I'm putting new rear pads on the wifes 03 and was wondering if Honda's require a special brake seperator. The piston has a + in the center of it and was wondering if they makes something that fits in the piston in that spot. I would think a C clamp would do the trick but the caliper is really long. I know Autozone sells a little $8 tool but didn't know if anyone had experience with this year of Accord and had any advice.

 

Yes, there's a tool that is made to fit that "+" shape. However, you can just use a pair of needle nose pliers to turn the piston counterclockwise. (Turning it couterclockwise will push the piston back in.) I use an old drum brake tool that I've had laying around b/c I can get more leverage with it. I just lay it in one of the slots and start turning.

 

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!! I didn't know you turn it to get it back in..........

What an idiot!

 

haha, no biggie. I didn't realize it at first either. Oh, btw, it's only the rears the can be turned back in like that. For the front you still need to use a large C-clamp.

EDIT:
Oh, I almost forgot to mention... After you twist the piston back in, make sure one of the grooves lines up with the little tab on the brake pad. You'll see what I'm talking about when you look at the pads.

 

Thanks.

I had the car all tore apart last night and had to put the old pads back in because I couldn't figure it out. I've never had to use a C clamp before, always pushed them back in with a block of wood but the bastards wouldn't budge. Now I know why!!!

 

When you turn it you just have to make sure that you line the piston back up right or you will mess it up and you pads will wear wrong and fast!

 

Could you elaborate?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">EDIT:
Oh, I almost forgot to mention... After you twist the piston back in, make sure one of the grooves lines up with the little tab on the brake pad. You'll see what I'm talking about when you look at the pads. </TD></TR></TABLE>

do you see the "+" groove? easiest way is to turn @ 90 degree angles a bit @ a time or what philadd stated in the above quote...

you want that groove to line up w/ the nipples on the back of the pads... so pads would sit flush in the piston & would properly compensate itself evenly when the parking brake engages to take up the slack when the pads start "thinning" out/ wearing down

 

Got the pads on and didn't see the post with the nipple stuff lining up with the groovy stuff but may take it apart this weekend and check it out. I just figured the piston rotates as it comes out just as it doesn't when you twist it back in so didn't think to line anything up when putting them on.

For the record to draw the piston back in it's clockwise.

Boy did I feel like and idiot, took no time to do once I found out to rotate that bastard.

 

yeah, it's clockwise... not sure why i said counterclockwise.