Patrick: Here's what I do: I use a medium sized Craftsman slotted screwdriver with a box shaft and a simple screw-type caliper retractor. I lay the shaft of the screw driver across the two slots on the rear piston. I then position the foot of the caliper retractor on the shaft and tighten. I can then turn the piston by pushing the screwdriver handle (counterclockwise, I think). When I've completed a portion of the turn, I re-tighten the caliper retractor. Continue as necessary...
Easy, but a special tool would be easier. HTH, Chris Williams 1990 GLI [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: Patrick Austin [SMTP:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2000 11:18 PM To: [email protected] Subject: rear brakes -> '91 GLI Why couldn't VW, in their infinite wisdom, have manufactured the rear brake caliper piston in such a way that it could be easilly manipulate? A simple allen wrench, a la pre-'88 cars would have been nice. Is there any way to turn and compress the rear calipers on a '91 GLI without the VW special tool? The face of the piston is round, with two notches located 180 degrees from eachother. I'm wary of turning it w/ a pair of pliars, as I'd hate to destroy that seal on the piston. Will the VW dealership have the tool needed? I'm going on a trip saturday morning, so I don't really have time to order the tool through the mail. I've tried sing a pair of vice-grips, but the piston doesn't seem to be compressing at all. Any help would be apreciated. _____________ List Sponsor: http://www.netsville.com To remove yourself from this list, send mail to [email protected] with 'unsubscribe a2_16v' in the body of your message See us on the web at http://www.a2-16v.com Visit the 16V Homepage at http://www.gti16v.org
