Cant compress the rear caliper

[Cdaddy78]

Well, perhaps I'm a little dumb on this one, but I was helping a friend change the rear disc brakes on his 2005 Chevy Malibu and I couldn't get the caliper to depress so it would fit over the new brakes. I was using a C clamp to perform said operation but the caliper was having nothing to do with it. I did not remove the cap for the master cylinder, but I did have the bleeder valve wide open. Now I'm wondering if this is a screw in caliper or something. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks.

 

['97 V8]

Was the e-brake off?

 

[frstxplorer]

Yes the calipers on the malibu are screw in type

 

[Cdaddy78]

So I guess I am a little dumb then. Is there some cap to remove and an adjustment screw on the caliper somewhere?

 

[frstxplorer]

Actualy if youre looking at the end of the caliper piston it should have 4 notches in the face of it, like around the out side you need the caliper tool that fits it to be able to screw the piston back into the bore, try auto zone they should rent them
Drew

 

[Maniak]

I got my set from autozone. I rented the set, and it was cheap enough that I kept it..

The first time I worked on a vehicle with rear disc brakes I made the same mistake.. I had to call a friend that knew imports and told told me they screw in.. I tried in vain to do it w/out the right tool. Once I got the right tool I was done in 5 minutes.

~Mark

 

[Cdaddy78]

I got my set from autozone. I rented the set, and it was cheap enough that I kept it..

The first time I worked on a vehicle with rear disc brakes I made the same mistake.. I had to call a friend that knew imports and told told me they screw in.. I tried in vain to do it w/out the right tool. Once I got the right tool I was done in 5 minutes.

~Mark

Ya, I felt stupid, but I guess if the shoe fits... Like you said, with the tool, I was in and out in no time at all.

 

[gijoecam]

Most (if not all) GMs are like that. The only Ford I've ever seen with a screw-in caliper was the Probe (but was that really a Ford just because it had their logo on it?)

-Joe

 

[Jefe]

Most (if not all) GMs are like that. The only Ford I've ever seen with a screw-in caliper was the Probe (but was that really a Ford just because it had their logo on it?)

-Joe

The Focus is also like that (if it has disc brakes obviously)

 

[gijoecam]

The Focus is also like that (if it has disc brakes obviously)

Good to know, now that there are three in teh family (none old enough to need brakes yet though...)

-Joe

 

[Marty1000]

Most (if not all) GMs are like that. The only Ford I've ever seen with a screw-in caliper was the Probe (but was that really a Ford just because it had their logo on it?)

-Joe

My 2018 Ford Explorer Platinum has screw in pistons.
Without a special tool you won't get them in.

 

[Marty1000]

My 2018 Ford Explorer Platinum has screw in pistons.
Without a special tool you won't get them in.