salaar Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 Guys I think I've done something stupid and hope it can be fixed. I was having a look at the brake pads and wanted the pistons to retract so without thinking pressed on the pedal and yes they came out even more. Now they won't retract! I've tried turning the car on, opening the brake fluid cap to release pressure. Is the only way to remove the brake line? The pistons are touching the disc now and I can't get the pads in. Please forgive me, I'm learning as I go! Cheers boys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evinX Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 Cant you just unbolt the calliper, pull it of the disc and use a G clamp to push the pistons back in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salaar Posted July 7, 2016 Author Share Posted July 7, 2016 Which bolts am I taking off? All? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 just the 2 with the allen Key hole in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattdavies Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 I would take the other two off,the ones to the left of the allen key ones, only because they seem less rusted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 I would take the other two off,the ones to the left of the allen key ones, only because they seem less rusted. True, those are probably the better ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salaar Posted July 7, 2016 Author Share Posted July 7, 2016 Cheers boys! Followed your advice and it worked. Other issue now is I lost a lot of brake fluid (below min now) when removing the caliper, when I moved the car down the drive, the brakes didn't work! (Had to use handbrake) Is this because there isn't enough fluid or do I need to bleed the system? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoarerMan Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 It's because you didn't pump the brake pedal before moving the car. Please I would advise you to pay someone who knows what there doing in future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy442 Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 What Id do is, leave that well alone, get someone who knows cars to work on the brakes. With respect of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salaar Posted July 7, 2016 Author Share Posted July 7, 2016 I get that but I'm here to learn, if I pump the brakes now will it solve the problem? Or do I need to bleed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheTurtleshead Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 I get that but I'm here to learn, if I pump the brakes now will it solve the problem? Or do I need to bleed? No you need to properly bleed the caliper of air using a clear tube to ensure you can check for bubbles in the pipe. I'd suggest you check on youtube first for some instructional videos on how to properly service, remove, refit, and bleed brakes. As you allowed the brake reservoir to empty completely, you should probably bleed all four corners or at a minimum both front brakes, as air may have now entered the system. Brakes are not something you should be learning on if this is one of the first times you have performed work on your own car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salaar Posted July 7, 2016 Author Share Posted July 7, 2016 The reservoir isn't completely empty but below min. Pressing the pedal does nothing. I think everyone is a novice at some point, so I appreciate you being constructive. So I should open all calipers, drain the fluid then bleed the brakes by the brake line? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 I'm not sure what you're trying to do. If you intend to change the brake pads, then bleeding etc shouldn't be necessary. The fact you've got no brake pressure means you have probably undone something you didn't need to undo, or you've popped a piston out of the caliper. As you're a novice, you'll need explicit instructions on how to fix it, but it's hard to give that guidance without knowing exactly what you've done. If all the pistons are still in their caliper cylinder, then you'll need to bleed each caliper, one at a time. If you don't intend to change the brake fluid, there's no need to drain it first. If your car has ABS, that can complicate things a bit. I don't have the details about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 As above, first things first what did you undo that caused the loss of fluid? Nb in future when you are trying to learn post up for advice beforehand, or when the first thing goes wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salaar Posted July 7, 2016 Author Share Posted July 7, 2016 Fair point guys, I undid the caliper (front right) and fluid leaked from when the bottom bolt was removed. I only undid one so the other three were untouched yet I have no bite. Fluid level is below min. That's it! I haven't touched the other three, would you not expect them to work? I didn't remove the brake line JUST the caliper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 I've just re-read your first post, and I can guess what's happened. You've removed the pads, then pushed the brake pedal which pushed the pistons out so they're touching the brake disc. You then thought you'd be able to retract the pistons back in by undoing the bleed nipple / brake fluid hose (which one please?) to release the fluid pressure in the system. Having undone one of these things, you pumped the brake again, and got nothing as the brake fluid squirted out of the thing you'd undone. If the above is all correct, fix it by squeezing the pistons in the caliper back into the cliper (should be easier if you've undone the bleed value/brake hose, could be messy though so catch the fluid in a container, brake fluid is nasty). Then do up the thing you undid, top up the reservoir to the max level, and bleed the brake. You might need to bleed all 4 brakes, I can't remember. What you should have done is undone the brake reservoir cap, and used a G clamp to *slowly* push the pistons back in. (If the pistons are clamping onto the disc, that complicates things because you can't separate the disc from the caliper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 Weird that brake fluid leaked when you undid the bolts. Something's not right there. Fluid will only come out if you undo the tiny bleed nipple, or undo the brake hose, or you extrude a piston to beyond the point where it can seal the fluid inside it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salaar Posted July 7, 2016 Author Share Posted July 7, 2016 I took the pads out because they were rubbing and the pistons were too protruded to fit them back in without rubbing. I pumped the brake thinking they'd retract when I let go (realised straight after what I'd done when the pedal went hard) then I undid the caliper (didn't remove any lines or nipples) and after removing the bottom right bolt, fluid exuded from the caliper and now the fluid level is below min. I reattached the caliper after pushing the pistons back in slowly using a clamp, then I put everything back as it was but when I drove the car forward on the drive, pushing the pedal did nothing, it was very soft. I could hear some sort of air or gas when I press it but no bite... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K22SUP Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 Doesn't sound good you could damaged master cylinder seals if you didn't release pressure before pushing piston back by taking lid off fluid bottle or opening bleed nipple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 Ok what I'd advise you to do. You need a clear piece of tubing that will fit over the bleed nipple (underneath the rubber cover on the top inside of the caliper in your picture in your first post), a spanner the correct size to loosen it and container to collect the fluid. Reservoir cap off, fill it up, seal tubing over the nipple, loosen bleed nipple, have a friend slowly pump the brake pedal and after initial air you should start to get a stream of fluid with bubbles (keep an eye on the fluid level in the reservoir) which should settle into a stream with no bubbles, where you can nip up the bleed nipple (don't go mad tightening this). Then you should test for a firm pedal (you should always do this before trying to move the whole car). This should get you to a point where perhaps you could get some to check it all over properly, that bolt that leaked fluid may still be a problem, at the very least if you think it's all ok, then find somewhere very quiet and do some hard stops from low speeds, see if the abs cuts in etc, then inspect very carefully for fluid leaks. Do you have a mate who does his own servicing? Time to call in a favour if you have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus GTE Posted July 7, 2016 Share Posted July 7, 2016 It sounds to me like the bolt you undid was perhaps one of the 4 that holds the caliper together? That would explain it leaking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salaar Posted July 7, 2016 Author Share Posted July 7, 2016 Yeah the four bolts hold the outer caliper in place, had to undo them to get to the pistons. Thanks a lot guys for the support really appreciate it. I'll get on with the bleeding and see how I get on! I'll start from the rear left and work towards the master cylinder right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 We told you which bolts to undo there was only 2, not even on the caliper, why did you undo all the bolts on the caliper? I'd expect you've separated the caliper now, the seals inside could be disturbed and i expect it will need a rebuild now to replace them. As people said, you shouldn't be doing brakes if you don't know what you're doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salaar Posted July 8, 2016 Author Share Posted July 8, 2016 Can that explain no brake pressure at all? I haven't touched the other three... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendo11 Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 Can that explain no brake pressure at all? I haven't touched the other three... If it's leaking without removing the bleed nipple, and you've got no pressure and the reservoir is half empty then that caliper will need rebuilding with new seals. It will need removing, stripping, new seals and so on fitting, and then it will need a full system bleed through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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