[realroadrage]

Can anyone recommend a decent hand tool to compress brake pistons? I don't have air. I've used giant pliers in the past, but I read somewhere that there are hand tools designed to rotate and compress the piston, which sounds like what I'm looking for. This would be general purpose across multiple cars, not a special Porsche tool or anything like that.

[Ryan]

[jerome951]

I have this:
http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-3033-lisle-25750.aspx
Works great on the track car and has worked just fine on my wife's Maxima.

You're free to borrow it if you want to pick it up and try it. I won't need it for a while.

However, it doesn't rotate the piston if you're looking for one to use w/ the integral e-brake. There are other tools for that.

[arob]

This may be what you're talking about?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=97143

[realroadrage]

Thanks, guys. 3 great suggestions.

[roundel]

For all but the stupid parking brake VW/Audi rear pistons, this is my weapon of choice.

http://www.buyhardwaresupplies.com/?...emNumber=23614

[Roxtar]

$9
put one end against your old pad, the other wide bit against the piston and turn
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...&brandName=OEM

[Trak Ratt]

Are you looking for something that will rotate the piston after insertion in the caliper? For steel pistons like on your Carrera I use a small drift /screw driver / chisel / long nosed vice grips. You just carefully tap the set back edge to rotate piston. Of course you are a head of the game if you line them up close and use assembly lube before reinstalling. Just use a big HF c-clamp for the initial installation if you can’t just push them in. Ryan’s alternative is a little pricy for me at ~ $225
I also make a quick cardboard template to help line up the piston.

[Jazzbass]

Originally Posted by mscheidt

Can anyone recommend a decent hand tool to compress brake pistons? I don't have air. I've used giant pliers in the past, but I read somewhere that there are hand tools designed to rotate and compress the piston, which sounds like what I'm looking for. This would be general purpose across multiple cars, not a special Porsche tool or anything like that.

Different caliper types need different tools. Floating calipers swing out from the rotor and you can use these type of compression tools. Porsche calipers don't so you need a tool more like the one Ryan shows. For Porsche calipers I simply use a screwdriver and the old brake pad to push the pistons back in. Leverage the screwdriver on the edge of the rotor with the tip on the face of the pad. Screwdriver pushes pad, pad pushes piston. If you have Brembo calipers, the soft aluminum pistons are protected from being scratched.

[87turbolook911]

Autozone provides a comprehensive loaner brake kit for FREE!!

Just put a $90 deposit (credit card) then they credit back once you return the tools.