Rear Brake Caliper Piston Rewind - With and Without Special Tools

Rear brake caliper piston rewind methods. This is a standard single piston rear caliper, as found on most vehicles with rear disc brakes. The hand brake cable connects to the spring loaded lever at the top of the caliper, which compresses the piston via a jackscrew. In order to rewind the piston, you need to rotate the piston (usually clockwise) as you push it into the caliper. In this video I demonstrate three different methods of resetting a rear brake caliper piston with special tools and without. Thanks for watching. Please comment, like and subscribe.
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Disclaimer:
My videos are a guide to making repairs and also to provide helpful information.
Do not attempt to make any repairs unless you’re sure you know what you’re doing. For more detailed information, if something is not clear to you, or you don't understand something, have the repair carried out by a qualified mechanic or at your local car dealer. Any repair you carry out on your car you do at your own risk.
Under no circumstances will Screwsnutsandbolts be responsible or liable in any way for any content, including but not limited to, any errors or omissions in the content, or for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of any content communicated in this video, whether by Screwsnutsandbolts or a third party. In no event shall Screwsnutsandbolts be liable for any special, indirect or consequential damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of use, data or profits arising out of or in connection with the availability, use or performance of any information communicated in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of Screwsnutsandbolts, it cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. Screwsnutsandbolts assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. Screwsnutsandbolts recommends safe practices when performing any do it yourself repairs and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of Screwsnutsandbolts, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Screwsnutsandbolts.

[@martinoral]

Díky!

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Thank you for your support Martin, I really appreciate it ! 👍👍

[@user-bl4iu6ex2q]

Best video for this job. Actually shows how the caliper piston works and why it needs to be rotated back inwards.

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Thanks for watching !

[@bergencounty6602]

You made it look easy. With the brake line connected, it is way harder to hold the caliper and turn the piston back in.

[@joedude5757]

And it’s on a brand new one 😅

[@garywheeler1812]

I took a 1x2x6 piece of wood and 2 small fence nails to make a spanner wrench. A Texas biker trick😼

[@youonlyliveonce5576]

Thanks for the video. I've had hell of time trying to wind them back! Only to realise here in UK my toyota auris hybrid, it winds Anti-clockwise!!! I got in a mess after pressing the brake! Realised the piston came all the way out and will not go back in,, pissed out brake fluid all over, so had to clamp the fluid caliper line, open the pipe to relief pressure, only then that the piston can go back and.. anticlockwise.

[@silvermane1]

Best damn video I've seen about this. Very clear & professionally done, easy to understand.

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Thanks for watching !

[@rickybb8148]

I used a grinder spanner. Worked perfectly .

[@jasonmayer9620]

Good idea!

[@marius9429]

Youre a god, thanks✌️🫡

[@brianficht1229]

Thanks for this tip with the needle nose pliers. I didn't have these special tools and thought I was stuck, but the pliers method worked just fine.

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're welcome, thanks for watching !

[@scottshaw-ip9tp]

Exactly what I needed!

[@djeslic5377]

Absolutely a great video... No words, tons of knowledge. THANK YOU.

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Thank you very much ! :)

[@samwu8070]

This is so practical and is what I'm looking for.

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Thanks for watching !

[@pecosimplu7070]

thanks a lot for this wonderful video; realy helpful to see how it works; now i have all information i need to make my own tool you have a new subscriber, good luck

[@lyonthomas5254]

The cube is new to me. Great investment for someone who doesn’t need the professional kit.

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

It's not a bad little tool ! 👍

[@nomadben]

This is by far the best video on how to do this. Thank you!

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Thanks for watching !

[@zythirab9620]

This is the fifth video and it's the most helpful one thank you so much I am screaming 🎉❤

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're very welcome ! :)

[@vincentriley8626]

Awesome video man, been waiting for my brake pads in the mail got an 08 fusion doing rear pads and this helped tremendously my first time doing the brakes by myself 👍

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're very welcome !, thanks for watching !

[@user-ne4gq4vz1c]

Super thanks!

[@user-xs8cm1th3g]

THANK YOU!!!! NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS!!!!

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're welcome !

