HI

I have a bit of an urgent problem with my fabia....the rear caliper on the right side has been giving me some jip I realise in hindsight, but failed to take proper notice....the rear seemed to be a bit squeely for quite a while

Well I have just realised its perhaps getting stuck and the pad was almost totally worn out (unevenly). I haven't checked the other side yet but think this is the worst, where its totally worn down. I'm now wanting to consider whether I should replace the thing (about £100) or should I try and refurbish it.

I've now removed the caliper, as I was trying to use circlips to revolve the thing around (clockwise) but didnt seem to be going in....and definitely would not turn the other way at all. The master cylinder cover is off so it shouldn't have presented any resistance and also the rear handbrake cable is not attached

It seemed to just "give" at one point and the piston seems like it had come out altogether, but then continued screwing in (maybe I'd have been better to split the seal and get it out at that point !).

Not sure what to do now with the caliper now other than replace it

Note that I would happily have taken it to be done, but as the pads were totally worn down I was worried about continuing to drive it so I though if I could just change the pads at least it would be drivable even if it still needed more work...what a mistake

Edited 11 August, 201015 yr by dominorising

you need a caliper rewind tool

available from halfords for £20 they take a bit of winding, get a bit of wd40 on the piston

or a quick google search

rewind tool

Edited 11 August, 201015 yr by BigJase88

Hello, agreed to the rewind tool, makes perfect sense now, I can't expect anything other than proper rewind tool will work, so should stop trying to use circlip pliers which someone had reccomended somewhere but it looks like nowhere near as good as the proper tools

Although I will disagree about the fluid.... as far as Im aware only thing touching brake components should be brake fluid and there is no shortage of that.

Could probably get away with it, but I don't think its something that should be done normally ?

Hello, agreed to the rewind tool, makes perfect sense now, I can't expect anything other than proper rewind tool will work, so should stop trying to use circlip pliers which someone had reccomended somewhere but it looks like nowhere near as good as the proper tools

Although I will disagree about the fluid.... as far as Im aware only thing touching brake components should be brake fluid and there is no shortage of that.

Could probably get away with it, but I don't think its something that should be done normally ?

its just to get the piston freed up. then wipe it all clean with an old rag, it only touches the back of the pad, which will obviously have copper slip on it anyway

I can't expect anything other than proper rewind tool will work, so should stop trying to use circlip pliers which someone had reccomended somewhere but it looks like nowhere near as good as the proper tools

I found out the hard way that you need a rewind tool for the back calliper (thank you Mr Haynes :wonder:). I improvised - I found a Y-shaped power-tool maintenance tool which had studs on the upper stalks, which fitted perfectly - held this in place under pressure with a g-cramp, and it worked (it was a lot of effort though, and I've since got the proper tool).

Amen to that...lots and lots of effort and movement, with very little result!

My pads though were really badly worn so it did take loads of winding in. Pads were almost totally worn to metal !

One extra comment here, maybe you should consider fitting external handbrake lever springs (Sharan ones are good), as this is probably what the problem was with the O/S calliper - its a well known problem and fitting external springs does help a lot.