Changing S14 rear brake pads

[jessetang]

I ran into a problem where I could not push the rear piston back in. I got a thing from Auto Zone where they said you need to turn it clockwise to push the piston back in. But that key seems not fit. Which key do you guys uses? I really need to change them out. The pads on the car is about 1/3 left from the ones that I bought new.

Thank you`Jesse Tang

I posted this on both the brake and general forums so I can finish this quick.

[95Zenki]

I had the same problem. You have the screw the pistons back in. I got the key from Advance autoparts They have like 6 different kinds of options on the key. The one with four different nubs on the key is the one for the 240. One of mine turned pretty easy but the other one was a pain. Then there is the challenge of putting the pads back in the calipers with the clips in place. I hated the process so much that the next time I have to change pads I am going to buy aftermarked calipers for the rear. Good luck.

[kireiS14]

my rear passenger side piston was stuck and my inside pad wore quick and scraped the bejesus out of my rotor.we didn't have the key, so my friend just used channel locks to turn them. It's been over a month, been through 2 drift events, and they're fine.

[0wn3r]

i used needle nose pliers to put em back in. slippery and probably not the best method out there, but it worked.

if you tried really hard to push them back in without turning, you may have messed em up. just try turning them one way or the other... and make sure you bled your brakes some and leave the cap off, it'll probably make it easier.

[tig488]

so what happens when you turn and turn the piston but it doesnt go back in any? thats what mine is doing.

[0wn3r]

so what happens when you turn and turn the piston but it doesnt go back in any? thats what mine is doing.

try spinning it the other way... i know mine seemed to take awhile to set with just the needle nose :P

[tig488]

its weird because when i try it the other way, it backs out, but it gets to a point where it wont go in any farther, the other side went all the way in with only 5 turns.

[574-240sx]

If they don't turn back in fairly easy its time to get new calipers or rebuild your current ones.
Modified by 574-240sx at 3:13 AM 4/18/2007

[hannibal]

Ive never done pads of an S14, but what cant you jush push them back in like other calipers??

[chandler]

I have a tool from MAC tools that uses a threaded rod inside a counter threaded rod and you turn one clockwise to turn the piston and you turn the other counter clockwise to push it back in, works wonders.

but I do this for a living and can justify spending 3bills on a tool like that.

[0wn3r]

Ive never done pads of an S14, but what cant you jush push them back in like other calipers??

no, the rears need to be spun back in. the fronts you can push in.

[hai1206vn]

Maybe the rubber boot is holding the piston and makes it difficult to turn. If so you'll need to retract the boot (I had a friend hold it down while I turned the piston). Needlenose pliers should be good for the rear.

[AmoebAssassin]

It is correct that on ALL S-chassis cars, the rear calipers need the pistons to be screwed in clockwise to retract into the caliper body. On the FRONT of the S-chassis, and on all Z32 brakes, the pistons can be compressed into the shock body without twisting.

I used needle nose pliers to do it on my car. It is annoying as hell, time-consuming, and i pinched my fingers painfully a lot.

If your caliper is giving you this much trouble, there is a good chance it needs to be rebuilt.