My rear pads need replacing shortly (once I've replaced a broken front spring and various other bits & pieces)

I know that ideally I need a wind-back tool, but is it essential? I've done them on other cars by hand, and am a bit reluctant to shell out around £30 for a tool that will prolly only get used about once every 3 or 4 years.

Is it possible to wind them back using, for example, pointed nose pliers, or is the tool essential?

If it is necessary, can anyone suggest a suitably cheap make and model?

After all, if it's going to cost me £30+, I might as well get it done and save myself the aggro. (But I hate to pay somebody else to do work for me - unless it's p*ssing down with rain of course)

GSF mate, £21 for the windback tool if you get freedom membership discount. and they work a treat, so easy to use and Id say a must have.

Hi mate as Billy states they are much cheaper than £30. I have seen them for around £17

And yes you do need them. It is a absolute nightmare without one and would make the job a pain, to the point you might not even be able to do it.

You have to press the piston whilst getting something to turn it at the same time. Trust me don't do it without one.

Mark

You don't give your location. If you have a Bennetts near you it will cost you £12.93 for the Sealey one.

Here's the link

http://www.bennetts.com/brake-service-tools/vs024-440451-80987-.php

Thanks for all the info. guys - and for reminding me to update my details - and it's just as I thought. Get the right tools and do the job properly.

I know I can spend a couple of hours bodging it, but as the saying goes "I'm getting to old for this ****"

I hadn't thought of GSF, and we do have a Sealey stockist locally, but tbh their prices to be a bit on the pricey side.

The nearest Bennetts is about 90 miles away, but we're off to stay with friends in Welwyn G C next weekend and there's a branch there, so I think that tomorrow I'll give my mate a ring and get him to pick one up for me.

I just changed my rear discs and pads on Saturday - and attempted it without a windback tool. Tried using a G clamp but it wasnt big enough. Ended up going out and buying a windback tool.

Got one I think its a Laser one - basically a t bar screw with a fitting on the end that fits onto the piston. Half way along the thread of th screw theres a sleeve that the plate sits on that pushes against the opposite side of the caliper.

Well, F me blind did it drive me mad!! Tightened it on (by hand) and the piston retracted. Went to loosen it - NOTHING. Wouldnt budge. Got a socket and wrench at it and was hanging off the thing for ages trying to get it off. Figured out in the end that the sleeve that holds the plate was jammed on the thread and so was not moving independently of it so me trying to loosen the thread was just tightening the sleeve into the caliper. The plate on the sleeve (5mm thick) was bent with the force! Ended up having to tighten the whole thing further in order to get the sleeve to come free.

I know that is awfully confusing to read - its hard to explain! But basically be careful if you buy a Laser windback tool and make sure to lubricate the thread before starting!!

Also I've found that when you use the Laser windback tool, don't push the plate all the way on to the threaded bit, just have it sort of half-on half-off. This is because the inside edge of the caliper is angled so if you push the plate all the way on and then try to use the windback tool to push the piston in, it pushes it in at an angle and it won't go in properly. I did a diagram somewhere on a previous thread on this.