Can somebody sell/lend me C-Clamp [Dublin]?

arleitiss

Hey, yeah so I started replacing my brakes, replaced rotor, cleaned up caliper bracket, but the god damn piston wont go in, I assumed it needs to be compressed/squeezed in but I didn't realize it's so hard, I have like a huge pliers but those were not enough and didn't do the trick. Tried many things but nothing worked, it seems that many people solve this problem using C clamp, now it's Sunday, I put car back together just so that parts don't get stolen (put brake caliper back on but it has no pads on it so I can't drive the car really.

If by any chance somebody lives or is in city center tomorrow, could someone lend/sell me a c clamp? since I can't drive out anywhere I can only pay for delivery costs involved or so, or pay for thing if you are willing to sell it and deliver it, otherwise I am stuck really.

Thanks.

TheChizler

Which city?

arleitiss

TheChizler wrote: »

Which city?

Dublin

gctest50

Stop!!! - don't push back the piston unless you give the fluid somewhere to go.

Clean the bleed nipple

Attach a bit of clear pipe to the bleed nipple, put other end into a clean jar/bottle/whatever

Put a little bit of pressure on the piston, then open the nipple a little bit and push the piston back.

Close nipple.


Reason : If you just force it back - you can damage to master cylinder/ABS stuff. = you have to replace it = lotsa $$$$$

Alanstrainor

Have you taken the lid off the brake fluid reservoir?

arleitiss

gctest50 wrote: »

Stop!!! - don't push back the piston unless you give the fluid somewhere to go.

Clean the bleed nipple

Attach a bit of clear pipe to the bleed nipple, put other end into a clean jar/bottle/whatever

Put a little bit of pressure on the piston, then open the nipple a little bit and push the piston back.

Close nipple.


Reason : If you just force it back - you can damage to master cylinder/ABS stuff. = you have to replace it = lotsa $$$$$

Yeah my brake fluid overflew a bit, I opened a brake fluid resevoir and it went a bit over top, also nipple looks like its a clogged up/rusty and never been used. And last thing: I still need the clamp though?

arleitiss

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Have you taken the lid off the brake fluid reservoir?

Yes I did, the fluid overflew a bit, I got it in 80% using just hands, but it wont go any further.

P.S - my hands are cut and in pain now

I wish there was an easy way to drain whole brake fluid system so the pistons just go in without any force.


btw, after I put car back together I pushed it as I assume once I start car the piston will come out all the way and might hit brand new rotor?

mickdw

What car is it?
Are these front brakes you are doing?

I always let out fluid at the nipple on the caliper. Saves any messing with pushing fluid backwards through the system. If all is well, you would then be able to push back with little force.
Be aware that some cars rear brakes have to be twisted back in, not pushed in.

Piston won't shoot out until you press/pump brakes.

galwaytt

arleitiss wrote: »

Yeah my brake fluid overflew a bit, I opened a brake fluid resevoir and it went a bit over top, also nipple looks like its a clogged up/rusty and never been used. And last thing: I still need the clamp though?

Wash the bejasus out of anywhere you spilt brake fluid. ....it'll eat metal....

arleitiss

mickdw wrote: »

What car is it?
Are these front brakes you are doing?

I always let out fluid at the nipple on the caliper. Saves any messing with pushing fluid backwards through the system. If all is well, you would then be able to push back with little force.
Be aware that some cars rear brakes have to be twisted back in, not pushed in.

Piston won't shoot out until you press/pump brakes.

It's bmw e46, yeah I am doing front brakes as I assumed they are simpler so I started with them.

Guess I will go to city centre, I assume every decent building/DIY shop will have c clamp for sale.

166man

No offence man but these are the brakes you're working on. The only thing you ha stopping you at 120km/h+.

If you aren't fully confident or don't know what you're doing, stop doing it and pay someone who knows exactly what they're at.

Seriously.

biko

I've added location in title as this forum is used nationwide, not just Dublinwide.
I could help OP, if you were in Galway..

arleitiss

Bought C clamp, a huge one, should be fine now.

arleitiss

166man wrote: »

No offence man but these are the brakes you're working on. The only thing you ha stopping you at 120km/h+.

If you aren't fully confident or don't know what you're doing, stop doing it and pay someone who knows exactly what they're at.

Seriously.

