How do you change rear brakes and compress piston on a Mercury Sable?

Answer 1

See "Related Links" below, for Autozone's on-line repair manual for 1996-1999 Taurus & Sable rear brake repair instructions.

Invaluable resource - for free! Okay, I did my disc brakes yesterday and offer the following: * The first 2 steps in the Autozone steps are about disconnecting the emergency brake cable - this is not necessary! On the driver's side, you might want to remove the cable clamp holding the cable up against the frame. * NOTE: the piston needs to rotate as it is compressed!There are notches in the face of the piston that are intended to help create both rotation and inward pressure.

Get a caliper piston compression tool! Many parts stores offer them for loan or rent. You definitely want one! (I fabricated my own from Plumbing parts - didn't have a car available to go back to the parts store) * To compress the piston, follow these steps- : :# Remove the caliper and bracket :# Remove the rotor :# Put the bracket and caliper back on (don't bother really tightening the bolts) :# Put a c-clamp on that holds the caliper to the bracket - one end over the one of the caliper mounting bolts. : Now you can put lots of pressure up against the piston with the compression tool with both hands! Much easier. * Make sure the slide bolts on the caliper are moving freely. One of mine was rusted in place - took lots of heat, penetrating oil and patience to get it loose. : NOTE - be sure to peel off the rubber boot before you fire up the propane torch! : Wire brush the bolt and re-grease the whole thing under the rubber boot. * I found rotors for only $18 each and just replaced both. I haven't had rotors turned/re-surfaced in years. Easier to just put new ones on. * I love ceramic brake pads! I really appreciate the total lack of brake dust all over my wheels! Typically around $40-45, so their not much more than the metallics. I replaced the brake pads on my mom's 93 Taurus and the rear pads required a special tool to collapse the caliper. My brother is a technician for Ford and I used his tool that cost 75 dollars.

You cant use a C clamp - it won't work.

The trick is that the piston has to rotate and essentially screw itself back into the caliper.

There are two notches in the face of the piston that a 'special' tool fits into to help you rotate it while pushing in.

Late one Sunday afternoon was when I discovered this - no stores to get the 'right' tool from. I actually fabricated one out of a piece of galvanized pipe connector -and lots of grinding. Crude, but functional.

Many parts stores have a tool loaner option. You may even find this tool at affordable prices if you check around. You need a special tool available for rent at some parts stores. They should be able to tell you how to use it. The trick is that the piston has to rotate and essentially screw itself back into the caliper.

There are two notches in the face of the piston that a 'special' tool fits into to help you rotate it while pushing in.

Late one Sunday afternoon was when I discovered this - no stores to get the 'right' tool from. I actually fabricated one out of a piece of galvanized pipe connector -and lots of grinding. Crude, but functional. Rear disc brakes on Sables are more complicated then front brakes. If the rear brake unit has the parking brake attached to the side with a circular spring, then the rear brakes cannot be pressed back into place like the front ones. There is a brake tool needed to rotate the cylinder back into place. if your caliper piston is not depressing easily, it may be siezed. this is common in most vehicles with rear disc brakes Should I be depressing the piston as I am turning clockwise? Hal This is one of the worst, most arm wrenching jobs going. You need a gold 'cube' brake tool, available from most auto supply stores. You use a ratchet to hold the tool and compress the piston as you twist. It can take hours - as the cube will continually slip off (watch your hands). Supposedly if you open the bleeder valve it will just twist right in, spewing brake fluid everywhere. Never tried that. I did it once, and on the other side, I just simply replaced the caliper to avoid the pain and suffering. Use a big C-clamp. This will force fluid back up into the reservoir. Some will spill out if you have recently filled it. Clean up ASAP. If you are trying to change rear disc brakes on a 93 Mercury Sable, you will need a caliper removal tool set. You will find a small square type tool at auto parts stores that cost around $10 but these will not fit properly when trying to relieve the pressure so DO NOT purchase for a 1993 - the slots are not wide enough. Go to an auto parts store that offers a tool loan program (I went to A.Z.) and ask for the disc caliper removal set - you will have to leave a deposit. The one I got came in a red plastic case and there were around 6 or so round metal discs inside, each with differing widths for different models, a clamp used to turn the metal discs and a piece of metal shaped the same way as the brake pads. I cannot remember exactly how they worked now but once you get the CORRECT tool you should understand from there. you have to turn the piston clockwise into the caliper. you can buy this cube-thing or use needle nose pliers.

Answer

They are threaded to operate emeergency brake need special tool (available at Sears or auto parts) not expensive

BFG is correct...They twist back in. The tool looks like a square box with little bumps in different places for different cars and has a square hole in the middle for your extenion and ratchet.

you need what is normally called a 'rear disk break calaper tool' which is used to turn the calaper piston back into the calaper, it is turned in like a bolt. you can either get the ford specific tool or try to find a general purpose tool designed for many makes and models. i have found the generic one to be cheaper and it did do the trick, they can be tricky to reset back into the calaper and it does help if you crack the bleader screw (keep a can ready for the old fluid) and make sure you bleed the breaks afterwards