1985 rear brake calipers

[Andyhawes777]

Started a routine service of my Pinninfarina January 2011. Has been sitting up on stands ever since ! Just could not get the brake pistons to return into the caliper even if I opened the bleed nipple, hand brake is off. ???

Do I need new calipers, why arent they going back in.?

If any one has had experience of this could you put me out of my misery.

Andy

[narfire]

Pull the handbrake lever. Take a look at the cam lever on the calipers. Release the handbrake and have a look again at the cam lever....move at all? Perhaps some moisture had got into the mechanical emerg brake system and is a bit siezed.
Might have to take them to a bench and take apart and re-build, really not a bad thing regardless, perhaps an hour tops if everything goes smoothly

[azruss]

put a c-clamp on the piston and get it to retract that way. may just be stuck a little.

[jsab]

I thought that the pistons on the rear calipers screw in, clockwise.

[spiderrey]

I thought they screwed in too.

[narfire]

They do screw in when the e brake is applied. Then the spring washers unscrew the rod/piston when the handbrake is let off.

[spiderrey]

So, yur saying they should just compress?

[maytag]

They do screw in when the e brake is applied. Then the spring washers unscrew the rod/piston when the handbrake is let off.

I'm actually frustrating with the same D^*N thing myself this evening. (mine are on a '76.)

So Narfire, are you suggesting that the only way to get them to screw all the way in is to apply the 'e-brake first? that seems counter-intuitive to me.

They clearly screw-in, and compress as well. both must apply. And yet, with a c-clamp having compressed it completely, and then screwing it down all the way, I still can't get the new rotor and new pads to fit into the caliper.

what am I missing?

[spiderrey]

Are you sure you have the right pads? Fronts dont fit on the rear. The piston fully compressed should be flush with the caliper.

[dmwhiteoak]

I acually had to rebuild one of mine to get it to compress. I had no problem with the pass. side but the dr would only go so far. I ruined a caliper compresion tool trying to get it in. Never did see what was holding it out tho.

[maytag]

Are you sure you have the right pads? Fronts dont fit on the rear. The piston fully compressed should be flush with the caliper.

ok... no. I'm not sure. they "fit" into the holder. But are you saying they are thicker? I didn't even think to check that. SUNNUVA!!!

But the piston is not flush with the caliper. it is raised approx 1/8" from the body of the caliper.

[narfire]

perhaps I mis read the original post. Handbrake is on- the cam is engaged and that will push the piston out. Release and the piston pulls back off the brake pads because of the washer springs.If the pads were still tight after releasing the handbrake, I was guessing the guts might have had moisture inside and siezed the washer springs or something. I will use a piece of flatbar or a big file to continue to screw the piston back in when replacing the rear pads. Make sure the line on the piston is at the top before final assembly. The rear pads have a "lug" on them that fits into the slot on the piston.
IAP has a tech bulletin on the rear brakes that might help as well.
Sorry if I caused any confusion.

[124JOE]

if ant one is doing this with the car in the air
you MUST support the rear axle
not the body
or it wont go
mabey with the bleader screw loose

[Andyhawes777]

Thanks to all of you for your feed back, clearly opened a can of worms !

It's good to know you guys are out there...

All the best

andy

[124JOE]

so is it "all good" with them yet?
this goes to andy and maytag
also andy,you have a 85?
is it 85.5 with rack and pinion?
how long have you had it?
can you post some pics?

i had to ask