As the subtitle, does a wind back tool "wind" the piston back - i.e with compressive force as well as rotational force, or is it just a way of forcing back the piston?

Why do some cars need windback tools and some don't? When I used to do brake pads on an old orion I could push the piston back by hand. When I changed front pads on SWMBOs toyota I used a windback but it only seemed to compress the piston, not turn it. I was told I would need a windback for the rears, but on the toyota owner's forum someone's put a guide on using a G-clamp to push the piston back?

You need a "wind back" tool on the rear calipers as they have the handbrake on them,ive never known a car to need its front brake calipers "wound back" (you can just push them back in). The wind back tool turns the piston & at the same time compresses it back into the caliper.

As the subtitle, does a wind back tool "wind" the piston back - i.e with compressive force as well as rotational force, or is it just a way of forcing back the piston?

Why do some cars need windback tools and some don't? When I used to do brake pads on an old orion I could push the piston back by hand. When I changed front pads on SWMBOs toyota I used a windback but it only seemed to compress the piston, not turn it. I was told I would need a windback for the rears, but on the toyota owner's forum someone's put a guide on using a G-clamp to push the piston back?

Is the answer not in the title ? "Windback"

And as Mikey says it is for the handbrakes, and it takes up the slack as the pad wears, so when you fit new pads you have to turn the piston to get it to return up the screw

Radiotwo

Is the answer not in the title ? "Windback"

Not all cars use the rear pads for the handbrake! The toyota has a drum inside the hub which works the handbrake as well as the disc which is only used when driving.

Also the fronts don't need a screw to take up the wear in the pads?

ive never known a car to need its front brake calipers "wound back"

there is one that springs to mind, the old skool 1980's alfasud's have the handbrake on the front wheels, very odd setup indeed with inboard discs which are bolted to the gearbox drive flanges... but the chances of you ever seeing one is virtually nil

Not all cars use the rear pads for the handbrake! The toyota has a drum inside the hub which works the handbrake as well as the disc which is only used when driving.

yeah same as a lot of the mercedez cars, and the peugoet 406 is like that too

edit: forgot to say, yes most vw's need them wound in on the rear calipers... and on some citroens and fords you need an alternative winder that winds them anti-clockwise

Edited 9 September, 201015 yr by TeflonTom

there is one that springs to mind, the old skool 1980's alfasud's have the handbrake on the front wheels, very odd setup indeed with inboard discs which are bolted to the gearbox drive flanges... but the chances of you ever seeing one is virtually nil

yeah same as a lot of the mercedez cars, and the peugoet 406 is like that too

edit: forgot to say, yes most vw's need them wound in on the rear calipers... and on some citroens and fords you need an alternative winder that winds them anti-clockwise

Citroen BX too, but they cut a knotch for a square shafted screwdriver to turn it back.