86 rear calipers (Page 1/3)
steve308 OCT 23, 01:53 PM
Yes I've gone through the search feature. I'm looking for the difinitive answer on retracting the pistons. Is the following correct? (1) with e-brake cable disconnected the pistons are just pushed / c- clamped in and (2) with the e-brake cable left connected the piston must be rotated back in with the drivers side being counter clockwise.

Thanks in advance
theogre OCT 23, 01:58 PM
Lever off & clamp the piston in.

https://web.archive.org/web...ierocave/brakes6.htm in rear brake section

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steve308 OCT 23, 07:30 PM
Thank you .
steve308 NOV 07, 10:13 PM
Well the rear brake job went south in a hurry. Calipers are trash. Pistons are frozen, one all the way in, one all the way out. Tried to loosen the bleeder, yep snapped one off. I was successful in breaking loose one of the brake hoses at the caliper but I called it a day before trying the other side. Tracked down a new set of calipers and ordered new hoses just in case they are needed. Wife is not happy as the FIERO is up on jackstands dead center of the garage and her prized low milage CRV is out in the cold. Looks like it will be outside for a week or so.
steve308 NOV 14, 06:19 PM
Update and help still needed. New calipers arrived. Two day shipping only took 6 1/2 days but thats another fight. Attempted to install drivers side (rear). I am unable to get the piston back in enough for the pad to clear the rotor. I've measured all components and all parts are correct. Caliper is on the bench, bleeder is out but the piston just won't push back it bottoms out as shown in the pictures. Am I missing something?




Yes e-brake arm is off.

[This message has been edited by steve308 (edited 11-14-2023).]

PhatMax NOV 14, 06:49 PM
Have you tried to gently turn the piston in ? Who did the rebuild ?
steve308 NOV 14, 07:32 PM
Caliper is brand new. In the past and as per the Ogre's reminder I''ve always just pushed the piston in. Haven't tried a 'gentle twist' because I don't want to risk causing damage and make the calipers un-returnable. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll attack it again in the morning.
Additivewalnut NOV 14, 09:40 PM
if you can't get the piston to seat all the way and are afraid of breaking them, you could return them and look into getting 80s Grand Am brakes. Makes the pedal feel a bit better and they're WAY cheaper but you lose the ebrake. Doesn't matter if you have an auto or don't mind leaving it in gear.
IMSA GT NOV 15, 12:15 AM
Are you able to just slip on the e brake cam and rotate it back and forth by hand to see if anything seats after a few cycles?
Frenchrafe NOV 15, 04:50 AM
You tried what Ogre said ? Lever off and gentle push with clamp?
If nothing, then there's something blocked in the piston.
I've rebuilt these things many times, even though most people say it can't be done!
The inner part (with thread for the lever spindle) is not seating at the bottom of the piston. You need to disassemble and check; or you just need to send the whole think back under garantee, if you don't have the time/skills to open one up.

Personnaly, I would try turning the piston in with the lever in place. It might free up the stuck part on the threads? And get the piston to go fully in. You need to push and turn at the same time.
If it just stops at the same place as in your photo, then it's rebuild or send back time. 😉

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