quick newbie brake question

[Heinz55]

changing brake pads and rotors for first time on 55 chevy with a 78 nova front clip.

How do I depress the caliper piston? I have tried the c-clamp trick, but I seem to be encountering a lot of resistance and no movement. is there a check valve? do I need to open the bleed port to relieve the pressure and then rebleed after pads on?

Seemed to be very easy to do this on my 2000 jeep cherokee, has the techniques changed that much?

any help appreciated, thanks in adavance

[swampfox]

Open the bleeder port and use the c clamp against the old pad .The pad will help keep the piston straight. If it still has a lot of resistance there might be a problem with the caliper or the bleeder may need cleaned.

[Heinz55]

So, opened bleeder, oil flows freely from it, still alot of resistance on this piston. Large C-clamp with 8" handle, I am putting a genorous amount of torgue on the clamp, still very little if no movement. Oil flows, but I assume it will be draining down from master cylinder if the bleeder valve is open no watter what I was doing to the piston


Any Ideas, do I need a new caliper?

[RootBeer 6117]

Heinz it sounds like you need a new caliper, most calipers retract with just a little pressure, The pistons seize in the caliper bore. They can be rebuilt but it's not worth the time or effort,most parts sell them re-man pretty cheap.Try the other side too you may need more than one.

[pgf545]

Also check the rubber line, I just did the brakes on a Chevelle and one of the lines was collapsed. Might try to remove the line and then see if the piston moves. If it is still hard then the caliper if no good. If it does then the line might be causing your problem..

Bernie

[Heinz55]

well, a 1 hour job turns into all day. Pasenger side caliper was a dream. driver side was able to retract, but only after pushinf piston out a bit with more brake pressure and then working it with a c-clamp. repeat, repeat, finally able to put pads on. looking at old pads, drivers side pads are worn evenly inner and outer pad, but overall drivers pads has a lot more wear than passengers side. Vehicle was out of alignment by a lot before this.


If I replace caliper, should I do both at same time?

Oh, and thanks to all the great advice, BTW