I will be working on some rear brake calipers that require a winding action to retract their pistons. Since I've never worked on wind-in retracting type pistons, I have a question: I see tons of inexpensive wind-in tool kits that apparently fit all sorts and sizes of wind-in type calipers from mutliple manufactureres. But here's my quesion: given the low pricing across the board for these kits from a multitude of no-name chinese manufactured rebrands, do these cheap kits work well, or should I look for more specific wind-back tools offered by the auto manufacturers themselves that fit their own cars ?

Any advice appreciated. I don't mind buying one of these larger el-cheapo kits, but only if you guys have these kits and can vouch for their effectiveness.

If these kits are no good, what are the alternatives ?

I had one years ago. Worked okay, eventually bent and broke.

Before that I just used a large C clamp and one of the old pads. Which is what I went back to afterwards. Works better IMO. Plus you can use it as a clamp.

I don’t think you want to use the c clamp method on a win back as you can damage the mechanism. Regarding the cheap kits, should be ok for light use. If you are using them regularly and want it to last I would look into an OTC, Lisle, and of course snap on but not worth the premium imo.

I have this kit:
https://www.summitracing.com/p...PEAQYBCABEgIa3fD_BwE

I'm sure there is a better price some where.
Any kit similar will work on most makes, you did not mention what it's going to be used on.

Road salt/corrosion will cause problems turning them, also sometimes the caliper piston seal will leak after turning the piston.
The tool may fail if forced to turn a seized piston.

I like this: Lang brake caliper press

I use this on my cars. So much better than the c-clamps that I used to use.
I dont know if it will work with winding action but the brake pad itself is stationary.

I used the little cube on mine, might have been a 98 Cadillac it worked alright. seems like it was a 3/8 drive maybe.

It’s funny you bring this up, just yesterday I was looking at kits just to keep one around for the occasional odd brake job on a wind in type caliper. Found a cheap one on Amazon that looks similar to the one posted by rizzle. Seems cheap enough and it has decent reviews. Then I got to this review.

https://www.amazon.com/8MILELA...sional/dp/B0122Q83T4

“Engineers are evil, engineers who make unholy alliances with bean-counters are worse . This tool is required for screwing the pistons back into those annoying combined hydraulic/mechanical rear brake calipers with the integrated parking brake. This is a nice tool, which comes with twenty two separate missiles for you to launch while you have a meltdown attempting to make the flipping pistons retract. They will, eventually, after you have screamed yourself into a semi-exhausted stupor and are so deliriously happy that this ordeal is over you'll think "thank goodness I had this tool" instead of, "how do I hunt down this bleeping engineer from the patent number and brain him for foisting these godforsaken things on the world?" Then, you will wipe all the grease and blood off the 22 pieces, after you extract them from the drywall you've embedded them in, and carefully slot them back into the nice plastic case, which you will probably misplace before you need to repeat the job on your wife's rusty Taurus in six months or so. You'll then need to drive 40 miles round trip to borrow your buddy's kit which will be missing the one adapter you need, as he hurled it completely through the drywall in his garage where it will be discovered in 800 years or so by an archaeologist who will mistake it for some sort of ancient religious talisman. He, by the way, will still be annoyed that he doesn't have a flying car yet, even though he's been promised one for 875 years or so.”

quote:

Originally posted by Captain Morgan:
I like this: Lang brake caliper press

I use this on my cars. So much better than the c-clamps that I used to use.
I dont know if it will work with winding action but the brake pad itself is stationary.

It won’t work properly on the winding pistons.

All the $25 kits are probably made in the same place and work just fine for occasional home use.
Mine has been in use for 25 years now.

You can also use a set of needle nose vise grips. To rotate the piston

quote:

winding action

Brain fart, thought he meant the tool, not the caliper.

You can borrow the kit for free from lots of chain auto parts stores. I know for sure AutoZone does it, as I had to borrow such a kit to wind back the pistons on Mrs. Lee's 2006 Mini. Just had to leave a deposit.

You can rent the full kit from Advance auto, you get all of your money back at return or keep it. At least that's the way it worked a couple years ago. I rented one and kept it

See link

https://shop.advanceautoparts....R+9150055+OR+9150047

I bought one of the universal cubes when I did the rear brakes on our Flex.
I couldn't put enough pressing force on it, and twist at the same time.

Also had the straight push style, so I combined the 2 & made a twist & press tool. IT was tricky, but got the job done.

Both were cheap autozone tools & resulted in a lot of swearing & frustration.

quote:

Originally posted by Rick Lee:
You can borrow the kit for free from lots of chain auto parts stores. I know for sure AutoZone does it, as I had to borrow such a kit to wind back the pistons on Mrs. Lee's 2006 Mini. Just had to leave a deposit.

I'd do that, for a one time use. I have a kit made by Astro Pneumatic from Amazon. It also does left hand thread used on some Fords.

Do we really need a gigantic photo of the common c clamp?

Especially when it WON'T do what the OP is asking from a tool?

Like mentioned just above, mine has both the right and left handed twisters because certain model fords require it.

You also didn't mention the years and model, quite a few nowadays also require a scanner that lets you release the caliper so you can safely turn it in.

quote:

Originally posted by 383stroker:
You also didn't mention the years and model, quite a few nowadays also require a scanner that lets you release the caliper so you can safely turn it in.

That's the case on both my Explorer & Expedition. E-parking brake.
Have to get it into maintenance mode. Some keystroke on the stereo to enter the diagnostic menu & enable brake repair mode.

quote:

Originally posted by Captain Morgan:
I like this: Lang brake caliper press

I use this on my cars. So much better than the c-clamps that I used to use.
I dont know if it will work with winding action but the brake pad itself is stationary.

I have that Lang tool it works great and the quality like most Lang tools is certainly there. But not this will not work with winding calipers.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
I bought one of the universal cubes when I did the rear brakes on our Flex.
I couldn't put enough pressing force on it, and twist at the same time.

Also had the straight push style, so I combined the 2 & made a twist & press tool. IT was tricky, but got the job done.

Both were cheap autozone tools & resulted in a lot of swearing & frustration.

Good lord. But Kudos to you..