[@NoneofYourbusiness-oe8xi]

I’m having a heck of a time with this. I miss cars with rebuilt carburetors everything back then was fixable.

[@jacknorgan8706]

Good going on the video. Helped me with a tough task. Thank you

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're welcome, thanks for watching !

[@mikewho9964]

Great help and a really clear explanation ! Thanks

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're welcome!

[@corbetenator1033]

Awesome video mate, saved me a heap of mucking around

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're welcome, thanks for watching !

[@peternell1501]

Thanks. Really helpful.

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're welcome, thanks for watching !

[@ahmedelhabrush1391]

Thanks a lot. It was of a great help to me. Very informative vedio.

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're welcome, thanks for watching !

[@basavaa3877]

Nice video, I came to know about this video when I was reading harbor fright reviews where someone praising about this video.

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Thank you !

[@esmfamil3929]

Nice video and informative , thanks a lot .

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Thankls for watching !

[@kamalslangalia]

Thanks really helpful.

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're welcome!

[@cobar5342]

Thank you for a nice video

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're welcome, thanks for watching !

[@MathieuPARIS]

so helpfull !! super thanks !!

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're welcome, thanks for watching !

[@lampteyeric6505]

Thanks bro for the video

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're very welcome. Thanks for watching !

[@toby7591]

You saved me! Great video

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're very welcome !

[@DannyDuran-cn3wv]

Thanks it help a lot thank you

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're welcome !

[@Bill-ws4ke]

Gee willikers… I broke 2 c-clamps trying to press it in like all the other brake pistons I’ve ever done. Hahahaa I hope I didn’t trash them…. I finally gave up at 11pm at night after hours. Mayyyyybe I shouldn’t ass uuum me… and just take a quick glance at a yoopertube videeyer. Thanks so much!!! I appreciate the two method thingy too. Solid b

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Thanks for watching !

[@Mountain-em1oq]

Lol, me too. After a few hours, saw a KZbin video explaining how these things work. I did the job a few months ago but now my emergency brake stopped working. Horrible design!

[@dannyf4995]

Thank you so much for the perfect video. So helpful!!

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're very welcome !

[@fixman88]

This video answers a LOT of questions! I recently got a 2013 Chevy Volt and in the Service Manual it says to rotate the rear pistons in to retract them and I wondered why, since my previous vehicle was a 2007 Hyundai Elantra and those just went straight in. Turns out the reason is the Parking Brake: on my Elantra it used a little drum brake in the middle of the rear brake disc, complete with springs and an adjuster. The lever was a standard handbrake type you could pull up. On My Volt there's a Parking Brake button on the dashboard you pull that operates a motor behind the left rear wheel that pulls cables to set the brake (you can even 'double set' it by pulling the button twice). Those cables obviously pull the levers that turn the jackscrew to push the piston out to set the brake. While you could use the Handbrake on my Elantra to stop it in an emergency by pulling it up while holding the button down, there is no mention of using the Parking Brake on my Volt to do that in the Owner's Manual. From what I've read you would only want to do that as a measure of extreme last resort, since it would most likely lock the rear wheels up. I remember seeing those cubes at the parts store and wondering what they were for. Now I know.

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Thanks for watching !

[@MyMojo68]

Yes thank you! Needle nose pliers worked. But fluid squirted out not good. It came out of the back what looks like the e brake and it came out of the piston.

[@floydgilmour3994]

Did you open the brake fluid reservoir cap first?

[@emanuelesho]

Thank you

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're welcome

[@ollierendon1851]

Yes the best!!!!!❤❤😊

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Thank you !

[@ojong20521]

Nicely done and thanks for sharing your expertise. I'll try the plier method...cheaper

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're welcome, thanks for watching !

[@onlywenilaugh6589]

Great video, thanks!

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're welcome, thanks for watching !

[@gggravediggger]

Thanks!

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Thank you very much for the support !. i really appreciate it 👍👍

[@basharhaasn8311]

mazda.. handbrek.. 1991... 323.

