Brake Caliper e-brake siezed? (Page 1/1)
robmox JUN 14, 12:52 PM
I thought I’d do a quick brake job today. I got the pads and rotor off in about 40 minutes. Then, I tried to squish my caliper with a c-clamp, and I turned the c-clamp so hard, the clamp was bending.

I came to realize it was the e-brake cable that was preventing me from squishing the caliper piston in. I took the cable off, removed the cable bracket, now the piston is fully extended and when I turn the nut for the cable bracket, the nut goes inside the caliper and brake fluid leaks out the back of the caliper (because the nut is no longer stopping the fluid). How do I pull in the e-brake assembly? I can no longer use a clamp because there’s nothing to turn it from.
Vintage-Nut JUN 14, 02:02 PM
Firstly, always include the year, model and engine when asking help....

Second, maybe you damaged the caliper by forcing the piston without removing the parking brake bracket AND protecting the brake screw.

Without the e-brake bracket, push the piston into the caliper WITHOUT touching or clamping on the e-brake screw!
Hold the piston fully in and you'll see that the e-brake screw will seat.
Put the thin plastic washer, seal, bracket and the nut to hold the piston.

When turning the parking brake bracket back and forth, the piston must move out to the rotor and must move back into the caliper.
If the piston won’t go back into the caliper, only out/forward to the rotor, then you have a 'bad' caliper
Mickey_Moose JUN 14, 02:40 PM
The rear caliper pistons do not just push in, the pistons have to be rotated while pressing them in. Turn the nut as you have only turns the worm gear for the ebrake further into the piston. Doing this may have damaged the outer seal - you can try pushing the piston back into the caliper to seat the ebrake nut again. If the seal isn't damaged then all you will need to do is finish properly pressing the piston in (while turning it), clean the assembly all up and put it all back together. You will also now most likely need to bleed that caliper to make sure no air got inside. You may also have to reset the parking brake position.

[This message has been edited by Mickey_Moose (edited 06-14-2023).]

robmox JUN 14, 03:57 PM
Okay, so I had to simultaneously clap the caliper piston and turn the e-brake cable nut counter clockwise at the same time. Hooray.
Vintage-Nut JUN 14, 04:30 PM
If you're using the rotation method to retract the piston:
Counterclockwise on the Driver Side
Clockwise on the Passenger Side

But to me, I worry about tearing the dust seal; I used the 'push' method on my '88 brake pistons.....
sanderson231 JUN 14, 09:59 PM
If you cut a part a brake caliper it is fairly obvious that the you have to remove the e-brake lever and then rotate the shaft with a wrench at the same you press on the piston with a clamp.

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formerly known as sanderson
1984 Quad 4
1886 SE 2.8L
1988 4.9L Cadillac
1988 3800 Supercharged

theogre JUN 15, 01:48 AM
You Remove the Level Before using the Clamp.

Rotate "method" is Crap for this and can cause More problems. Plus will Not work w/ bolt in the shell.

Carefully grab the bolt w/ something small and rotate it to stop leaking and make sure it aligns the hidden seal before clamp is used.

See https://web.archive.org/web...cast.net/~fierocave/ rear brakes

Now because can't follow directions from GM and others... will need to bleed and many bleeders are "rust welded" to Aluminum shell and break.

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

sanderson231 JUN 15, 05:12 PM
Just got done working on a caliper off the car. I have a tool that fits inside the caliper and pushes on the piston. With the e-brake lever removed that tool would absolutely not push the piston back in the bore. The only way to press the piston in was to apply force with tool and then rotate e-brake screw with a wrench. Maybe in theory the pistons can rotate while applying force to the piston so the piston goes back in. Sure didn't happen with the caliper I worked on. When I backed off the screw the piston slid in easily so it wasn't like something was seized.

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formerly known as sanderson
1984 Quad 4
1886 SE 2.8L
1988 4.9L Cadillac
1988 3800 Supercharged