I have done brakes before, but this is the first time on something with anti lock brakes. I've heard that there is a special tool to push the caliper piston back in and that a c clamp and block of wood( my method on older cars) will damage the piston. Is this so? If it is where can I get the tool? Oh by the way I have a 2001 F 150 Scab 4x4 off road W tow package, 4 wheel disc and ABS.

Thanks for the help.
Don

 

Just did my brakes thursday with the good ol' C-clamp. Brakes work fine...
Couldn't tell you about the tool though.

 

I've done my pads twice, both times we used the wood and C-Clamp method and it worked fine. Never caused any damage to the piston or the caliper. As a matter-of-fact, last time we didn't have any wood handy so we used the old pads with a C-Clamp to compress the pistons to the full in position.

 

Thanks for the help guys.

Don

 

Some cars require you to basically screw the piston back into the caliper and a tool is made to help that. But our trucks work bythe wood and c-clamp method.

 

One thing you might want to do before you push the pistons back in is clean the piston first, so you don't get any debri pushed back into the seal. Take an old toothbrush and some water and scrub away. This is not critical but would help to keep your calipers from possibly sticking.

 

Oh, I forgot to mention that, as Karson said it really is a good idea to clean the piston. Thank's Karson.

 

You only need the special tool on rear disc brakes with the parking brake integrated into the caliper. And even with those you can twist it back in with needle nose pliers if your careful.

-Jon