I am confident with what I am doing, just because I missed out on one tool and ended up being stuck for a moment doesn't mean I should go off and pay, I did even more complicated stuff before like replacing oil filter housing gasket on my car which took a while, but I had all required tools, now I got the clamp too, should take a matter of few hours to finish all wheels now.

Thanks everyone for suggestions and help.

arleitiss

Replaced two front discs, the rear ones threads are ****ed, so I am going to mechanics as I presume they have drills/tools to get the stuck screws and bolts out.

biko

They do aye, shouldn't be a problem.

arleitiss

biko wrote: »

They do aye, shouldn't be a problem.

Any idea of cost? I mean it's like 20 minute job per wheel when having air tools, I assume it would be around 40 euro (1 hour labour) for just two rears?

dgt

166man wrote: »

No offence man but these are the brakes you're working on. The only thing you ha stopping you at 120km/h+.

If you aren't fully confident or don't know what you're doing, stop doing it and pay someone who knows exactly what they're at.

Seriously.

This + 1000

You need to understand what you are doing and have it all researched. Understand why the abs could f*ck up if you send fluid through it. Understand that by doing that you may have damaged the master cylinder seals and the brakes may fail. See how this could go wrong very quickly just by cutting corners?

You also use a wind back tool not a clamp. A clamp is for holding not pressurising a piston back

S28382

dgt wrote: »

This + 1000

You need to understand what you are doing and have it all researched. Understand why the abs could f*ck up if you send fluid through it. Understand that by doing that you may have damaged the master cylinder seals and the brakes may fail. See how this could go wrong very quickly just by cutting corners?

You also use a wind back tool not a clamp. A clamp is for holding not pressurising a piston back

I use a clamp whenever i change my brakes it works everytime with no bothers. I agree the brakes are one thing not to be messing with if one doesnt know what they are doing. They are definitely serviceable by anyone competent in car DIY, a bit of research goes a long away.

arleitiss

i did a lot of research for e46 specifically, and i did exactly what everybody on e46 fanatics forums are saying, no body said anything about any problem with pushing piston back, in fact all the people i saw doing it were doing it by pushing piston back and no body seems to have a single problem with that it works. And here, just because i made a small mistake by not having a tool around to do the piston you make this judgement that i am some kind of retard who should only go to mechanics, seriously?

Sorry if sounds bit mad/harsh but it does make me a bit mad when i see people making such a silly judgements.

S28382

arleitiss wrote: »

i did a lot of research for e46 specifically, and i did exactly what everybody on e46 fanatics forums are saying, no body said anything about any problem with pushing piston back, in fact all the people i saw doing it were doing it by pushing piston back and no body seems to have a single problem with that it works. And here, just because i made a small mistake by not having a tool around to do the piston you make this judgement that i am some kind of retard who should only go to mechanics, seriously?

Sorry if sounds bit mad/harsh but it does make me a bit mad when i see people making such a silly judgements.

OP i had the same problem when i done mine (E46, 316i) the piston wasnt playing ball i stuck at it and i got it back, sometimes these things happen, being as its the brakes people are always going to be a bit more cautious about them being repaired via the DIY route.

arleitiss

S28382 wrote: »

OP i had the same problem when i done mine (E46, 316i) the piston wasnt playing ball i stuck at it and i got it back, sometimes these things happen, being as its the brakes people are always going to be a bit more cautious about them being repaired via the DIY route.

Did you run into a problem of having any of the screw/bolt threads damaged?

S28382

arleitiss wrote: »

Did you run into a problem of having any of the screw/bolt threads damaged?

Nope but the first time i changed them they were really tight so a bit of lubricant and gentle force sorted em.

arleitiss

S28382 wrote: »

Nope but the first time i changed them they were really tight so a bit of lubricant and gentle force sorted em.

Yeah apparently my rear screws that hold disc itself are pretty much rotted/rusted out and now no matter what allen bit i try the screw just melts literally, so not a chance to change it without mechanic

S28382

arleitiss wrote: »

Yeah apparently my rear screws that hold disc itself are pretty much rotted/rusted out and now no matter what allen bit i try the screw just melts literally, so not a chance to change it without mechanic

With something like that it is a good idea to get a pro to do it

arleitiss

S28382 wrote: »

With something like that it is a good idea to get a pro to do it

Well obviously since I don't even have tools to remove/cut the damaged bolts/screws.

