Please help, I'm a bit of a novice at this maintenance business and have inavertantly pushed on the brake while the calliper was not on the disc and have now got my piston stuck out !

Any ideas/tricks to get the piston housed ???

All help/advice taken

Thanks

Keith

 

You can use a very large c-clamp. Be sure to put something between the clamp and the piston...I usually use an old brake pad. The clamp can press against the caliper body without harm.

 

Not just a novice thing. I just did it this afternoon too (pads were out as I had inspected the piston boots earlier and was about to replace the rotors), and I've been doing this for 5+ years . Mine won't go back in, so I'll just go ahead and do a full rebuild on all four calipers which was due anyway, but a PITA .

 

Thanks guys, I will give both of those ideas a try !!!

 

I had this same problem. I know this works on the rear's but I don't recall seeing it on the fronts. My friend who is a lexus mechanic pointed out to me that the piston can be screwed back in. On the backs anyway, you will notice that it has a + cut out in the center of the piston. You can stick a large screwdriver in that from the side, using it like a lever and it screws back in.. I would have never thought of that.

 

Only the rears screw in. Can get a "special" tool at about any parts store to help with the rears.

 

Just finished rebuilding a front caliper. The piston may not go back in easily even with a C-clamp if it gets cocked (even minor mis-alignment). I had problems getting the piston back in with the C-clamp even with the caliper off and after replacing the seal, so I used a small rubber mallet and tapped opposing sides of the top of the piston to get it in part way, then the C-clamp went smoothly afterwards (could have used fingers then to press it in).

On the rear piston, a 3/8" ratchet fits perfectly in the middle of the "+" for easy turning. Good alternative is a 6" or longer flat file that gives good leverage and doesn't slip..