Hope all are well. Started to change the brake pads in the rear of our 2000 that is running fantastic. downloaded some directions by Gus and they are great with all the pics. Took the drivers side rear tire off and got the two bolts off holding the caliper but I am having a very difficult time getting the caliper off. Several other things connected right there and fear they are the issue. Looks also like the inside pad is fairly worn down so could this be frozen in place. Should the caliper come off even with the e3mergency brake engaged. Or as I read on the site about the parking brake trick with the key set to accessories and then releasing the brake handle but is this correct? Have the car jacked up on the drivers side rear and if I release the emergency brake, could the car role forward, even with blocks under the wheels? I do have the cube tool. Any help appreciated.

 

Wanted to thank Gus for all the help with this change of pads. Will post some pictures of my experience. The best way for me was to put a refundable deposit on a kit for turning down the calipers. I just could not get the cube to work. It would not seat properly into the two grooves for me to turn it. I then went to a wrench being very careful to just touch the metal part of the plunger to try and get it to go back in that way. Clockwork is the right direction. My issue was I was not applying enough pressure to make it go back down while turning it. You can end up turning forever and going nowhere without the pressure. The kit at autozone is the way to go. Has a bunch of fittings to accommodate any make or model. Big time saver.

 

Great job, congrats.

Those cubes are a pain.

I found the trick to using the cube type. I took a 2x6 block wood and ripped it down to form a wedge. I placed the wedge behind the caliper and the frame work. Worked great for pushing in and turning.

 

Thanks Rick, will give that a try next time. That cube was really frustrating me.

 

You're using jack stands (as well as chocking the wheels), I hope. I would never work on car that's supported by only a jack (except changing a tyre when there's little choice).

I expect you need the park brake off.

The cubes are poor. You can buy a proper wind-back tool quite cheaply.

 

You can also borrow the proper caliper kit from stores such as Autozone or Advance Auto Parts. They typically take a small deposit on a credit card ($25 in our particular neck of the woods), and you get your deposit back when you return the kit on time in good condition. I would much rather do this than try to work with one of those pesky cubes....

 

Mike did use a jack stand along with the jack and he did chock the front wheels in both directions. The only thing he had a real problem with was the cube. AutoZone had a caliper retractor for the rear brake that proved to work better for him. He told me he was going to take photos and show how it worked.

 

Used the stands and even with them, I try to get project completed and get car back on the ground. Blocked the tires and the emergency brake is off.

Here is a pic of the kit with numbers for the parts to use.

1 is the main part itself that attaches to the caliper
2 is attached to number one and sits on the opposite side of plunger you are trying to push back in. While turning 1, 2 uses opposite direction against other side of caliper.
3 is actually a piece you can use with a ratchet if you can apply enough pressure to get the plunger to go back in so number 1 and 2 not needed.
4 is the part that fit my car.

Lots of other parts to accommodate other sizes and since I was doing all four brakes, used one of the parts that fits perfectly on the fronts and then used a clamp and just squeezed it closed.

Only issue I had was when I went to pick up the kit, the number 1 part was broken and did not know it until I tried to put everything together. Had to go back to get another kit.

First rear wheel struggling with the cube and also the open ended wrench, and then finally getting the kit about 2 hours. Second rear wheel, 10 minutes.

 

One more thing, wanted to say thanks very much to Gus. He offered his assistance which I very much appreciated. That cube became very frustrating after a bit and when working on the wheels with it just jacked up, the position the caliper is in does not afford you to use all the strength you might have. I could see if you can get the car up in the air similar to in a service shop, might be easier to apply more pressure with cube to get it to work.

The kit is free with a deposit, so the way to go.

Thanks Gus!!!

 

Thank you for your kind words and your completion of a job well done. Kudos to you and you are on the road again.