1995 Voyager brake question...

Hey all, I'm new here so bear with me. I'm changing the front brake pads and having trouble retracting the piston in the caliper so it will slide over the new pads.

I've read somewhere that putting a c-clamp and using slight pressure would do it. That didn't work. I thought there was a different step if you have ABS, by releasing pressure in the caliper.

Anybody have a link to something that might be helpful?

Thanks,

1995 Voyager SE...3.0L

You can read through this: http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/10/d7/31/0900823d8010d731.jsp Just click on the topics on the right. I just scanned through it but the only reference I found said to use a C clamp just as you did.

I have a 96 GC with ABS and have changed the front pads twice. Both times I used a C clamp and placed a piece of wood across the piston opening to push the piston into the caliper. I never set the clamp directly on the piston. I've since read pushing a piston in this way can damage an ABS system but, I haven't seen it.

Are you sure the piston isn't cocked and binding in the caliper? Yes, You can open the bleed port to relieve pressure and push the piston in but, according to my Haynes manual, with an ABS system you then have to bleed the system using a DRBII scanner. I've never tried this but you might get around that by connecting a bleed tube to the port and keep the end emersed in fluid as you open the port and push the piston in. If it doesn't work you may not have brakes. Check with some experts before you try it.

Thank you for the response. I thought about opening the bleed port but I don't want to screw something up.

Can you open the master cylinder and then try the c-clamp method or will that eventually cause me to bleed the whole system out?

If you mean take the fill cap off the master cylinder, no that won't help. Beyond that, if you suck all the fluid out of the MC, yes you'll have to bleed the whole system plus buy a kit to bleed the MC itself. Ugly!

If this is the first time you've done this, could it be that you're being too gentle with the force on the clamp? Suck a little fluid out of the MC if it's close to full. When the piston goes in fluid will be forced back through the system and into the MC. It could overflow and leave you a mess to clean up.

Can anybody answer these questions for wrap...?:
Can you damage an ABS system by pushing a piston in a caliper without opening the bleed port?
Do you absolutely have to use a DRBII scanner to bleed correctly if you open a bleed port?

Try pumping the brake pedal a couple times to center the caliper piston in the bore , then push the piston back using your " c - clamp " and a old brake pad.

I will try the above suggestions, thanks again. This the first time I've tried on this vehicle. I had a 88 Toronado that didn't give much trouble, so that's why I'm wondering.

The goal is to do this without bleeding out the whole system. I have a buddy that's a gear head so I'll take it over his house this weekend. I'm more of a computer junkie so if you guys need any help in that department let me know....lol.

:)

UPDATE: Just thought I'd give an update....I completed changing the pads and rotors. What I did was opened the filler cap on the master cylinder just enough to relieve pressure on the caliper. I then used a c-clamp and a piece a wood and tightened using slight pressure.....piston retracted without much trouble.....thank God!!! I was worried about them being frozen because it's been a while since the brakes have been serviced.


Thanks again for above responses....good day.

Hey, that's a new one. Thanks for giving us the fix. You may want to take a second look at the cap. My Caravan isn't here right now but my other two cars master cylinder caps have what appears at least, to be a breather port in the top to let the pressure equalize. If yours has one it may be plugged. Not sure if or how that could effect your brakes. Glad to hear you're up and running.

I'm more of a computer junkie so if you guys need any help in that department let me know....lol.
:)
As a fellow computer junkie and aspiring gearhead...I solute you.:bigthumb: