How do you retract rear brake piston?

[Bigrick31]

Went to change the brakes on my 97 a4 2.8 when i realized i cant just put a c clamp on the rear caliper piston to retract it like you can the front. How do you go about retracting the caliper pistons in the rear?

[ryannorthcott]

you need to get the caliper retraction tool from harborfreight or ecstuning.

or if you want to save some money and make it more difficult you can take your c clamp and clamp down one of those "universal cube sockets" into the little caliper holes and then twist it with a little socket extension if you know what i mean... the holes don't quite fit but with enough pressure it'll work.

[arorem]

I was able to get one of mine back in with a pair of needle nose pliers, for the other one, i decided to go buy the right tool. I didnt want to push my luck with the pliers.

This is what the kit looks like:

[ghost6303]

advanced auto lets you borrow that exact kit for free. its like $45, you can keep it if you want, or if you return it when you are done they give you your $45 back.

btw i didnt realize the 97 A4s came in 2.0

[Bigrick31]

I was able to get one of mine back in with a pair of needle nose pliers, for the other one, i decided to go buy the right tool. I didnt want to push my luck with the pliers.

This is what the kit looks like:

sweet thanks. I was just at harborfreight too bought an aluminum floor jack guess ill be taking a trip back there lol.

btw i didnt realize the 97 A4s came in 2.0

yea they dont lol i meant 2.8

[tdn]

This the exact tool I borrowed from AutoZone for free, as mentioned above Advance Auto lets you borrow it too.

[Stampy]

I think every major parts store rents the kit out for free. Just go get it and you will be done in 20 minutes.

[arorem]

Damn, i forgot all about autozone and advance renting these out. Oh well

[killer8424]

I was able to do it with a really big c-clamp and a pair of vice grips. Just tighten the c-clamp on the piston, give it a twist with the vice grips and repeat. Pain in the ass, but free.

[rocky.ca]

STEERING WHEEL PULLER! easiest way ever. put a piece of flat bar across the pot and slip the billet part of the puller inside the caiper. crank away

[01audia4]

Needle nose vice grips work, but its a pain in the ass.

[SouRce4]

I just changed my pads. you do not need that expensive tool. all you need is a needle nose pliers... in my case i was turning clockwise to push the piston back in... since the caliper is old it would turn but nothing would go in. I then went counterclockwise and the piston came all the way out... now i went clockwise again and it went right in... this also took me two hours and pulling off the caliper to come up with this bright idea. Even tho its a bit more work to pull of the entire caliper and re bleed the brakes, it was easier for me to work with it.

[Dallas09]

The tool from Harbor Freight wouldnt fit for me. I had to twist with that tool, and the use a C-clamp to push it in, and switch back and forth for a while until it was retracted far enough so that I could only use the tool.

[matthai5]

ECS has the tool kit as well. Works great.