John Cairns

Decided to do the brakes on the wife's '00 Taurus wagon. I know, big
mistake. In any event, having a hard time getting the piston spun in to
allow enough clearance for the new pads to fit. Got them in there, but there
isn't enough clearance, hub binds. The piston doesn't want to spin in,
wondering if the parking brake cable has to be unhooked from the caliper?
Any other sage advice, shortcuts for this job? Seriously considering
investing in a proper tool also, the $9 6 way adaptor that goes on a 3/8"
extension works for shit, real PITA. Thanks in advance.

John Cairns

Backyard Mechanic

"John Cairns" <jgcairns@removethis-sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Decided to do the brakes on the wife's '00 Taurus wagon. I know, big
> mistake. In any event, having a hard time getting the piston spun in
> to allow enough clearance for the new pads to fit. Got them in there,
> but there isn't enough clearance, hub binds. The piston doesn't want
> to spin in, wondering if the parking brake cable has to be unhooked
> from the caliper?

I always did... it shouldnt make a difference but, IIRC, the book said to
disconnect it.

> Any other sage advice, shortcuts for this job?
> Seriously considering investing in a proper tool also, the $9 6 way
> adaptor that goes on a 3/8" extension works for shit, real PITA.
> Thanks in advance.


And that's what I found as well, I resorted to long-nose pliers, of all
things.

The real shortcut is to get rebuilt calipers. Difficulty retracting
means the same thing there as on the front... contamination quite
possible.

--
Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!

johanb

I have seen people take the rotor off and reinstall the caliper back so they
could apply more force



"John Cairns" <jgcairns@removethis-sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:hADuf.46824$q%.3968@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com...
> Decided to do the brakes on the wife's '00 Taurus wagon. I know, big
> mistake. In any event, having a hard time getting the piston spun in to
> allow enough clearance for the new pads to fit. Got them in there, but
there
> isn't enough clearance, hub binds. The piston doesn't want to spin in,
> wondering if the parking brake cable has to be unhooked from the caliper?
> Any other sage advice, shortcuts for this job? Seriously considering
> investing in a proper tool also, the $9 6 way adaptor that goes on a 3/8"
> extension works for shit, real PITA. Thanks in advance.
>
> John Cairns
>
>

John Cairns

"johanb" <ollieb1oREMOVE@THIScs.com> wrote in message
news:eDFuf.41$xX3.14619@news.uswest.net...
>I have seen people take the rotor off and reinstall the caliper back so
>they
> could apply more force

I found a "proper" tool for the job locally, and will try removing the
parking brake cable from the bracket also, which backyard mechanic
suggested..

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=40732

John Cairns

>
>
>
> "John Cairns" <jgcairns@removethis-sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:hADuf.46824$q%.3968@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com...
>> Decided to do the brakes on the wife's '00 Taurus wagon. I know, big
>> mistake. In any event, having a hard time getting the piston spun in to
>> allow enough clearance for the new pads to fit. Got them in there, but
> there
>> isn't enough clearance, hub binds. The piston doesn't want to spin in,
>> wondering if the parking brake cable has to be unhooked from the caliper?
>> Any other sage advice, shortcuts for this job? Seriously considering
>> investing in a proper tool also, the $9 6 way adaptor that goes on a 3/8"
>> extension works for shit, real PITA. Thanks in advance.
>>
>> John Cairns
>>
>>
>
>

Backyard Mechanic

"John Cairns" <jgcairns@removethis-sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>
> "johanb" <ollieb1oREMOVE@THIScs.com> wrote in message
> news:eDFuf.41$xX3.14619@news.uswest.net...
>>I have seen people take the rotor off and reinstall the caliper back
>>so they
>> could apply more force
>
> I found a "proper" tool for the job locally, and will try removing the
> parking brake cable from the bracket also, which backyard mechanic
> suggested..
>
> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=40732
>
> John Cairns
>
Thanks for posting that!

And the same tool is $35 at autozone... bonus is you can take it back for
Credit Card refund when you're done with it



--
Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!

Eric G

"John Cairns" <jgcairns@removethis-sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:hADuf.46824$q%.3968@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com...
> Decided to do the brakes on the wife's '00 Taurus wagon. I know, big
> mistake. In any event, having a hard time getting the piston spun in to
> allow enough clearance for the new pads to fit. Got them in there, but
> there isn't enough clearance, hub binds. The piston doesn't want to spin
> in, wondering if the parking brake cable has to be unhooked from the
> caliper? Any other sage advice, shortcuts for this job? Seriously
> considering investing in a proper tool also, the $9 6 way adaptor that
> goes on a 3/8" extension works for shit, real PITA. Thanks in advance.
>
> John Cairns
>
>

I just had the same experience with my wife's 97 Taurus, also a wagon. The
Auto-Zone
multifit POS has the wrong ends to fit the associated V shaped guides, the
V's face 180
degrees from where Ford put the cuts. I called the guy who taught me what I
know about
working on vehicles, and he says that with the proper 'spinner' the cable
doesn't need
removed. The bigger problem I ran into today is that while trying to
squeeze the park brake
tab/spring to reinsert the cable end, the spring popped off and now I can't
get it back in place.
I have a local Harbor Freight shop to stop in at, so thanks for that lead...
I'll probably just
buy it for the next time, I plan on keeping this car for quite a while.

paul1958

just changed the brakes on my 98, had to disconnect the parking brake also
loosen the bleeding screw if using long nose needle pliers to spin it.