[@emanuelesho]

Which cube do you recommend to YARIS 2006

[@Thatdavemarsh]

My cube doesn’t fit my Mazda calipers, I’ve struggled with the pliers. Last time I just “sent it” and used a c clamp for pressure and rotated the body with channel locks. Sub optimal but got it done. Should have gone and borrowed the tool, but just sharing as it works in a pinch.

[@steveosman4992]

Thanks for your help. so if I understand correctly, the piston come out straight touching the pad but to compress the piston , turn it clock wise?

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're welcome. That is correct

[@staline3298]

Hundai verna2012 back break galiber oring hit irukuma sir

[@toomuch9762]

Shouldn’t the groves be aligned in the same direction each time after pushing it in?

[@user-su6hc9cd7e]

I used vcds to retract the electric parking brake on my Passat. I then pushed it the rest of the way to get the new pads in but I didn't turn it while pushing. It seems to be working fine so did I cause any damage ?

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

I've never actually worked on an electric parking brake system so I don't actually know, sorry

[@joeyoungs8426]

Nicely done video but let’s address the elephant in the room: those calipers are a terrible design. They are essentially a single use design.

[@michaelc821]

Easy to do when the caliper is new. Do it after 50-100,00 miles...

[@carlito5011]

I just did mine yesterday... and it's 99,000 miles. Just takes a bit of elbow grease.

[@knight3131]

I wonder if this will work if the piston is all the way out almost touching the caliper? Can the piston come out of screw ?

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Yes the piston can be pushed out of the screw if it comes out too far. If you line it up with the threads properly you can use this method to screw it back in. If it has popped out from the caliper, it may have let some air get into the system and you will need to bleed that caliper once the piston is back in place.

[@williamjeffersonjamalphill4389]

Thank you so much for this video i hadmade a catistrafic error today. when i had removed the caliper (electronic parking break) I got distracted and turned on the ignition which fully released the calliper piston automatically, so i was unable to manually twist the bolt inside the motor horsing to get it to retract again. As bolt was just spinning. (also pissi*** out breaK fluid. goingby your video do you think I had just not lined up the thread's. So difficult to explain.

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

I'm not sure to be honest, I've never actually worked on a caliper with an electronic parking brake. Have you watched this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHuunmNupbtse6s

[@williamjeffersonjamalphill4389]

@@screwsnutsandbolts thank you so much that's exactly my issue. I'm definitely in deep Shit! :) Legend for responding really appreciate

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You're very welcome, good luck getting it sorted !

[@michaelc821]

The rear caliper are handed, left right,in relation which direction you turn the piston.

[@MrBurnz-cu6xj]

If you want a serious set of blood blisters, use the needle nosed pliers.

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

lol :)

[@thethinkingman-]

or get your husband to do it.

[@billmartin6288]

I just snapped a C clamp in half trying to do it like a true American. I guess I need a new caliper, because I fucked it up. Side bar. "PUT THE FUCKING LUG STUDS ON THE INSIDE OF THE RIM"

[@PaulArensberg]

Used needle nose pliers wouldn't turn at all had to open bleeder just to get it to turn. Then close bleeder it turned very slow took a long time

[@dialseck-cn7if]

❤❤

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Thanks :)

[@imanhamudshaaban6197]

Hello mate. I was manually rewinding the rear piston and noticed the rubber boot got a hole. I started by putting my car in 1st gear as it has electronic brake. After rewinding both rear pistons,i pressed the brake several times to get it stiff. When i switched on the engine,got an error amber light message referring to parking manual. What have i done wrong in process? Cheers

[@thethinkingman-]

you should of got a mechanic to fix it

[@fabrisoto]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Thank you !

[@silver120mp]

Am I f. demented , I don't think you need any force , but only rotation , as there is a screw type mechanism inside ??? Can anyone reply ; regards

[@Reign_In_Blood_963]

The video literally shows screw inside the piston him turning it to retract the piston.... So, yes there is a screw inside, but remember, as he mentioned in the video, you must use great force to apply the torque necessary to retract the caliper.

[@peoplespartyanimal8066]

can this be done without cracking the bleeder open?

