06 XJ8 L Is the rear brake piston compressed by screwing into the caliper chamber instead of the usual compressing it with a clamp? If so what tool is used? And how do I loosen the piston to change the pads?

I might add that at this point the piston is totally out and does not budge more than a cm trying to put it back in. and the cable which I assume is for the parking brake is fully retracted and does not budge.


Threads in the interior, and how freely should that inner piece spin? It moves but very tight.

And the rubber sleeve keeps getting in the way when I try to re-insert the piston.

 

AllData says to use tool 206-080 piston re-tractor tool and also 303-588 crankshaft pulley/damper remover to compress the piston.

However you may be able to get away with using a universal tool to screw the piston into the caliper.

It also says the parking brake has to be disconnected. Then the system needs to be re-calibrated once connected again.

Oh and that rubber sleeve will probably have to come off. Typically when you put the piston back into the caliper the dust boot goes on the piston and then the piston goes into the caliper. It is then seated into a groove. However you will likely tear it taking it off and may as well just buy a new one. TBH since you have the piston out I would just pick up a rebuild kit. You have already done most of the work...

 

Thanks,

I did see that the rubber seal was torn in more than one place so I will buy a new one. The piston is back in and I don't intend to mess with it again. But I have the whole caliper removed at the moment. Anything else I should do before reinstalling it?

 

Also, there's a note in the factory manual about bleeding the rear calipers, due to difficulty in getting all the air out. You remove the caliper from the rotor, let the piston come out and press the 2 pads directly together, bleed, retract the piston, and bleed again