brake installation

Ok, maybe I am just retarded for getting no sleep, but I am in the process of changing my girlfriends front brake pads on her 01 SE, I got the 2 12mm hex guide bolts out of the caliper. Now it has movement, but it wont come off the rotor. It almost seems like it is still pivoting on the one last bolt. there are two bolts still in the center rear of the caliper, one with the brake line attached. Am I just not working it off enough. The outside pad is almost completely lose from the caliper, so I don't think that the piston is still pushing all the way. I should mention that the brakes are worn down pretty extensively. The side I am working on first has started to grind and there is a small grove in the rotor, so perhaps they have just gotten extremely well set into the caliper. Either way, why can I not get the caliper off the rotor?

Alright, I was just WAY TOO tired. The calipers were only held on by the pistons being too tight. One of the pads was under 1/8 of an inch and it was a pain in the neck getting it loose. But after prying it out with a screw driver, I got it loose and it wasn't a problem. The other two bolts in the center were had to do with the brake fluid...as I suspected. I was just too tired and was 2nd guessing my better judgement. Sorry 4 the confusion...Geoff

Alright, I was just WAY TOO tired. The calipers were only held on by the pistons being too tight. One of the pads was under 1/8 of an inch and it was a pain in the neck getting it loose. But after prying it out with a screw driver, I got it loose and it wasn't a problem. The other two bolts in the center were had to do with the brake fluid...as I suspected. I was just too tired and was 2nd guessing my better judgement. Sorry 4 the confusion...Geoff


Hi Igovert, I'm having the same retarded problem on a 1999 Grand Am GT. The calipers won't come off either rotor in the front, after I remove the two caliper bolts. The calipers do get loose - I can even spin the rotor a little left or right, so the brakes are definitely not engaged. I'm using plural here because I've tried the left and right in the front.

The caliper does pivot a little, pivoting right at the middle. I've yanked, tugged, pulled lightly, kicked, hammered, piledrived, bulldozed - the calipers won't come off. I put an order in on ebay for a genie with three wishes, but the delivery date is unconfirmed so far.

The pads are pretty worn too, been getting the warning squeal for a week or so. So what's this about a screwdriver?

Thanks,

- WJB

Did either of you try compressing the piston by using a c-clamp against the back of the caliper and the outer pad? Putting pressure here will force the piston back into the caliper and allowing the caliper to be removed by moving the pads away from the rotor allowing it to slide off the mount. Don't put too much pressure on the caliper as you can jam the piston in the body of the caliper and wreck it.

a screw driver works wonders. pry the calipers off from the bottom then move to the top. they should work off with some effort. i wouldnt beat them with hammers though, just a thought.

Well I did start this thread a year and a half ago, so I have since finished with no further problems.

Yeah, I honestly don't even remember what I did, but judging from what I posted, I just jamed a screwdriver in the midst of it and pried it off. Even if you are getting a little movement, it is probably just still too tight where hte piston is pushing it against the rotor. Either pry it with a screwdriver or use the c-clamp method listed above.

I typically use the c-clamp to push teh caliper back after I have gotten everything apart and am putting on my new pads.

Thanks people, I'll try the screwdriver method out as soon as the rain hangs back a bit. I usually c-clamp the piston back too, after I get everything off that is.

Thanks for the info guys, it helps to hear a voice or two of reason when things seem nuts.

- WJB

I forgot to post this - thanks for your your help man, I did use a c-clamp to compress the piston by angling it against the back of the caliper and the front pad, worked like a charm. On other cars I did the c-clamping *after* pulling out the pads, this is the first car I've had with brake calipers that I had to c-clamp *before* getting the pads off.

Thanks! Way to help out.

- WJB