How do i release the brake caliper pistons to be able to fit new brake pads on a renault trafic 08 van. thank you

One or both of the brake callpers are not releasing when you release pressure on the brake pedal so you have continued contact between the brake pads and the brake rotor. This will overheat the brake pads and rotors and produce a burning smell and smoke.

If your brakes were working fine before the people you used to fit the new pads and rotors got hold of your car then the most likely cause will be faulty installation. For example if the inner and outer brake pads have been reversed when fitted in the brake caliper this will cause your brakes to bind up as you have described. If the brake caliper slides have not been properly lubricated with the correct product (or not lubricated at all) the calipers can bind up and hold the pads on the brake rotor.

In your case I would suspect the new brake pads have probably been reversed during installation and that is what I would be looking at first. But there are other possibilities that may also need to be checked.

You can take the vehicle back to whoever did the sloppy work and get them to fix it or take it to a competent mechanic very close to home who can check over the installation work. (Those that did the work should have road tested the car before giving it back to you and binding brakes should have been noticed if they were half competent). You don't want to be driving far when your brakes are like this.

2. Your brakes can also bind up as you have described if there is a blockage in one or both of the flexible brake hoses connected to the brake caliper. Usually you won't get two at once though. When this happens the blockage in the line will not allow the brake fluid to flow back up the lines when you release the brakes (and there is no pressure pushing it back) so the brake pads will not release from the brake rotor. The flexible brake lines need to be replaced every 7 -8 years or so as they deteriorate badly from the inside but outside they may look just fine. If one or more of your flexible brake lines were bad before you replaced the brake pads and rotors then fitting the new pads and rotors will really show up the problem.

3. You can also have a brake binding problem if the piston in one or more of your brake calipers is corroded and will not retract back into the bore when brake pressure is released. The piston or pistons in the calipers press on the back of the brake pad unit and force the pad onto the brake rotor. If the pistons are corroded (which will often be the case in old calipers) they can bind up in the caliper bore and not retract back into the bore when the brake pressure is released. If you had this problem before the new pads and rotors were fitted the problem will show up much more now that new pads have been fitted. It is a simple task to check if any of the pistons in any of the brake calipers in your car are binding up and not retracting as it is any of the installation work that has been done.

Some businesses will do very sloppy brake work and not check that everything is freely moving correctly when the brake pedal is applied and released as you need to when replacing brake pads.

Replace caliper with old brake pads put 1 bolt in place to hold together while taking a large screwdriver and prying caliper piston so that it compresses piston & block wedge to rear of bracket it should make enough room to install on new brake pads, the other way is to use a large c clamp put 1/4 pice of wood in between c clamp and caliper so you don't damage or Mar the caliper also check YouTube.

Remove the caliper mounting bolts and remove the caliper. Replace brake pads as necessary. Special tool is required to retract caliper piston to fit over new pads. (see picture below)
Retract piston in caliper using special tool to rotate clockwise and make sure the notch in the piston is aligned properly so the tab on the inner pad will fit in properly.
Reinstall caliper assembly and caliper mounting bolts.

YOU NEED A PISTON COMPRESS TOOL TO PRESS PISTON BACK IN THE BORE WITH THE BLEEDER SCREW OPEN ON THE CALIPER*.CLOSE BLEEDER SCREW JUST BEFORE THE CALIPER PISTON IS PUSHED FULLY INTO CALIPER.THIS WILL ALLOW ROOM FOR NEW BRAKE PADS AND CALIPER FIT OVER THE BRAKE ROTOR.WHEN FINISH.PUTTING BRAKE PADS ON YOU HAVE TO BLEED BRAKE SYSTEM.DONT DRIVE VECHICLE IF YOU CANT GET A GOOD FIRM BRAKES.

Hi Ricky

Your car has disc brakes so you need to release the brake pads not shoes (they are for drum brakes). That should help when you buy a new set.

Loosen the split pins which hold the pads in the caliper. You should then be able to push the pads out. It sounds like the pads are worn down so much that the caliper pistons are at their full reach.

Once you have slid them out, you need a piston retractor tool to push the pistons back in the caliper in order to be able to fit the new pads.

SLide the pads in, use copper grease on the back surface to stop them squeaking. Once done, pump the brake pedal to set the pads and the job is finished.

Loosen the brake fluid reservoir cap to allow pressure to escape. Use a large C clamp connecting it to the front of the piston and back of the housing. Turn the screw on the clamp to compress the brake piston then release the clamp. The piston will remain compressed allowing you the fit the housing over the new brake pads.

Open the bleed nipple while the caliper is tight in the clamp - open it till it weeps and tighten the clamp till the pistons are flat with the caliper then tighten the bleed nipple. you should be able to fit the brakes now easily. Remember to check and if necessary replenish the brake fluid reservoir.

The Renault clio should be easy,.jack up one wheel and remove the wheel and see what if any special tools will be needed. most have two bolts that hold the caliper to the back plate. The caliper hold the pads. Some of thes bolts are Allen head, some are Torq head, all are metric. some are held in with clips, remove the retaining pins and pull the clips out and the caliper comes out the front. Press the piston back into the caliper, so the new pads will fit over the rotor.

these are a bastard, yes they are wind in. i have the proper tool, £300 this struggles, a cheap £60 sealey pisses the job. they have to turn and push at same time. tricky junk job. have fun.

hi from uk the rear brake calipers are auto adjust and so to reset the pistons back into calipers you need to rewind clockwise the piston whilst pushing piston back there is a tool for this purpose which does job in minutes however!! you can improvise if you have an old socket and hacksaw ? you can look at piston and see there are two slots on it? if you cut away an old socket so left with prongs to fit these slots then fit t bar and short extension to socket then you can push and turn piston back make sure slots are in line as to able fitting of new pads one has notch on rear face to insert in piston slot this also works for other models with rear calipers ? cheaper than the tool at £40 to £60 inthe uk dependant on makers hope this helps/inspires you ?