[whitestang]

first time rear brake replacement........having problem depressing caliper piston on 97 v-6........can any body help?

[Screemin3o2]

Are there two notches on the outside edge of the piston? Most ford cars have that type of piston on the rear caliper, I'm not sure if it's that way on v6's of that year. If you don't, the don't bother reading anymore. If there is, there are a few different ways you have to do it. You might need some help of someone to hold the caliper. It's a pretty complex design behind the piston inside the caliper. I don't remember exactly how it works but I know that it deals with a nut that is threaded behind the piston for the piston to compress in. A lot of peopel think that its the piston that is threaded but it is not. When it decompresses, it acts as a normal piston by sliding right out and pressing the pads against the rotor, but when it is compressed again it has to be turned. One of the ways you can do this is pick up the actual tool that slides in the notches and is like a socket and you turn it with a ratchet. You can get a big set of needle nose pliers and put the edges of the pliers in the notches and turn it that way. You can also slide the seal back a little bit and grab the outside edge with a set of channel locks and turn it that way. Now, there will be sets of notches (lack of a better word) on the back of one of your pads also. Those notches slide in the ones on your piston. That is what keeps the piston from spinning anymore. Since you have to use those notches, you have to compress the piston exactly where the notches will fit exactly with the pad. Hoped all that helped.

[mdvaldosta]

Not sure about the back, may need that square socket tool for your ratchet like screemin said, or if it's like the front I take an old pad, lay it against the piston, and use a c-clamp and slowly push it in. I've even done it pushing by hand, but I'm not sure you've got the superhuman strength I have

[172pilot]

Can you show a link to a webpage to buy this tool, and/or tell me what it's called? I've been to two parts stores, and they give me a blank stare like I'm crazy.. Never heard of turning caliper pistons...

Thanks for the needlenose idea. I was going to try that, but now that I know it works, I'll try more than once before cussing and giving up! ;-)

[HMUSN]

Ford Tool T87P-2588-A

[mikebert]

Do you have a brake caliper compressor? Just go to Autozone and buy one.

[acehogg69]

Our rent one, but they are pretty cheap to buy.