I'm trying to clean up the brakes from a 91 Integra. I took it apart and cleaned one of the front calipers but now I can't seem to get the piston back in. I tried using a piece of wood and a c-clamp to press it back in but it just doesn't want to go. How hard should it be to get in? There was some rust on the inside of the caliper, do I need to do some sanding or something to get more of that out?

 

usually a c-clamp works, Same thing happend to my rear cailper the piston seized so i just went a spent $70.00 on a new caliper.

 

I was hoping I wouldn't have to replace it but it seems way too hard at the moment :-(

Here's a couple pics after I cleaned it up. You can see it still has some rust on it.

 

Try using a Dremel tool to take the rust out or a finer sandpaper to smooth it out. You can also try lightly hammering on it? You should paint them while they are out.

 

DO NOT use a dremel to clean the rust off of that thing. if you take too much material off of the piston it will not pressurize properly. just use light sandpaper to take that surface rust off. to reinstall the piston you have to install the seal onto the caliper, apply brake fluid onto the seal and the piston... and then use a wood block or old brake pad and c-clamp to push the piston back in. i'd also suggest new seals if you haven't bought some already.

 

Oops I thought for some reason he was takling about his calipers. Doh

 

I'll give some sandpaper a try this wknd and see if I can get it.