i started changing my brakes last night and got everything undone and new brake pads in. now i am stuck

i have a c clamp and the 2 pistons on the caliper just wont budge! ive been trying for like 2 hours this morning. any advice would be greatly appreciated.

i think i may need a c clamp with larger flat thing at end where it tightens..the one i have is literally about the size of a nickel...

 

use the old pad and sandwich the piston with the pad and the c-clamp

 

should it be so stiff?

 

The pistons usually don't take too much force to compress. You may have a seized caliper. Have you had the chance to try the other side and see if it's doing the same thing?

 

Im sure you already tried this but im going to ask anyways lol. Do you have the bleeder valve open?

 

You don't need to have the bleeder valve open to compress the pistons, fluid will get pushed back into the master cylinder.

 

yes i have the cap off the "brake fluid" under hood...what is a seized caliper? and no i only have the driver fron wheel off.

 

^, seized caliper is when the there is corrosion built up from the elements getting or repeated over heating; something that comings along with age. The corrosion will cause friction to build up between the piston and cylinder bore causing the caliper to stick or seize. If they truly are seized you are better off replacing them than having them rebuilt.

 

If you open the bleeder while clamping it and the pistons go in, you've got a bad brake line (rubber one) if it still wont go in, you need a new caliper.

 

it came down to it and i do have to get a new caliper..

sucks 70 bucks at autozone.. mine was "seized"

thanks for all the advice