looks like I need to make room for another tool

Don-Wi

Well-known Member
I did the rear brakes on my '03 passat- gotta screw in the caliper piston because it's got the parking brake built in. Was a PITA with a channel locks, and I gotta do the same thing to my wife's '10 town & country. Think I'll spring for the tool before I tackle hers. Wasn't a bad job overall, I just know it'll go easier with the right tool.

Hardest part was getting the front drivers side wheel off so I could rotate the tires while I was at it. Had all the bolts out and it was stuck tight to the rotor. Took a few good whacks with a chunk of 2x10 I had laying around, because I broke my deadblow beating on it.

http://www.harborfreight.com/disc-brake-pad-and-caliper-service-tool-kit-pc-61381.html

Has (3) 5 star reviews, and it's 1/2 price of what O'reilley's has one advertised for.

Donovan from Wisconsin
 
Glad you got it done. Having the right tools can be a GREAT help :)
If a car wheel appears stuck to the hub, I reinsert the wheel bolts (or thread on the nuts) hand tight. Slowly drive one or two full circles in the yard. Has never failed on me.
 
Donovan, I mentioned in an earlier post that I believe that the Harbor Freight reviews are legitimate, and dr sportster commented that that was his impression too. The dr is no fool, and he pays pretty close attention. I do my best not to be gullible like I was when I was young, so that's two in favor. Of course, reviews can be completely legitimate and the people making the reviews can still be wrong, but it's a start.

Stan
 
I depend a whole lot more on touch and feel than
those reviews and when I screw up I take them back
and politely tell HF where they may place them.
That being said I have that set and the quality is
decent enough on mine for the occasional use it
gets.
 
I have a set not HF I see no reason why that tool should not get'er done... You will be impressed once to get a handle on how to keep it adjusted up as you go... DO NOT let the boot for the piston bind up are you will tear it...

As for your stuck wheel that's common clean and lube the center...
Most all cars will stick its the nature of the beast but euro's seam to be the worst....

If one runs into a rear like that and can not get the caliper off you will need to take a grinder and knock off the ware ridge enough so you can slip the caliper and sometimes just to get the brake pad ware sensor out of the pad...

On euro's I try my best to locate these pads... Advance Auto has started to stock'em at there Hub stores and in the warehouse...

http://akebonobrakes.com/
 
Buy the tool. Cast wheels seem to attach themselves to brake drums and rotors. i paint the contact surfaces with anti-seize to help keep this from happening.
 
Glad to hear atleast one of you guys has the hf version. Their muffler expander I bought last year was poor at best buy it for the job done once. Could probably get it to do the job once more if I had to...

As far as the wheel,I was ready to drive around with the bolts loose but I gave her a few more good whacks and it came off. First time I've ever had a wheel stick so hard on this car. Put almost 100,000 miles on if.

Donovan from Wisconsin
 
I have one of those tools. It actually works quite well, and is a great help in retracting the caliper pistons on the rear brakes with the integrated parking brake.
There is one weak point. There is a roll pin in the tool that has a tendency to break off. I had to replace mine a couple of times. Possibly by now they may have revised the tool to either eliminate that or strengthen it.
 

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