Rear brakes push in or thread in piston?

[32styledTI]

Are the rear brake pistons push in or thread in on the Ti rear calipers?

do I need this tool or will my standard push in type piston return tool work fine???

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E36-318.../Tools/ES9747/

ive been looking at buying this for ages I think its time.. but does anyone know if this is needed on our rear brakes?

[tiFreak]

I'm pretty sure they're push in, it's been a while since I did them though

[1996 328ti]

They push in just like the front.

[32styledTI]

nice an easy eh... very good sir thanks for the responce.

damn i wanted to try using that tool it looks so neat
oh well money saved that I can use towards rear pads..

thanks again

[1996 328ti]

Originally Posted by 32styledTI

nice an easy eh... very good sir thanks for the responce.

damn i wanted to try using that tool it looks so neat
oh well money saved that I can use towards rear pads..

thanks again

I need that tool for my rear brakes on my Mini.
Maybe not.
That tool is overkill.

[zoner]

You generally only need that tool on cars with rear disc brakes where the emergency brake is actuated through the caliper. The ti does not have such a setup.

On cars where the e-brake IS actuated through the caliper, you usually always need that tool to get the piston completely retracted into the caliper when changing pads.

[1996 328ti]

On my Mini the rear piston needs to rotate as it's pushed in.

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by zoner

You generally only need that tool on cars with rear disc brakes where the emergency brake is actuated through the caliper. The ti does not have such a setup.

On cars where the e-brake IS actuated through the caliper, you usually always need that tool to get the piston completely retracted into the caliper when changing pads.

on our cars, the parking brake works like drum brakes. The brake shoes are located inside the rotor hats and are cable actuated. The calipers are a completely seperate system.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...09&hg=34&fg=40

[spidertri]

Jesse, I think you just proved zoner's point.

[cooljess76]

That tool can be used on our cars, it's just a piston spreader. It's really not necessary though. You can usually do it by hand fairly easily. Once you get the new pads lubed up ready to install, remove the old pads, remove the brake reservior cap(it relieves pressure and makes it easier to compress the pistons) and compress the pistons by hand. You'll need to work quickly as the pistons will slowly start closing. If the pistons are stubborn or if you have weak hands, use a screwdriver handle or something that won't mar up the piston and pry them open. Be careful not to damage the dust boots. They make brake pliers, but those are made for removing and installing the springs on drum brakes. They're usually too flimsy to compress the pistons on disc brake calipers. If you want to use channel lock pliers to compress the pistons, wrap a rag around the piston to prevent marring it with the jaws of the pliers.

[spidertri]

He stated that the ti does not have a caliper actuated parking brake. He was saying certain cars do have that type of rear caliper and do require the tool in the OP.

I know that on the Mk4 VW Jetta we have the rear parking brake is built into the rear caliper. The parking brake is cable actuated rather than hydraulic, but both brakes are in the same unit. We have to use the OP tool to retract the piston when doing a brake job.

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by spidertri

He stated that the ti does not have a caliper actuated parking brake. He was saying certain cars do have that type of rear caliper and do require the tool in the OP.

I know that on the Mk4 VW Jetta we have the rear parking brake is built into the rear caliper. The parking brake is cable actuated rather than hydraulic, but both brakes are in the same unit. We have to use the OP tool to retract the piston when doing a brake job.

Whoops! I misread his post. Somehow I read "on our cars" instead of "on cars", lol. I fixed my posts, thanks Dave

[32styledTI]

yes I understand... but I dont really understand the rear parking brake all that well because I never really had drum brakes.. only disc.

But I have had many cars in the past where having that tool would have made life much easer. I remember trying to turn the piston in with a screwdriver on my integra. I put it sideways in the large slot and turned it 180 degrees at a time, tho it was a pita to get it started because my woman always let the brakes run right down before letting me know It was time to change them an the piston was so far out by that point that it needs a little push and turn all at once to get it started! I never got to drive my own integra... imagine! On the corrado it was the same bs..tho i drove that all the time..

by the way thanks for the input guys

I do however have a piston retaction tool that presses in the front caliper pistons (the ones that just press in, before I had that tool it was 2x4 wedging to get it back it.. now that I have this tool I love using it and I live the way it presses in the piston. Im happy to know that I wont need to buy that ecs tool for the TI rear brakes! Now I can use that money for a new set of pads or to fix my non working ebrake...

I just gotta figure out the idea behind this cable actuated drum e brake setup
save on tools for disk and spend on pads for drum..damn

[32styledTI]

when I pull up on the ebrake in the car nothing...it feels like nothing is attached. how if any way can I tell if its a broken cable or is it possible the springs fell off? I also have a light on in the dash but that could be because of the rear pads being so warn down..

would I hear noises when i spin the wheel if the springs fell off the ebrake inside the drum? I have not taken it apart before...Im kinda scared to because this would be the car I need to drive to get my parts..

this is the first time Ive saw something like this...
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...09&hg=34&fg=40

[zoner]

Originally Posted by cooljess76

That tool can be used on our cars, it's just a piston spreader. It's really not necessary though. You can usually do it by hand fairly easily. Once you get the new pads lubed up ready to install, remove the old pads, remove the brake reservior cap(it relieves pressure and makes it easier to compress the pistons) and compress the pistons by hand. You'll need to work quickly as the pistons will slowly start closing. If the pistons are stubborn or if you have weak hands, use a screwdriver handle or something that won't mar up the piston and pry them open. Be careful not to damage the dust boots. They make brake pliers, but those are made for removing and installing the springs on drum brakes. They're usually too flimsy to compress the pistons on disc brake calipers. If you want to use channel lock pliers to compress the pistons, wrap a rag around the piston to prevent marring it with the jaws of the pliers.

^^^ Yes, for front brakes or rear brakes like ours that do not have the e-brake mechanism built into the caliper, but in systems where the e-brake is actuated through the caliper, it's not quite like a front caliper that you can just compress back into place- the rear caliper piston on systems that have the rear brake and e-brake as one actually have the piston riding on what is essentially an adjuster screw for the e-brake and the piston needs to be screwed back into place, not compressed, when you replace pads. Nothing is faster, easier, or will prevent damage to the piston or boot (or your hand!) like the tool that is specifically made for the job.

See #4 in the diagram below to understand what I'm talking about re: the piston/adjuster screw: