BoxerRebellion Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 And here we are once again. Smack in the middle of a rotor/pad job. For.... Whatever reason, I can't for the life of me get the Front-Left caliper piston to go back into it's home. I've repeatedly serviced brakes on five different Subarus throughout my life. I've yet to run into this problem. Even broke the handle on my brake depress tool. Sweet. Opened the bleed valve, pulled the roof off the master cylinder, nothing. Rock solid won't budge. After scurrying around the interwebs I read multiple articles regarding vehicles having caliper pistons that twist in. Does the '87 GL have these twistyroo pistons? Is that the problem? Who here knows something I don't? Any info - greatly appreciated. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 Yes the piston must be rotated inward (clockwise) All subarus from 70's on up through the last of the loyales are setup this way. Not sure how you did brakes on the others. You may have stripped the threads of the self adjuster post on those ones. There is a little cube shaped tool you can get that fits on a 3/8th drive ratchet. less than $10 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesFox Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 Turn the pistons. Make sure the parking brake is off or disconnected. Try pushing down and turning. it will engage a thread as it turns. You may have to tap the face with a hammer to allow it to move enough to engage the thread. You may be able to accomplish this with just a channel plier. You should be able to find the caliper tool at an auto store. It looks like a metal cube that goes on a ratchet and had nubs on each face for different styles of calipers. This design is typical of rear parking disc only brakes. But subaru front brakes have been this way form 70's models all the way thru 94 with ea82's 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 the metal cube tool at a auto parts store is mighty handy for this job. can be turned with other things but if they're tight it's grueling and seems to take a decade. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoxerRebellion Posted August 9, 2013 Author Share Posted August 9, 2013 Sigh... I slightly... Slightly expected this. Probably explains the odd looking shape and surface area of the piston. And the other Subs were newer Legacys and Imprezas. Good information from the both of you. I really appreciate it. Really do. I'll try the channels first, then go from there. Learned my lesson. Guess this is the best way. Thanks again guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somick Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 Make sure the quarter circular opening on the piston is oriented towards the front - back of the vehicle. This will help you to fit in the little notch on the pad. Good luck, Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWet Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Make sure the quarter circular opening on the piston is oriented towards the front - back of the vehicle. This will help you to fit in the little notch on the pad. Good luck, Sam To clarify a little, the pistons have to be rotated to a particular orientation (well, 2: 180 degrees apart) in order to properly fit the brake pad. Neglecting to do this will turn out VERY BAD. I have used all sorts of improvised tools to turn in the pistons: Vise grips (just loosely pressing the nose of the jaws into the channels and spinning with a screwdriver stuck crosswise to the V-G handles) was one of my more common make-dos. I have the cube (cost about US$10) and now have a proper brake service set. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonas Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Just get new calipers. Not that expensive from Rockauto and you have piece of mind of knowing your calipers will be working correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWet Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 (edited) I have never had a Subaru caliper fail. They have had their rubber boots rot away, but kept working while I tried to locate replacement parts. New calipers seem an unneeded expense if just replacing pads. Edited August 10, 2013 by NorthWet 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoxerRebellion Posted August 10, 2013 Author Share Posted August 10, 2013 As it turns out... The "piston cube" worked flawlessly. I was kicking myself when I realized how easily the pistons recessed with the proper tool. As opposed to ...BRUTE FORCE COMPRESSION. This is the first rig I've been involved with that had such a brake setup. And @NorthWet, I caught onto the fact the piston had to be turned to a form of "TDC" I suppose it makes some sense, being that the piston is housed in a shell that is cabable of unwanted movement during driving. Didn't see it at first, though shop lights revealed the little nub on the inner pad was hanging up. Tricky little setup. Bizzarro. I now see why this style of piston is no longer in use. In conclusion, learned a valuble lesson. -Without damage occurring from a lack of needed knowledge, that could only be gained from such experience. I thank all who chimed in. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 (edited) Just get new calipers. Not that expensive from Rockauto and you have piece of mind of knowing your calipers will be working correctly. Ever actually priced new calipers for an older subie? And c'mon, replace a good working genuine Japanese part for some chinese knockoff.....just because you don't want to deal with using the correct tool?...........no thanks Just do the job correctly....like apparently the OP of this thread did. Edited August 11, 2013 by Gloyale 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonas Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 (edited) Dumb Ever actually priced new calipers for an older subie? And c'mon, replace a good working genuine Japanese part for some chinese knockoff.....just because you don't want to deal with using the correct tool?...........no thanks Just do the job correctly....like apparently the OP of this thread did. Yes I have not only priced, but bought. They work flawlessly. You have no idea what my experience with brakes, if I just didn't want to use the correct tool, or not, is. Thanks for the personal attack and veiled insult tho. Edited August 11, 2013 by jonas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesFox Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Dumb Ever actually priced new calipers for an older subie? And c'mon, replace a good working genuine Japanese part for some chinese knockoff.....just because you don't want to deal with using the correct tool?...........no thanks Just do the job correctly....like apparently the OP of this thread did. This is typically out of lack of knowledge to properly service them, or by them being ruined already from the wrong service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWet Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 OP, this type of piston is probably still in use. The reason it is odd is that these models use a front-parking brake rather than the more common parking brake on the rear All of the bizarreness is to accommodate this "feature". 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Yes I have not only priced, but bought. They work flawlessly. You have no idea what my experience with brakes, if I just didn't want to use the correct tool, or not, is. Thanks for the personal attack and veiled insult tho. Not personal in the least. I don't even know you. My response refers strictly to the topic of this thread and the ideas discussed......not about you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoxerRebellion Posted August 11, 2013 Author Share Posted August 11, 2013 "It's time to play everybody's favorite gaaaaaaaaameeeee........" "PLINKO!" 'Price is Right - reference' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWet Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 Funny. Personally, there would have to be a good reason for me to unseal a brake system to install a new caliper. Call me lame... (pause) ... but I have the hardest time properly bleeding a brake system by myself. Which is how it always turns out: I am the "The Little Red Hen" of making stuff work. Cheers! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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