DaveP is doing me a new set of front calipers but while I'm waiting I'm trying to free up the front right. It was dragging pretty hard and was the only thing that the car failed on its safety check. If I can get that caliper freed up I can start

I followed the haynes instructions for freeing up a stuck caliper. Took out the pads. Put in some wood shims. Applied the brakes until they moved. Felt a little pop as the first side moved. Then a pump or two later the second side moved. So far so good. Now I'm trying to lever the pistons back in but they won't budge. How much force should that take? I feel like I'm putting way more pressure on it than it should need. Starting to wonder if I might have a swollen softline.

Open the bleeder and see if you can push the piston back. You are correct about a bad hose causing the original problem.

You didn't mention in your post, what kind of condition you found the pistons and cylinder bores in? The pistons usually clean up pretty easily with some 600 grit paper. The bores you hopefully honed.

If your calipers have knockbacks in them, they will take some force to put back together.

yup open the bleeder and see if that helps, if it does, then I would suspect your rubber hoses maybe restricted or the master check valve is stuck closed. the pistons should go back in freely (I am assuming they were still retianed in the caliper and that teh caliper is still mounted to the car with rotor.

if the pistons are al rusty, then it sohould all come apart




good luck

sorry it took so long to close the loop. It was the caliper - new ones work great. Thanks DaveP!

The "open the bleeder" bit was brilliant. Kinda smacked myself for not thinking of it.

Now get out there and DRIVE!

Took it back for reinspection and now the tie rods ends failed

Going to get a set of turbos and do it right.