Is there a trick or technique to collapsing the rear brake calipers to install new pads?

Is there a trick or technique to collapsing the rear brake calipers to install new pads?

If your 1990 is like my 1986 your caliper has a round disk on the face of the piston with indentations on it to which you engage a special tool connected to a ratchet to turn clockwise and collapse the piston. You can buy this tool or, If you are handy you can improvise by opening a pair of needle nose pliers to engage the indentations, then slip a screw driver through the jaws of the pliers and turn the screwdriver to rotate the pliers, thus turning the disk and collapsing the piston. Why they couldn't make the rear calipers like the fronts is beyond me.