Rear brake pads.

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

Is there a manual adjustment on the rear caliper that needs to be turned to open the piston so I can install new pads? It has been a long time since I did the rear pads. Front pads take 2 minutes to do as they are the Wilwood calipers. Rear calipers are 99 stock. I have the manual for the 01-05 and it has a rear adjustment screw but I don't see that on my 99.

Thanks

[Gman7007]

Yes, there is a bolt covering it that may be coated with dirt. The parking brake cable may hide it as well.

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

Well, there was a rubber cap over the bolt that comes off to drop the caliper but I don't see one fopr an adjustmet for the piston? Any pictures?

[Gman7007]

I editted above post between replies. There is a bolt you must remove to get to it.

(I was originally thinking of my Maxima)

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

Ah. OK. I think I know where that bolt is.

Thanks

[bogey]

Remove the metal cap on the back of the caliper (unscrews). There is an allen head bolt (4 or 5mm?) recessed in the hole. Loosen so the piston can be withdrawn.

After putting back together, tighten the adjuster till the pads are gripping the rotor, then back off about 1/2-3/4 turn. If parking brake needs adjusting, there is a 10mm on the side of the brake lever in the cabin under the plastic cover.

[Tom @ Fast Forward]

I found that adjuster. It turns easy but the piston didn't seem to move. It got late last night and I gave up for the night. Wouldn't be so bad but those Hawk pads are THICK. :) I am back on the road today for a few days to Montana. Was hoping to take the Miata but it will be the Malibu instead. Will finish the brakes when I get back.

[tann3r]

I just put new pads (XP-8) and rotors in the rear and i had to back the adjuster all the way out untill it stopped and the caliper still barely fit over the pads.

Be sure to lube up those pins while you have it apart. Siezed caliper pins are a pain in the butt. Took an air hammer to coax my LR caliper off.

[99mx5]

I also installed the XPS8 on the rear with new Carbotech rotors last week and I had no problems. In fact, I had so much space, I had to pump the brakes to get the pads to seat on the brake disk.

There is some free play between the adjuster screw and piston. You have to unscrew the adjuster as far as it will go, then push the piston in and unscrew the bolt again... rinse and repeat. If you do this, you can back the piston all the way to flush the fluid chamber behind the piston.

[Mark]

The last time I changed rear pads, I couldn't get the piston to retract enough to get the new ones over the rotor. Turns out I had a cracked seal on the piston which allow some corrosion to form on the piston. The corrosion kept it from retracting all the way. To get back on the road, I was able to take the piston out and polish up good as new. That at least allowed me to spend some time looking for a new caliper and more importantly, go to an autocross the very next morning.