Using the Brake Caliper Compression Tool

Brake Article

This tool makes doing the rear brakes much easier. You don't have to remove the caliper which means you avoid having to bleed the system. The rears have the parking brake mechanism built into the caliper. Because of this you have to rotate the piston in order to compress it.

This is the Kent Moore brake tool that costs around 350.00. MAC tools now has a tool that is 89.00 at MAC tools and well worth the price. There are different socket sizes so get the one with the 2 - 3/8" socket. This tool will allow you to turn and retract the piston without removing the caliper from the truck. The labor on a front and rear pad change is at least 700.00. The factory pads cost around 160.00 for the front and rears so one brake job will pay for the tool.

Once the rear caliper is moved away from the rotor and the old pads are out you can mount the compressor tool in the caliper. You simply put the big socket on the piston and slide the flat plate into the caliper. Screw the bolt so that the square end mates into the socket and turn the large diameter collar until the assembly is snug. Put a 9/16" ratchet on the bolt and start cranking.

t's not as easy as I thought. You really have to pull on the wrench. The caliper is hanging by the steel brake line at this point.You have to keep the caliper supported so you don't brake the line off. I took one of the longer bolts that I had removed from the undercarriage and screwed it into the support bracket. This held the caliper from dropping down and stressing the brake line.

Compress the piston so you only see about 1/16" of it sticking above the surface of the rotor. Once the piston is compressed you can continue the job normally. Back to the Brake Article