Rear Jetta Calipers Seized?

VW97JettaTDI · November 21st, 2009, 16:55

Basically in sum, my resr calipers piston is stuck pushed out, i pulled the ebrake arm and can expand the piston but can not push it back in. the caluiper is removed from the car and has brake line off as well as the bleeder valve( i thought if i took them off it might decide to return back inside the caliper, lol)

So i was in mid process of painting some used calipers with a coating of VHT paint both front and rear. And to prevent getting any paint on the shaft to rotating emergency brake lever arm i decided to wire tie the emergency brake pull lever depressed as if the brake is being used while i painted the calipers. Then since i got busy with school and work i hadn't been back to my project for four months, i figured it was a good thing since i herd its good to let paint set. But when i went back the other week and attempted to install the callipers, but one of the rear calipers pistons will not depress back into the caliper. I attempted in every way to push it in but it wont, however when i released the brake arm from wire ties and depressed it again i could expand the piston but not compress it. so i not have the piston sticking out with no way of pushing it back in, the other side is almost the same, except its only slightly stuck out, and when i actuate the break. The piston moves out but then moves back when i release it. Yet the piston is stuck a little to far out so i cant fit the pads in with the caliper over the rotor. Any advice? tips or thoughts?

Ol'Rattler · November 21st, 2009, 21:42

Probably not seized.................You need a tool to retract the pistons. You have to turn and push the piston at the same time to get it to retract.

LiLredTDI · November 22nd, 2009, 08:24

x2 you will NEVER get it back in without the correct tool. dont cheap out and buy the 5 dollar box thing that fits on a ratchet it will drive you INSANE!!! Buy a metelnerd or harbor fright kit to acomplish this task.

Ol'Rattler · November 22nd, 2009, 08:43

That $5 cube thing works pretty good, actually. The trick is to remove the disk, bolt the caliper back on and then just lean against the cube with your ratchet and turn..............................

Birdman · November 22nd, 2009, 16:10

Most auto parts stores (autozone-advance auto) will loan you the tool to do the job. You pay for it then when you return it they return your money. No need to spend money on a tool you will only use once or twice for most people anyway.

VW97JettaTDI · November 26th, 2009, 09:28

alright, i guess ill take it into autozone saturday and see what happens, thanks!

owr084 · November 26th, 2009, 12:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Birdman

No need to spend money on a tool you will only use once or twice for most people anyway.

Bite your tongue!

One should never turn down the chance to buy new tools. Now, if any of you need to replace the clutch plate on a 5 speed tranny from a 1978 Toyota pickup, I have the clutch alignment tool

BustedTDI · November 26th, 2009, 22:56

Same thing happened to me, I took off both rear calipers and took them into Autozone, where they cranked them back in for me....

VW97JettaTDI · February 18th, 2010, 12:49

lol, yeah this happened so long ago, but before this i forgot that some calipers needed to be pressed and twisted at the same time. i picked up the tool which locked into the piston and compressed the pistons. works great.