Retracting Rear Caliper Piston When Replacing Pads?

[Guest Klock]

Hi,

 

I am about to replace front discs and pads and rear pads on a 2006 C5 estate and have obtained a copy of the Citroen service manual on CD.

 

The service manual translation says to 'release a few dros of fluid' to retract the rear pistons to make room for the new pads. The only way I could see this done would be to undo the bleed nipple, something I don't really want to do (don't open a sealed system unless absolutely required), whilst pushing the pistons back.

 

Can anybody tell me if this is the only way to get the rear pistons back or is there a way without cracking open the nipple?

 

Thanks.

 

Kevin.

[techbod]

you don't need to bleed them you have to turn the piston and press it in at the same time ( rear only as it has the hand break ) front are just press in.

 

http://www.eurocarparts.com/sealey/images/VS024.jpg

 

halfords have them for £22

[Guest Klock]

you don't need to bleed them you have to turn the piston and press it in at the same time ( rear only as it has the hand break ) front are just press in.

 

Thanks for the reply but the C5 II has the hand brake operating on the front wheels. I have access to the tool to turn the front pistons and plenty of info on this forum and the service manual.

 

Does anybody know if the rear pistons on the C5 II just push in?

[techbod]

ahh same as the xantia then I didn't think they would be like that :rolleyes: but as its the same as the xantia the rear pistons just push in as its only the hand break pistons need to be turned in

[Johndouglas]

you don't need to bleed them you have to turn the piston and press it in at the same time ( rear only as it has the hand break ) front are just press in.

 

 

Do this and you'll knacker your system for sure. The pistons on the rear brakes will just push back in. No need to open the nipples. On the front, where the handbrake is, the pistons have to be wound back. The offside wind back anticlockwise and the nearside go back clockwise. Try anything other way and they'll be damaged.

[coastline taxis]

stick with the john douglas reply and the job will go ok. Just check that the rear pads arnt wedge shaped (mainly the inner one) if they are then youl need to remove the calipers and take the corrosion off where the caliper meets the arm

[Randombloke]

stick with the john douglas reply and the job will go ok.

 

AOL, I agree.

 

I have bought a piston turning back tool in Halfords for 20 notes, it does not list any PSA car but I tried it this afternoon and it works.

 

The tool is exactly the same one as techbod posted in the picture.

[Johndouglas]

The tool is exactly the same one as techbod posted in the picture.

 

 

As I said earlier, the front pistons on the C5 turn in opposite directions - offside anticlockwise; nearside clockwise. I can't see for sure but it loooks like the Sealy tool shown only turns one way.

[techbod]

it turns both ways the cross bar you see is for right hand then you use a spanner below the cross bar for left hand turn ( I have that tool ) its only flaw is it only has one head to turn the relevant piston depending on make of car so more heads are required for different makes but you can make it work with a little effort

 

http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&am...sa=N&tab=wi

 

you can also use it to push the piston back on the none hand break pistons by removing the rotating end then place the old pad over the piston then just turn and it pushes it in so you don't need to use a G clamp

[coastline taxis]

it turns both ways the cross bar you see is for right hand then you use a spanner below the cross bar for left hand turn ( I have that tool ) its only flaw is it only has one head to turn the relevant piston depending on make of car so more heads are required for different makes but you can make it work with a little effort

 

http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&am...sa=N&tab=wi

 

you can also use it to push the piston back on the none hand break pistons by removing the rotating end then place the old pad over the piston then just turn and it pushes it in so you don't need to use a G clamp

Just another daft tip that will save you work later on. Rub vaseline/grease/copperslip/wd40 onto the rubber dust cover that goes over the piston before you push it back as it will help the rubber remain intack and stop the piston from seizing

[Guest Klock]

stick with the john douglas reply and the job will go ok. Just check that the rear pads arnt wedge shaped (mainly the inner one) if they are then youl need to remove the calipers and take the corrosion off where the caliper meets the arm

 

Thanks for the information.

 

When I took out the rear pads 10,000 miles ago due to the usual C5 brake squeal the pads were slightly wedge shaped so I expected to see the caliper off line but after checking between the disc and caliper with feeler gauge I had 3 thou difference top to bottom but the pads were stuck at the bottom all round due to dust and rust build up in the caliper thanks to Citroens brake service - spray with brake cleaner!!! :( I took the pads out cleaned out the caliper and pad plates, greased all with copperslip and rebuilt. No brake squeal until now - I expect due to the car being serviced recently and again the brakes sprayed with loads of brake cleaner and all the slip washed off.

 

This time round I will be replacing the pads as they were slightly wedge shaped as above.

 

Regards,

 

Kevin.

[bigdavie]

why oh why didnt i check this forum before doing the brakes on my c5 ?!

 

i had the offside piston out in no time flat ! unamused ! but no bother ! saw it was a reverse thread and just assumed the other side would be the same ! uh uh !! anyhoo bled through the o/s no bother then lost the light my question is how much is a new piston because it has been open to the elements for 3 days now as its been far to wild to work on a car ! (west of scotland !)

 

on top of a new piston do i need a new dust seal too ?

[techbod]

you only need to clean the piston up and re-use it im not sure if you can buy a service kit for this these days but ive used it without the rubber dust seal many times and just greased the outside of the piston

[bigdavie]

you only need to clean the piston up and re-use it im not sure if you can buy a service kit for this these days but ive used it without the rubber dust seal many times and just greased the outside of the piston

cheers for that mate !

[techbod]

im here to save cash ;) not waste it, im a budget man any old spares like a C6 or any very expensive cars are welcome :rolleyes:

[mlkey]

you only need to clean the piston up and re-use it im not sure if you can buy a service kit for this these days but ive used it without the rubber dust seal many times and just greased the outside of the piston

 

Should ALWAYS use the dust seal, its there for a reason! Grease will only collect dirt, ultimately leading to grit getting into the piston bore. For the sake of a few quid, don't put your own, and others safety at risk.

[techbod]

hmmm interesting answer ( a few quid :rolleyes: ) when was the last time you serviced a caliper? truth be known is most never do unless the pads are being changed and even then most don't fully service it,

the piston only comes out when the pads ware down so can be cleaned when fitting new pads ( they don't pulse in and out causing score marked as such ), I suppose its how you look at things really I doubt not having the rubber dust seal would affect how the breaks work ( the grease stops dirt getting in there ) its a short cut to a repair only unless you can get a service kit