Wilwood Brakes - Changing Brake Pads

[swwebb]

I am trying to change the rear brake pads on my car - it's a Mark IV with the older IRS and upgraded Wilwood rear disc brakes including a parking brake (Part Number 140-12363). I need to retract the piston in order to change out the brake pads, and I'm not sure how to do it. The piston needs to be rotated while being pushed in, so I am thinking I need to use a wind back tool. However, on all the videos I've seen, there is a slot in the caliper opposite the piston essentially where the second w is in Wilwood. My Wilwood brakes as shown below don't have a slot opposite the piston, so I'm not sure what to do to retract/rotate the piston so I can install new brake pads.

Suggestions?

141930

[Avalanche325]

I haven't actually done it on my Wilwoods. But have on other cars. The piston has slots in it. You can use a pin spanner to rotate the piston. I use one that happens to be a Park Tools bicycle tool.

[swwebb]

I haven't actually done it on my Wilwoods. But have on other cars. The piston has slots in it. You can use a pin spanner to rotate the piston. I use one that happens to be a Park Tools bicycle tool.

I used this little tool that I put on my ratchet. Worked very well when I used a screwdriver with it to push the piston in. Only cost about $8.50 on Amazon. :)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002SQUFY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

142368

[Avalanche325]

I used this little tool that I put on my ratchet. Worked very well when I used a screwdriver with it to push the piston in. Only cost about $8.50 on Amazon. :)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002SQUFY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

142368

Well, if you're gonna' be like that and use the proper tool.....

[JohnMac]

The piston needs to be rotated (turned) in order to push it back into the caliper. I bought a HF kit which has a number of pinned plates and two different screws for pushing the pistons in. I’ve had a couple of car requiring this type of tool. I recently did the rear brakes on a Prius and as I turned the piston it retracted back into the caliper. I’m sure there’s a YouTube video.

[swwebb]

The piston needs to be rotated (turned) in order to push it back into the caliper. I bought a HF kit which has a number of pinned plates and two different screws for pushing the pistons in. I’ve had a couple of car requiring this type of tool. I recently did the rear brakes on a Prius and as I turned the piston it retracted back into the caliper. I’m sure there’s a YouTube video.

I realize that. But I think the HF kit and others need a slot in the caliper like I mentioned in my original post - the Wilwood rear brakes I have don't have that slot. Hence, the problem. Wilwood customer service was also of little to no help. They said use pliers or vice grips. I don't see how that would work very well.

The tool I mentioned above is put on a ratchet and turned like you mentioned. Otherwise, turning the piston would be very difficult with pliers or vice grips.

[JohnMac]

Not sure what you mean by a slot- you should be able to go into Wilwood site and find some info on your type of caliper. We have them on our coupe but haven’t had to replace pads yet. Can you take a photo of the caliper and email it to me?
Mac Morgan
Abarth1202@gmail.com

[swwebb]

Not sure what you mean by a slot- you should be able to go into Wilwood site and find some info on your type of caliper. We have them on our coupe but haven’t had to replace pads yet. Can you take a photo of the caliper and email it to me?
Mac Morgan
Abarth1202@gmail.com

See the picture in my original post. By a slot I mean an opening in the caliper directly across from the piston. That's where the typical tool goes to rotate and push in the piston.

As I mentioned, Wilwood was of very little help.

[rich grsc]

Why do you need to spin the piston? I didn't think wilwoods had the parking brake built into the caliper?

[swwebb]

The parking brake is part of my rear brakes. I tried pushing the piston in without rotating it but it didn't budge. Wilwood said I needed to rotate the piston.

From Wilwood web site:
Rear Brake Kit – Part No: 140-12363
Combination Parking Brake Caliper 1Pc Rotor Rear Brake Kit

[TMartinLVNV]

Why do you need to spin the piston? I didn't think wilwoods had the parking brake built into the caliper?

On the IRS kit, there is a separate baby caliper for the parking brakes in the back. On the solid axle kit, the parking brake is built into the regular caliper. I wish they were all separate.

Here is the solid axle kit:

http://www.factoryfiveparts.com/12-19-rear-wilwood-brake-kit/

And the IRS kit:

http://www.factoryfiveparts.com/2015-wilwood-irs-brakes/

[swwebb]

I have the older IRS, so the parking brake is part of my rear brakes probably similar to the solid axle kit mentioned by TMartinLVNV.