I am trying to work with multi-piston brakes for the first time in my life and I am trying to figure out what tool is the best for pressing the pistons without damaging anything. I have seen a lot of these tools:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WMR-W209/

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/OTC-7317A/

But these don't look like they will work for our front calipers. Is there a specific tool?

 

Are you just doing pad slap or replacing rotors too??? I used 2 pry bars (or 2 big flat heads will work), one on each side of the rotor to compress the pistons in and then I changed my rotors out. Be careful not to chip your rotor if you not replacing them

 

I use a flat head screw driver with the old pad in place. The piston is not that hard to push back. Once I get enough room, I use my fingers. That's how soft it is...

 

If replacing pads, leave the old pad in and you can compress the pistons with a stout screwdriver, leveraged against the old pads and the rotor.

If they raise back out, take the top off the fluid reservoir. Make sure there's room to hold a little extra fluid and put some rags around, just in case. Compress the pistons slowly and you shouldn't have a problem.

Some people have used a wood block instead of old pads. Some people have used a c-clamp instead of a lever. You definetly, 100% do not need a 'specialty' tool.

 

I am just replacing pads because the rotors look fine. I PM'ed The Dougler who wrote up a DIY and this is what he suggested. I might as well get one of these.

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/prod...iston-Spreader

 

It's $30 you don't need to spend, but it's your money and your preference on how to 'do the job right', so ....



Here are some more DIY's.

D-094: DIY:Brembo Brake Pad Replacement + Rear Brake Pad Replacement
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-performance-parts-modifications-112/3g-garage-d-094-brembo-hawk-pad-replacement-w-pics-579140/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-performance-parts-modifications-112/diy-2007-tl-s-brake-pad-replacement-629428/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/d-094-diy-how-replace-brake-pads-acura-tl-s-733637/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/d-094-diy-complete-brake-job-pics-624404/ - Rear Pads as well

 

i just got the old pad, stuck it in perpendicularly and used it as a lever against the rotor to push the pistons in. worked fine