Replaced my rear wheel bearing but am having an issue putting bracket back on. Help!

[AWD87]

Had to replace my wheel bearing but now I'm having a problem putting the brake bracket back on. It's too tight and won't go back over the brake pads for some reason. I've released the hand brake but it's still just too tight and won't get back on the brake pads. What could be wrong? I could've sworn the bracket was more lose when I removed the brake pads.

[lotusgardener]

Did you twist it by any chance. Try twisting it in one direction or another

[AWD87]

by twisting it do you mean pushing that lever? I did. If I push it it only tightens it even more. Everything was going well and easy until this happened.

[gointoscott]

The brake piston may need to be pushed back. For rear brakes, you have to get a C clamp and push the piston back in. Biggest thing to remember is you need to turn the piston as you push it back in.

That may sound confusing but really its not. take a screw driver and jab it in one of the grooves on the end of the brake piston and take a hammer and tap on the end of the screw driver to turn the piston clockwise then put a C clamp on it and push it in. This way it allows the caliper to open up and fit over the pads and rotor.

Here's a pic I found on internet: (note: this picture is of a front caliper, for our rear calipers you will need to take the brake pad out of caliper, and clamp right onto the piston and the other end of the caliper. (turning it while you push piston in)

[IMG][/IMG]

The biggest thing to remember is turn and push, turn and push .

I only say this because one time i went to replace the rear brake pads and got the caliper off in 5 minutes, went to put the new ones on and thought I'd have both brakes done in less then half an hour. Then two hours later still on the same caliper I was so frustrated because I couldnt get the caliper over the new brake pads.

I then talked to someone I knew who was a mechanic and he told me you had to turn the piston as you pushed it back in. Once I did this it was a piece of cake

[AWD87]

Thank you. I will try that tommorow

[Quattrocket]

Wont this screw up the abs if you are pushing the piston back in bacause you are forcing brake fluid back through the ABS module?

[AMC]

lol its the only way to do it with the rear breaks it wont screw anything up

[Quattrocket]

I thought you were supposed to bleed off the fluid is all.

[AMC]

no