Been a while since I've been so frustrated with a car. Front brakes and rotors went smoothly, outside of the rattle springs. The rears are an absolute nightmare. I cannot get the pistons to retract.

I have:

Put the parking brake in service mode via SDD
Removed the parking brake pull wire
Used the 5mm Amazon universal brake retraction kit
Released the bleeder valve, I read somewhere that it helped, but it didn't, and now I have brake fluid all over the place in addition

Only attached to a socket wrench can I get the piston to even rotate, and it doesn't even seem to retract one bit. Been spinning it slowly clockwise and swearing for an hour and it doesn't look to have retracted at all.

Any ideas?

 

I found this thread, but I didn't have a problem at all when I did mine so no personal insight from me.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...e-both-159017/

 

Yes I have that kit from Amazon. Im pretty sure my piston is just rotating in place. The rubber dust cover is on the verge of starting to rip. Im not sure what to do at this point.

 

Are you PUSHING it in while you turn? The turn is only required for awhile until the internal adjuster resets.

 

I have tried, the Left Side piston rotates free-er than the right side, but neither will retract, even pushing in while turning. I've tried socket, impact wrench, and the Amazon rotary tool.

 

If it were me, I'd remove the caliper totally from the car. Maybe slowly pop out the piston with compressed air and see wassup inside the cylinder. They are very simple things, so not a lot can go wrong.

 

I have the caliper removed. It will only retract to a certain point. I can expand it to it's max. It takes a ton of force. How do I get inside the thing?

 

Well, I finally got the stupid thing retracted. I had to disconnect the brake line, take the entire caliper out, and push down on a socket wrench with all my might. The dust shield "locked" around the piston and is now busted. Any chance that can be replaced, or is it time for a new caliper either way?

 

Sorry about your troubles, that really sucks! Those rattle springs were a pain although once I mastered getting the first one on (after much cursing) I was able to effortless do the second.

I elected to have my dealer put on the rear pads though, they agreed to put on the rears for $220 with the pads I provided. Your experience probably would have been mine so glad I did.

Good luck, should be able to get a new seal?

 

It looks like I can get a refurbished kit, not sure if I can DIY, or if I need to buy the refurbished caliper at ~$120

I have the pads and rotors finally done though. Man is the brake pedal very spongy, but didn't have time to do a bleed after this took all day and will have to save that for next week. I assume I let in a ton of air removing the calipers, so that should definitely help.

 

Seems like a good time to do a Complete Fluid Change!!! Brake fluid his hygroscopic, and it absorbs moisture. That's bad. A change should be done every 2-4 years.

 

Yep I was going to do it today but ran out of time given how long it took to retract the rear. A fluid change will have to be next week. Hopefully that should solve the problem. Nothing like spending all this time and feeling like the system is worse!

 

If it's me, I'd reconnect the caliper and check the movement and manually retract again. I think it will be easier the second time around.

You don't note your year, make, model and which brake package you have but if memory serves, when I had my Super V8, it had Brembo's and I was able to replace the rubber. I had the same problem as you and once I completed the "piston retraction from hell", movement was fine.

 

I have 07 XKR, standard brakes.

 

OK this is the part that I used on my SV8. I can't see where it lists your car in the details so I can't confirm (set is right at the top under deals) I say this because it says it fits an 07 XKR but I don't know how it can if it fit my Brembo's. Perhaps a call to the vendor?
https://www.ebay.com/b/Brake-Caliper...Coupe%202-Door

I saw nothing in the EPC.

 

Here's another that says it fits

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Disc-Brake-...C+Supercharged

BTW, it's not about the car model so much as the piston size so I think the piston is 45 mm, it should fit.

And another. Guessing only that S-Type and XKR used the same brakes:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/c...pe?prefilter=1