rear brake problems

**jAgZ28** · 06-15-2010, 05:46 PM

ok so i need to change my rear brake pads so i made an attempt, heres what happened. i used the c-clamp to try to compress the piston and it would not move. then we removed the top bolt from the caliper and tried the c-clamp again but again no sale. then since we had the car on a lift i pressed the brakes and the brakes werent engaging. so then i tried the e brake to see if it would work and it did. i have a 93 z28 which of course means disc brakes in the rear, any ideas. i was suggested that it could be the rubber line from the master cylinder has internally collapsed which would allow the fluid to travel to the caliper but not back to the master cylinder which would expain why i cant compress either side, the other is that both rear calipers seized opinions?

**pajeff02** · 06-15-2010, 05:55 PM

Crack open the bleeder and try to compress the piston. If it compresses you probably have a collapsed hose. I can't imagine that they would both be collapsed though.

**jAgZ28** · 06-15-2010, 06:09 PM

we tried that. it was pissing fluid but the piston didnt move

**pajeff02** · 06-15-2010, 06:36 PM

It's not the type you spin in by chance, is it?

**jAgZ28** · 06-15-2010, 06:54 PM

not according to any of the info we gathered and the guy that was helping me is a mechanic at a ford dealer and looked it up on their database and it said to clamp it too.

**Wesman** · 06-15-2010, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

It's not the type you spin in by chance, is it?

You said it.

The rear caliper pistons on LT1 cars need to be retracted with a special tool. The tool twists the piston as it pushes inwards, retracting the piston back into its bore. You should be able to get it at any auto parts store.

The reason for this is that the parking brake is integrated into the caliper.

Originally Posted by jAgZ28

not according to any of the info we gathered and the guy that was helping me is a mechanic at a ford dealer and looked it up on their database and it said to clamp it too.

Might want to find a new mechanic. Any technician should know that a parking-brake-in-caliper design needs to have the piston twisted back in. You may have damaged the caliper from pushing hard with the c-clamp, if they don't twist in, then you will need to replace them.