What C-Clamp size for brake work

jaymchung · Aug 3, 2004

What C-Clamp size for brake work?

I am about to replace front brake pads on 2001. What size C-Clamp do I need to squeeze the piston?
Also, do you guys clean the rotor or any other parts when changing the pads?

zippymbr · Aug 4, 2004

I use a C-clamp with a 6 or 8 inch opening.

Walt43 · Aug 4, 2004

6 inch c-clamp, and I spray down the rotors with Brakleen, but I don't know if it does anything or not.

chrisj2641 · Aug 4, 2004

I used a 6" C clamp. I just used a brush to clean the caliper and rotor. I reused all the little clips except the one that was actually on the pads. The whole job for both front wheels was a little over an hour. Real easy!
Good Luck

Walt43 · Aug 4, 2004

chrisj2641 said:
I used a 6" C clamp. I just used a brush to clean the caliper and rotor.

Make sure it's a soft bristle brush and not a wire brush! A wire brush would damage the rubber boot on the caliper.

jaymchung · Aug 4, 2004

Thanks guys.

I removed the caliper last night to see what size c-clamp is needed. I was actually able to wiggle my 3 inch c-clamp around the piston. So 4 inch c-clamp will definitely work. Looks like changing pad is a very easy job. I should get my pads today from Hondaparts4you.

I also noticed that the inside pad wears out much faster than the outside pad. That makes sense since the piston pushes the pads from inside.

When changing the pad, make sure that the wear indicator is put on the inside when changing the pad. Otherwise, you will need to remove the wheel to see how meat is left on the inside pad.

twiggy144 · Aug 4, 2004

jaymchung said:
Thanks guys.

...I also noticed that the inside pad wears out much faster than the outside pad. That makes sense since the piston pushes the pads from inside. ...

This is why when I clean or inspect the brakes without changing pads, I switch the inside pads with the outside ones, to even up the wear.

William Wiles · Aug 4, 2004

When you use a c-clamp to retract the piston place the old brake pad across the piston and use it to press on the piston. Pressing the c-clamp on the center of the piston could damage it if it retracts hard....

jaymchung · Aug 4, 2004

When you use a c-clamp to retract the piston place the old brake pad across the piston and use it to press on the piston. Pressing the c-clamp on the center of the piston could damage it if it retracts hard....

Do you mean to push the outer rim protrution of the piston, not the smooth center surface?

twiggy144 · Aug 5, 2004

William Wiles said:
When you use a c-clamp to retract the piston place the old brake pad across the piston and use it to press on the piston. Pressing the c-clamp on the center of the piston could damage it if it retracts hard....

If your clamp is big enough (I think 6" works), you can retract the piston first even before removing the caliper! Clamp on the pad on the outside, and on the back of the caliper on the inside. This also facilitates the removal/pivoting of the caliper.

MEMEYOYO · Oct 23, 2004

I use this. Works Great!

Sears item #00947365000 Mfr. model #47365

strider · Dec 1, 2004

I recently replaced the brake pads on my '91 Acura Integra and on my '96 Ford Taurus wagon (in preparation for trade on an '05 Odyssey last week!).

I bought the pads at AutoZone and they loan you the proper brake caliper tool for free (with a modest refundable deposit).

The advantage of that tool is that on vehicles with parking brakes which use the rear disc, the piston must be screwed back into the caliper and not simply pressed back in.

In Fig. 6 on the link below, they use needle-nose pliers to screw it in. The tool AutoZone loaned me had different sized keyed discs which attached to the end of the screw on the clamp. As the piston was compressed it was screwed in as well.

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiB...et/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/1a/a5/41/0900823d801aa541.jsp

Of course the drawback may be that you need to use AutoZone parts to get this loaner.

strider

newowner · Feb 14, 2005

after reading all this stuff about changing the brake pads, I have come to the conclusion that the honda OEM manual doesn 't have each step laid out or the tools required to do each job listed in the manual.

I have the Honda OEM manual and was going to do my brakes but dang I have to run to sears and get more tools....

guess you end up paying for service one way or another!

x-sno snake · Feb 17, 2005

Check the master cylinders(S) for brake fluid level. When you press in the caliper pistons, that fluid is going back home. I believe brake fluid is still bad for paint too, not to mention messy.

newowner · Feb 23, 2005

i have completed the front brake pad replacement and it wasn't that hard. Still need to change the brake fluid, bought the honda brand at Tony honda for 4.50....

i noticed that my drivers side inside pad was more worn than all the other front pads! Good thing I didn't wait a day longer to change them.

need to change my rear pads too.

Thanks for the heads up about the fluid lvl, I checked and it was low.

I used a vise grip on the pin

I used that NAPA Sil glyde, another auto part store wanted to charge me over 10 for a smaller tube, good thing I checked napa ~4oz @ 5.50.

What brake fluid should I use? guess I check other posts...

Thanks for all the info folks....

What C-Clamp size for brake work

jaymchung

zippymbr

Walt43

chrisj2641

Walt43

jaymchung

twiggy144

William Wiles

jaymchung

twiggy144

MEMEYOYO

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x-sno snake

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