brake pads help!

Heather · 03-29-2002, 06:33 PM

I have a '98 4 cylinder and I tried to replace the brake pads but I couldn't get the shoe off the rotor. It wouldn't budge at all. can somebody tell me what's going on here?

GreenTJ · 03-29-2002, 06:36 PM

You mean the caliper? I had to use a big screwdriver to pry it up.

Heather · 03-29-2002, 06:39 PM

That's what it is! but it won't move much at all is that normal? I took out the top and bottom screws and I still could move it much

GreenTJ · 03-29-2002, 06:47 PM

Yeah they're on there pretty good. Just use a big flat blade screw driver and put the nd on the rotor and pry the calipers up. On mine they took a good amount of muscle. Also remember to be careful not to poke a hole in the pistons when compressing them. Good luck!

Heather · 03-29-2002, 06:51 PM

Thanks a bunch I'll have to try that! unfortunately I've already burned all my daylight so that'll have to wait until tomorrow but I got new tires yesterday so I've gotta go get'em muddy! Thanks again!

GreenTJ · 03-29-2002, 07:41 PM

Hey no problem. Have fun 4xin tonight with the new tires! By the way, what kind did ya get?

4wheeler4CJ · 03-30-2002, 09:37 AM

Wait a minute! Don't pry in them, just use a c-clamp to compress your piston, they come right off. They are only tight because the piston is holding the pads against the rotor. You have to open your reservoir, take out some fluid to make room for the fluid "backup", and compress it with a c-clamp. Read the manual first before you do this, the procedure is all in there. If you don't compress it, you can easily damage your calipers/pistons. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

GreenTJ · 04-01-2002, 11:42 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by 4wheeler4CJ:
Wait a minute! Don't pry in them, just use a c-clamp to compress your piston, they come right off. They are only tight because the piston is holding the pads against the rotor. You have to open your reservoir, take out some fluid to make room for the fluid "backup", and compress it with a c-clamp. Read the manual first before you do this, the procedure is all in there. If you don't compress it, you can easily damage your calipers/pistons. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <hr /></blockquote>Thanks, your way (and also the manuel's way- I checked) is probably better, however when I did my front brake pads 2 weeks ago I simply used a block of wood over the piston and used the screwdriver to *slowly* compress them. It worked fine.

4wheeler4CJ · 04-03-2002, 10:20 AM

LOL, that's how we learn, right? By our mistakes, LOL!

03-29-2002, 06:36 PM	#2
GreenTJ Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Sammamish, Washington Posts: 90 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	You mean the caliper? I had to use a big screwdriver to pry it up. __________________ 97 TJ SE, 2.5L 5spd. Poweraid, sort of an intake, 31" BFG AT/KOs, Old Man Emu suspension, JKS, Hella 500s, Cobra CB, Sailcloth top. Sun Performance rock rails, Flowmaster 50 series. Bob Suplee: supplee@ionet.net "Dreamin in Red White and Blue"

03-29-2002, 06:47 PM	#4
GreenTJ Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Sammamish, Washington Posts: 90 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Yeah they're on there pretty good. Just use a big flat blade screw driver and put the nd on the rotor and pry the calipers up. On mine they took a good amount of muscle. Also remember to be careful not to poke a hole in the pistons when compressing them. Good luck! __________________ 97 TJ SE, 2.5L 5spd. Poweraid, sort of an intake, 31" BFG AT/KOs, Old Man Emu suspension, JKS, Hella 500s, Cobra CB, Sailcloth top. Sun Performance rock rails, Flowmaster 50 series. Bob Suplee: supplee@ionet.net "Dreamin in Red White and Blue"

03-29-2002, 07:41 PM	#6
GreenTJ Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Sammamish, Washington Posts: 90 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Hey no problem. Have fun 4xin tonight with the new tires! By the way, what kind did ya get? __________________ 97 TJ SE, 2.5L 5spd. Poweraid, sort of an intake, 31" BFG AT/KOs, Old Man Emu suspension, JKS, Hella 500s, Cobra CB, Sailcloth top. Sun Performance rock rails, Flowmaster 50 series. Bob Suplee: supplee@ionet.net "Dreamin in Red White and Blue"

04-01-2002, 11:42 PM	#8
GreenTJ Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Sammamish, Washington Posts: 90 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by 4wheeler4CJ: <strong>Wait a minute! Don't pry in them, just use a c-clamp to compress your piston, they come right off. They are only tight because the piston is holding the pads against the rotor. You have to open your reservoir, take out some fluid to make room for the fluid "backup", and compress it with a c-clamp. Read the manual first before you do this, the procedure is all in there. If you don't compress it, you can easily damage your calipers/pistons. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Thanks, your way (and also the manuel's way- I checked) is probably better, however when I did my front brake pads 2 weeks ago I simply used a block of wood over the piston and used the screwdriver to slowly compress them. It worked fine. __________________ 97 TJ SE, 2.5L 5spd. Poweraid, sort of an intake, 31" BFG AT/KOs, Old Man Emu suspension, JKS, Hella 500s, Cobra CB, Sailcloth top. Sun Performance rock rails, Flowmaster 50 series. Bob Suplee: supplee@ionet.net "Dreamin in Red White and Blue"

03-29-2002, 06:39 PM	#3
Heather Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Annapolis, Maryland Posts: 3 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	That's what it is! but it won't move much at all is that normal? I took out the top and bottom screws and I still could move it much

03-29-2002, 06:51 PM	#5
Heather Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Annapolis, Maryland Posts: 3 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Thanks a bunch I'll have to try that! unfortunately I've already burned all my daylight so that'll have to wait until tomorrow but I got new tires yesterday so I've gotta go get'em muddy! Thanks again!

03-30-2002, 09:37 AM	#7
4wheeler4CJ Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Southern Rhode Island Posts: 1,725 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Wait a minute! Don't pry in them, just use a c-clamp to compress your piston, they come right off. They are only tight because the piston is holding the pads against the rotor. You have to open your reservoir, take out some fluid to make room for the fluid "backup", and compress it with a c-clamp. Read the manual first before you do this, the procedure is all in there. If you don't compress it, you can easily damage your calipers/pistons. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

04-03-2002, 10:20 AM	#9
4wheeler4CJ Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Southern Rhode Island Posts: 1,725 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	LOL, that's how we learn, right? By our mistakes, LOL! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />