Caliper rewind tool (Think it was Laser brand)

 

It's some time since I used this on an Octavia 2 rear calipers but may be about to use again on an Octavia 3 rear calipers in the not too distant future. 

 

The thing is I can remember cursing it at the time as it would only wind the piston a little before coming up solid, requiring to be adjusted before rotating further, it was as if the pitch of the thread on the tool was greater than the amount the cylinder went in for each rotation. Something wrong with the caliper, the tool or how I'm using I thought.

 

Looking at some other forums it appears that the thread pitch is indeed not always matched to the piston advance - that's just the way they are. Seems a bit poor particularly as I don't remember any warning about this in the instructions. Can anyone confirm this?

 

Can't find - any figures for pitch on VW tool T10165/1 but looking at photographs the pitch looks less than on the tool I was using. The VW tool is of course VW priced and the ones that I can find on line are in America - Is anyone aware of a UK supplier of this tool or one with the same pitch on the threads.

Edited 6 August, 20205 yr by Octy0GG
Clarification - rear calipers

Maybe send Laser Tools an email on that subject, they do respond quickly, I've needed to talk to them about something a year or so ago.

 

What you are suggesting does make a bit of sense, I've only ever used my Sykes Picavant one on a 2000 VW Passat and a 2002 VW Polo, but I do know that when I replaced a calliper on that 2000 Passat, the Pagid or TRW refurbished calliper seemed to have a different lead screw pitch than the original, meaning that I needed to adjust the cable length on one side - not the best fix, replacing these callipers in pairs would have worked better, but I knew that I was not holding onto it for long.

Crack the bleed nipple off and work slowly.

The pitch on the rear caliper screw thread is very coarse. You'd need to be fairly specific to manufacture a tool with this thread pitch, which would make it a VW spcific tool and clearly impact the price. The wind - adjust method works just fine really, but if it concerns you so much then the VW tool (and price) would be the only other option I guess.

 

I've been using these tools since the 80's and never yet had the correct pitch combination between the tool & the self adjust mechanism, granted its easier when the pitch is less because it doesn't bind.

 

I recall the first time ever finding out that a tool was needed was at the Folembray race circuit close to where i now live, Sierra rear calipers on my Caterham, I had gone through the rear pads in the morning session and had to retract the pistons with water pump pliers and levers, after that I will never moan that a retraction tool is difficult to use.

Thanks all that have posted, at least it confirms that the thread pitches on the rewind tool and the calipers don't generally match so it's not unexpected that you would have to adjust the tool as you wind.

 

Funny, reading this reminded me of an old (Even then) Saab 900 Turbo I used to have. I need the front brakes changing and went to a few well-known brake "Specialists" To get them changed. "No can do-you need a special tool for those" Was the consensus.

 

I then bit the bullet and decided to do it myself as Saab dealershipw were quite pricey and I was on a tight budget. I got the parts no problem and searched as best I could for a tool, (No internet at the time). I then decided going to the main dealer was the only option so I did that. 

The main dealer price, for the official, genuine tool they themselves use to do brakes?  £15! Yep, similar to a rewind tool used on most brakes! 

 

It WAS a specific tool, similar to an angle grinder nut removal tool, with two pins  and e dog-leg shaped lever, as the pistons were kind of spiralled or threaded, like a gun barrel.

 

So, such a cheap tool to buy RETAIL, and no major brake company had any... Surely they must have lost many sales as at that time, Saab City, along with many Saab dealerships, were doing good business. Most Saab owners were the sort of people who didn't do the work themselves so payed top dollar to get brakes changed, along with most servicing. 

12 minutes ago, mrgf said:

Funny, reading this reminded me of an old (Even then) Saab 900 Turbo I used to have. I need the front brakes changing and went to a few well-known brake "Specialists" To get them changed. "No can do-you need a special tool for those" Was the consensus.

Another ex Saab 900 Turbo owner here (1992 Car) - didn't remember that .....  but then of course remembered yours must have been one of the earlier ones with the handbrake operating on the front wheels. 

...That it was. An old 1981, if memory serves.  4 door saloon, rather then 2 door or the hatchbacks, that were more popular. The handbrake cables went from left to right, right to left... Also, came up a very long way, by design. Had a bit of a disagreement with an MOT tester about that. He insisted two or three clicks was normal, mine was over raising. I had to teach him a lesson!

Hum, my mate has a 1975 SAAB 96 for fun, he has run used SAABS since 1975, so, many 96s + a few 95s, + 99s, 900s, 9-3s and 9-5s, and right now, he is trying to arrange for a 900 convertible to be transported up to Ayrshire from London! He never ever had a 9000 hatchback though maybe a couple of the sedan versions.