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Yes you can, but it would certainly be easier with the bleeder open

[@peoplespartyanimal8066]

@@screwsnutsandbolts thank you

[@irraesto7283]

? Does the car need to be reset or nah? I wonder why this design or is it bettter than the normal ones

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

No you shouldn't have to reset anything on the car's computer. These rear calipers are designed like this to incorporate the handbrake mechanism.

[@miguelaparicio6646]

I can see now

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Thanks for watching !

[@094340]

Interesting video, I never saw the inside of one of these screw pistons. My rear piston won't fully retract no matter what I do. It moves freely enough until it snags with about 1/4 inch of the piston still not retracted, and I'm not able to fit the caliper with the new pads. I have sprayed PB Blaster under the dust boot and it still won't fully retract. After seeing this vid, now I'm thinking that there is a possible issue with the screw mechanism, and not the piston itself. I don't think the brake hose is damaged because up until the piston snags, it's moving fairly easily. Any ideas? It's hard for me to believe that I need a new caliper, but I suppose it's possible. Am I missing something here? Also, my E-brake needs tightening, could that possibly impact the caliper piston? The other rear piston retracted with no issues, so I'm thinking the E-brake is not the issue either. Any help is appreciated...Thanks everybody.

[@rexxx777]

So you've got the brake fluid lid open I presume?

[@dexpressobear]

How to disassemble all the way?

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Check this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3mziWuieq15gdU

[@user-cd3mj2ko7q]

So mine won’t rotate back in passenger went in just fine driver seems seized but shouldn’t be I guess I’m not sure

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Does it move at all ?

[@malcomewest6551]

You can't use needle noses pliers That will never work screws back the piston???. I have just done my GTI with new Brake pads and new dissc and Brake carriers.

[@abdelmajidamal145]

🇲🇦🇲🇦👍🇲🇦🇲🇦

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Thanks !

[@Mountain-em1oq]

I hate this design! I wish they would have designed it better. The best engineers design simple.

[@rafatorres1420rt]

Hello, what if the piston spins but wont go in ?

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

You need to be pushing it in as you spin it clockwise

[@rafatorres1420rt]

@@screwsnutsandbolts I only have the cube tool and it didn't go in by hand so I disconnected everything( hoses, e brake , bleeder valve ) and with a drill connected to the cube tool finally went in. I hope it works ✌️

[@davidhuffman4036]

You can not use a needle nose to screw it in. The piston needs pressure against it to push/screw it back in while it rotates clockwise. On the bench yes with oil pressure behind it, NO

[@nomadben]

Nope, I just did it and it worked fine. It's just a little harder

[@richardglas9039]

Oil pressure? Look at you trying to be all smart and then you mentioned oil pressure. Rookie

[@jamesgregory3937]

brake fluid is an oil@@richardglas9039

[@sjavaoradev]

I am idiot ( I tried on my ranger about 2 hours to push piston back

[@CarlCrowley-hw7wd]

Same here mate 😂😂😂

[@kailarsen43]

....😅😅😅😅😅😮😊😊

[@mirlan7571]

Третий способ травмоопасен.

[@juuzousreaper97]

Ok but what about if the damn piston is on your rotor huh how you supposed to decompress that shit

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

Parts & Tools: 🚗 Brake Cube ~ amzn.to/46rOtiH 🚗 Rewind Tool ~ amzn.to/3tcMEYw 🚗 Long Nosed Pliers ~ amzn.to/46bBHoC

[@MALUMEMALUME-mn9tg]

Thanks so much for this wonderful video

[@thebear6529]

Unfortunately it’s never that easy. Why didn’t you show how to put the cylinder back in. What if your caliper tool doesn’t fit in because the cylinder is out all the way? Do you return the stupid tool you bought after watching a clip like this and think “oh I can do this, I’ll buy that caliper tool”” come to find out that every piece of the break is rusted to shit and you wanna blow this stupid car up and go buy another one, but no because you’re a poor Basterd and you don’t have the money.

[@dimakhidarkovskiy2175]

The tool kit sold on Amazon for 19-35$ is probably the best safe economy tools for this job Do not forget that doing this on the vehicle 🚗 and with corrosion and hydraulic fluid in the system is not that easy as in the video Defenetely not needle nose pliers the force required might slip the pliers into the boot or in the hand causing injury