Replaced the rear pads on the '01 S40. As the manual stated the caliper piston needs to be screwed CW back into the caliper body. Another place for a special tool, yee-haw. I tried some needle nose vise grips. I could get the piston to turn, but it did not seem to be retracting. Book said pressure was needed while turning.


I resorted to the C-clamp that I use on all my other cars. The plan was to add some pressure with the clamp and try to turn the piston with the vise grips.


I guess I got lucky that there was enough friction between the piston face and the c-clamp. Cause as I turned the C-clamp tighter, the piston began to turn AND retract with only the c-clamp turning the piston.


Not sure how everyone else does it, but it sure did work.

 

My old Saturn was like this, havn't had to do th rear pads on my S40 yet

But on my Saturn I always just rented a tool from Autozone to compress and turn the caliper at the same time.

 

I'm looking at this job soon. I believe the Autozone-type stores lend the special tools as well.

 

Up here (Toronto, Canada) you can rent the appropriate tool from Partsource (free of charge). I ended up using it regularly enough that I just bought the tool for $50. It's useful to have around.

 

Here is the tool Autozone 'loans' out:

OEM/Disc brake caliper tool set 27111 at AutoZone.com - 5 reviews

Autozone used to lend them out. They changed their policy and now you are just buying the tool, this one is $60, and then return it for a full refund when you are done. This would have been a PITA when I was younger as I would have had to borrow the money to 'loan' it. But their normal return policy applies now so you can keep the tools for 3 months I believe.