AP Racing Essex Kit/Brembo/BBK Piston Spreader Tool?
 

I am currently daily driving on Winmax W6's with the AP Racing Essex Kit; however the noise from W6's are much MUCH worse then Pmu Club Racers that I use to daily on the street. I have a set of street pads, but need to find a tool that allows for 4 piston reset.

Any recommendations on a piston spreader tool for the AP Racing Essex Kit/Brembo application? I did some research on other car forums and came across these two tools and wonder if anyone has experience with them?

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Lang-Tools-279-Brake-Caliper/dp/B0079GQKDE"]Amazon.com: Lang Tools 279 Brake Caliper Press: Automotive[/ame]

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-29100-Quick-Quad-Spreader/dp/B005GLQCKA/ref=sr_1_5?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1463259834&sr= 1-5&keywords=brake+caliper+spreader+tool"]Amazon.com: Lisle 29100 Quick Quad Pad Spreader: Automotive[/ame]

Your ordinary brake caliper spreader will not work on a BBK as it is quad vs dual piston; additionally, using a c-clamp won't really work since the other pistons would just pop out. I'm not a fan of the pry bar/screwdriver method.

I've only dealt with stock pistons on most cars but can't you just use a C-clamp and press an old pad that will push multiple pistons?

have you tried a piece of plywood with a c-clamp (or two)?

If your caliper pistons are in good working condition, you can easily push the pistons back in by hand. Just use the old pads and push...

On virtually every type of BBK I've worked on, I've never had any difficulty changing pads, track or in the garage.

Just take off wheels, undo pad retaining pins, and push old pads as far back as they can go. Feel free to use a large flat screwdriver to help push if you need leverage. If you have excessive resistance pushing the pistons back in, you may have seized pistons on your calipers...

-alex

Here's what it should look like overall:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmWRgtNVdEw"]How to change brake pads on BREMBO Calipers - YouTube[/ame]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/4010221...&ul_noapp=true


I bought this one, but haven't had a chance to try it yet. I'll report back if it works.

Thank you all for the helpful information, I will give the brakes a good inspection.

Prior to installing the (used) AP Essex Kit, I had a pretty difficult time pressing the pistons in by hand last time. Although I was pressing each piston individually?
If in fact the pistons turn out to be seized, what is the proper method/fix @mav1178

The tool is junk

Through trial and error and cursing I found an elegant solution

Here is the DIY:

1. Screw on 1 lugnut to hold rotor in place.

2. Take the backing plate from a worn out pad and insert it into either pad slot.

3. Place pry bar between backing plate and rotor. Apply leverage.

4. ???

5. Profit

You're welcome ♥

I could push in OEM piston by hand. Since new have not been able to push in AP sprint pistons by hand :iono:

Just took a look at the brakes, there was no way i could pull the pads out of the caliper as seen in the video. Had to press/pry pretty hard in order to pull the pads out.

Same, with the pads out of the caliper I still was not able to press the pistons in by hand (Yes, brake reservoir cap was off)

I also noticed the front pads started to show taper wear, my rear pads are Pmu Club Racers.
Currently reading through @ATL BRZ thread on uneven pad wear http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84215

I tried replacing AP Sprint kit front pads using the Lisle 29100 for the first time at the track. Not a great outcome.

It pushed the pistons back OK - but with a lot of effort required. It actually can't spread the pistons back far enough (the tool runs out of travel with about 10mm left). There wasn't enough space to insert an old pad to push it the rest of the way.

I ended up having to put the old pads back in and nurse them all day. I think if you have two 5mm thick shims to use once the pistons are back half way then you could use this tool.

What I ended up doing was just taking the calipers off and using both hands to squeeze a brake pad against the pistons, one side at a time. It's just two nuts to remove the calipers, so it doesn't take much time.

Follow-up on this, I've used that tool a few times to change the pads now, it worked flawlessly and effortlessly.

^ YES, very important to know.

When i first purchased the AP Kit and needed to swap pads I almost felt like I was bamboozled... thus making this thread of answers.

If you use the Lisel Quad Piston Tool alone inside the CP8350 caliper, just know the pistons will not sit entirely flush (2-3mm remaining). I ended up using x2 rear pads that were worn down as spacers. Although this method is one extra step, you're not prying on the caliper which damages the pistons/caliper.