S28382

arleitiss wrote: »

Well obviously since I don't even have tools to remove/cut the damaged bolts/screws.

Wooooh slow down there that seems a bitchey post Ok so if its getting like that now. Why go at something then if you dont have the tools to fix it if it goes wrong?

arleitiss

S28382 wrote: »

Wooooh slow down there that seems a bitchey post Ok so if its getting like that now. Why go at something then if you dont have the tools to fix it if it goes wrong?

Didn't mean the "bitchy post" sorry, answer to question: well I assume the previous owner changed brake pads sooner or later, so the bolts wouldn't be damaged, i never left a single bolt damaged, if I see damaged bolt I try to get it out and replace, so I assumed others do the same whih turned out to be false.

arleitiss

Okay, since many said my car will blow up, break, damaged etc.. went for a quick spin around Finglas area, went to finglas industrial estate (turn just before the Esso, on the way to Lidl), nice long roads there and nobody around, tested brakes and there is definetely an improvement, other than few surprised drivers (from bit of smoke from new pads), and some bit of bad smell it's just fine, still going to the mechanics tomorrow though to get rears replaced.


also decided to do typical thing I did before on brake discs and after I got home I touched a rear brake disc and front one, let's just say I regret touching the front disk. So does anybody have rough idea of cost to get rears replaced?

dgt

arleitiss wrote: »

i did a lot of research for e46 specifically, and i did exactly what everybody on e46 fanatics forums are saying, no body said anything about any problem with pushing piston back, in fact all the people i saw doing it were doing it by pushing piston back and no body seems to have a single problem with that it works. And here, just because i made a small mistake by not having a tool around to do the piston you make this judgement that i am some kind of retard who should only go to mechanics, seriously?

Sorry if sounds bit mad/harsh but it does make me a bit mad when i see people making such a silly judgements.

Did I make a judgement? Did I call you any obscene names? No. A mere observation on what could go wrong. Jumping to conclusions like that is not only cavalier, but immature.

So what, you made a mistake. I make mistakes and not afraid to admit it all people do. You come on here asking for a bit of help, a bit of advice. Advice is given, don't like whats heard and lash out at the ones giving decent advice? Well f*ck that, why the f*ck should I give any help if thats the thanks I get.

As for using a clamp, ever smash one and get shards of it in your eye? They are for clamping stuff not pressuring a hydraulic system. But what the f*ck would I know.

Do it right or don't do it atall. Do it wrong and you'll either hurt yourself or someone else. And if that someone is me I won't be very civilised

arleitiss

dgt wrote: »

Did I make a judgement? Did I call you any obscene names? No. A mere observation on what could go wrong. Jumping to conclusions like that is not only cavalier, but immature.

So what, you made a mistake. I make mistakes and not afraid to admit it all people do. You come on here asking for a bit of help, a bit of advice. Advice is given, don't like whats heard and lash out at the ones giving decent advice? Well f*ck that, why the f*ck should I give any help if thats the thanks I get.

As for using a clamp, ever smash one and get shards of it in your eye? They are for clamping stuff not pressuring a hydraulic system. But what the f*ck would I know.

Do it right or don't do it atall. Do it wrong and you'll either hurt yourself or someone else. And if that someone is me I won't be very civilised

Calm down dude, I never pointed at anyone really, thanks for everything I read every answer and reply and advice given here, I just explained why I don't think I should go to mechanics if I think I can do at least some bit of the work and save up some money, just because I made a mistake doesn't mean I blame anyone and don't listen to anyones advice, I never blamed anybody here or pointed at somebody, I asked for possible lend of a clamp but I ended up finding it in a local shop, for using the clamp = I saw many people doing it on videos and many people suggested using them and there seems to be no problem with it, I never said it's safe or anything.

S28382

There is no problem using a clamp altho dgt is right they aint for pushing pistons back but they do work, i learned from experience not to do anything unless i had all the tools i needed for whatever job i was doing and unfortunately youtube doesnt really show if it goes wrong what you should do.

It great that people have interest in car DIY as it seems as if most people dont care about the state of their cars. There are too many mechanics ripping people off for piss easy work on cars but of course when it goes a tad wrong thats when its good to have a pro go at it.