So i am installing pads on my mom's 97 saturn sl2. The front work great. Car stops good now after test drive. So i go to install rear pads. When trying to push the piston in on the caliper, it wont budge. I had dropped my mom off while she gets her hair done, figuring we would be done in an easy 20 minutes.

So i am pushing as hard as i can on the piston, my girlfriend helping. The bitch wont move. So i start hammering it with a piece of metal and rubber mallet. Doesnt move. I got the great idea to see what happens when i push the brake pedal down while the piston is not pressing against anything. Surely enough, it extends. Now its stuck out and inch further than it was to start. Its been an hour so i am hurrying because im 30 minutes late to pick my mom up. Well now the caliper will not even fit around the original worn pads.

So i figure ok ill just drive without that caliper attached. Now the brake fluid line is wide open and flowing fluid everywhere. I didnt know if an open line would really jack some shit up, so i was really scared to drive anywhere. So i almost desided to put some cauking in the line to plug it up. Luckily i didnt. I just clogged it with some tissue and a bolt (it didnt stop shit from leaking anyway). I drive to pick her up and its been 2 and a half hours. Shes pretty mad. And im driving with no rear caliper and a shit load of air in the lines, basically on manual brakes with about 200 feet stopping distance.

I go home, jack the car up again. I continue to jam as hard as i can against the piston, my gf as well. it does not freaking move. now i notice that the piston has some laterall play. Shit, we busted the seal on in inside. Now when i press the brake pedal, fluid flows out around the piston. Bad ass is what i said to myself. So we had to buy a new piston, luckily it was only $60. Installed it, and bled the lines, brakes all work great. I never touched the other rear caliper to this day.

Lesson learned, dont replace things that dont need replacing just "for the sake of it"! The car will stop just fine with new front pads only! Also dont JAM or POUND anything that shouldnt be. It will cost you.