted with a big hammer

Easy when you know how

(Damaged the pad in our previous misguided effort unfortunately.)

Also need a piston gaiter: kit from eliseparts = £30.

MMC can do for 25p

Kelvin · Post by **Kelvin** » Wed May 30, 2007 8:22 pm

BTW I bought the Lotus piston wind back tool today (well ordered it along with lots of bolts) It's was only a deep sea diver.

robin · Post by **robin** » Wed May 30, 2007 10:37 pm

Better than the normal spit roast then ...

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Sticky brakes

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Re: Sticky brakes