My 2002 MC's rear brake caliper piston is frozen (I tried compressing it with a C-clamp, it won't budge).

I need to completely remove the caliper so I can replace it. But I see no way to disconnect the emergency brake cable. What am I missing? I feel like an idiot, but I can't see how it's done.

Any advice?

Thanks.

 

you cant compress the rear with a c-clamp because of the emergency brake. what I do is take two nice beefy screw drivers and wiggle the caliper off by prying against the rotor one on the top and one on the bottom

 

Are you turning the piston while compressing it? It won't just compress back into the caliper, it needs to be "screwed in".
Jim

 

You can also try to compress the piston whith the bleeder screw open, that way there is less resistance.

victor

 

oops! I miss read the question. Ignore the talk about screwdrivers, thats my trick for getting the caliper off the rotor. Not pushing the piston back into the bore. Autozone might have a loaner tool to spin the piston back in.

 

Can you open the master cylinder while screwing in the piston on these cars? I've done that on other cars to relieve the pressure. Just open the cap, screw in the piston and then tighten the cap. Just don't push so fast that fluid comes out. Never did it on a Mini, but have done the same thing for many many cars over the years with no problems.
Just a thought.

 

Hello all,

I did open the bleeder while trying to compress it. But, I didn't turn the piston, I just put pressure on it with a C-clamp.

The car sat for a month and when I got in it to drive it, the caliper was frozen up (i.e. pads rubbing on the rotor, wheel getting hot, smoke pouring out!). So I took a screw driver and freed it up enough to get it off and pull the pads. I tried to compress the piston to see if the caliper required replacement.

So, I need a special tool to rotate the piston as I try to compress it? Anyway around buying the tool?

Shannon

 

Which way do I rotate it? I'm assuming it's clockwise?

 

clockwise

 

You need to figure out why the piston doesn't move. you mentioned that it had set for a month. Was the piston wet" Any rust" Is the e-brake cable frozen? If everything is freely moving, then a C-clamp will rotate the piston as you compress it. Try disconnecting the e-brake cable.

Good luck.

 

Here is what I do,
I put a vacuum pump on the bleed screw, create a vacuum then crack the screw.
Take needle nose pliers and turn the piston several turns clockwise then apply pressure
with a 6” C clamp. My piston rotated while being pushed in.
When the piston is compressed close the bleeder screw.

PS but I really do want the Harbor Freight brake tool

 

The caliper is easy to remove. The ebrake cable should just pop right out of it's little holder on the sied f the caliper. I learned all of it on sunday when I did my first rear brake job.

 

Thanks for the help everyone. My mechanic loaned me the proper tool and it took about 15 minutes to do the job. I sure feel stupid... I must have spent 3 hrs trying to compress that thing!!

I still see no way to remove the e-brake from the caliper though. At least for the moment, I don't need to.