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YOUR RESEARCHbrake tools, what's a good piston spreader for our cars?
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Use on my other vehicles
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This is what I’ve always used on my other vehicles, with a long heavy duty screwdriver spanning across the pistons to apply even pressure to them, but I have not had to do brakes on the 996 yet.
brake tools, what's a good piston spreader for our cars?
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Leading evidence: 'Use on my other vehicles' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Clean microfiber if the calipers look nice' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Suggestion
Channel locks and a clean microfiber if the calipers look nice.
brake tools, what's a good piston spreader for our cars?
Replace brake pads every other week
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Suggestion
I am not tracking the car and changing brake pads every other week.
brake tools, what's a good piston spreader for our cars?
Replace pads
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Suggestion
I'm in the same boat, I want to change my pads to a less dusty ceramic?
brake tools, what's a good piston spreader for our cars?
Use channel locks, screwdrivers and pry bars
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Suggestion · Original poster
Full disclosure, I'm guilty of using Channel locks, screwdrivers and pry bars from the old days.
brake tools, what's a good piston spreader for our cars?
Use on my other vehicles
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
This is what I’ve always used on my other vehicles, with a long heavy duty screwdriver spanning across the pistons to apply even pressure to them, but I have not had to do brakes on the 996 yet.
brake tools, what's a good piston spreader for our cars?
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Bought this a while back to do brakes on my VW that now has Brembo 18Zs and it worked well when I did the 4 corners of my 996.
Full disclosure, I'm guilty of using Channel locks, screwdrivers and pry bars from the old days. Go easy on me. I'd like something a little more civilized. Not necessarily Zircon encrusted tweezers but adequate for the once in a while shade tree guy. Figure this would be a good time to break the habit. Get it? Break the habit.
I'm in the same boat, I want to change my pads to a less dusty ceramic? compound. I've been looking at the miriad options and it's confusing me. I'm really easily confused....
I think I've got the pads selected,
- akibono EUR738 and 917s, or
Power Stop Z23-917 and Power Stop 17-738
- 4x 99661236500 wear sensors
- 8x New OEM?ccoated caliper bolts (moving up north, so corrosion is real). 'German' 99907340201 from fcp euro?
The power stop brakes come with a hardware kit, looks like shims and clips maybe? So I'm leaning towards those.
Otherwise:
- rear shims x4 99635208600 or not.... How big are the base rear pistons? There's 2 options, 28mm and 30mm...aghh. better get the Bentley out.
- Front shims x2 99635108802
Anything else needed?
Tools?
Does this
type of tool
work for front and rear brakes on a 996.1 C2? I don't want to file down channel lock teeth, or make a tool, nothing advanced. I just want a tool for front and rear that will allow me to
a) get the old pads out without wrecking the discs
B) get the pads, and most importantly the shims installed. Most of the shims (all?) Have adhesive backing, I can see how getting them in place might be difficult?
You can probably tell I've never done a brake job before.... Don't worry I'll be extremely careful on the first drives.
thanks in advance folks!
Bought this a while back to do brakes on my VW that now has Brembo 18Zs and it worked well when I did the 4 corners of my 996.
Performance Tool W80110 Gearless Piston Spreader Pad 360 Degree Swing Wrench Expander for Single Twin Quad Piston Disc Brake
https://a.co/d/iK81CfP
I am not tracking the car and changing brake pads every other week. So, my changing brake pads every ten years + or so, I just use a big *** screw driver wedged between the rotor and pads. Sorry guys, old school, but it works.
Looks like that particular make is unique to the antipodes. Are you in Australia ?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/19234525050...mis&media=COPY
here in the USA there's similar products that Google lens found for me tho. Thanks for the tip. I think I'll try
@TheChunkNorris
recommendation. Looks solid. It's not like I'll be using it daily. 🤞
I also have this spreader, purchased from Amazon. It works very well on Porsche 1-piece forged calipers. The tool is made in China but is fairly heavy duty.
Beware of this ratcheting lever type because the one I have Lang Brand which was made in USA doesn't contract to a small enough distance between the plates to fit within the calipers of my 2017 C2S with the old pads installed and the plates of the spreader are not large enough to span the 6-pistons of the front calipers. This Lang tool works great with the StopTech ST-60 calipers I have on my Audi S4, but so would other pads spreaders. No need to remove the calipers with the StopTech "removable bridge" design" which is great for trackside pads changes.
I have a big simple pry bar type thing, although just about anything will do it from a piece of wood to a screwdriver.
The trick is to just do it slowly, once the pistons start moving its pretty easy to push them in.
I have a special tool specifically for Toyota etc rear pistons that also need rotating as they push in.
This is what I’ve always used on my other vehicles, with a long heavy duty screwdriver spanning across the pistons to apply even pressure to them, but I have not had to do brakes on the 996 yet.
