Sierra Rear Calipers

[Rory's Dad]

I have Sierra calipers of the back of my Westy and they are pretty ineffective. The discs are only slightly polished and the pads, now I've got them out, are glazed. All in all a bit of a mess. I've got some new pads and Kevin Jones has given me some newish disks (thanks again Kevin) and I've bought a wind back tool.

So I got one corner to bits this afternoon and set about replacing everything. However, I cannot for the life of me wind back the piston. I've even put the caliper back on the upright so I can get some purchase on it with a 19mm spanner.

So, am I doing something wrong? Could the fact that the piston is seemingly stuck explain the state of my brakes? The hydraulics seem to be fine - no leaks or anything.

Your advice gentlemen please!

Rory's Dad

[Terry Everall]

Martin

Why do you need the wind back tool?

Surely the new pads go straight in samer way old ones came out

[Rory's Dad]

The replacement discs and new pads are fatter!!

Rory's Dad

[pete g]

you need pressure to relocate the screw ,but the tools should do this. i have only ever done it with long nose pliers.

maybe your are turn the piston the wrong way

[blue ass fly]

You should be winding clockwise and as said , the windback tool should locate on the other side of the caliper to apply the pressure

Is the piston turning as you wind

Is the handbrake cable at rest , is the lever all the way back

its not being pulled on a little while your moving the caliper around is it

You can crack the nipple a little and carefully wind back - that usually works

[Rory's Dad]

I've been reading Passion Ford etc and think I need to loosen or detach the handbrake cable toget the piston to rotate...

Rory's Dad

[SootySport]

Handbrake cable very loose, turn piston clockwise slowly whilst applying pressure, sorted.

[CharliePsycho]

I made a tool with a piece of straight steel and put pressure on the piston with a g-clamp, after I had belted the piston with a hammer to loosen it. Wound in remarkably quickly once I got some pressure on it!

[SootySport]

I made a tool with a piece of straight steel and put pressure on the piston with a g-clamp, after I had belted the piston with a hammer to loosen it. Wound in remarkably quickly once I got some pressure on it!

:o . That sounds drastic, probably a little rust around the piston lip.

[JulianE]

Once you have disconnected the handbrake cable gently pull back the rubber around the piston and spray some lubricating fluid in there , then try using the windback tool to push back . If still seized this may be why you have pretty ineffective brakes . In this instance I would put wind back tool back in but leave some slack and get an assistant to put their foot on the brake pedal and push , the windback tool will stop the piston from popping out but pressure from hydraulics should move it slightly . You generally find as soon as you get some movement it will be enough , make sure the other caliper is bolted up too otherwise you will pop that one out . As with most handbrake calipers the best way when pads are fitted is to pump the pedal out fully until hard before reconnecting the handbrake cable .

[Rory's Dad]

All sorted - see part 2 of the story here.

Thanks for all your help and advice

Rory's Dad