When installing new brake pads and you push the cylinder in to accommodate the new thicker pads...

how you gonna push it in with the valves shut?

It has always worked just fine for me.

loosen the emergency brake first … doink

Now do the right thing, loosen the bleeders THEN push the pedal. Let a guy know when you're finished.

No need for bleeders
Take the cap off your master cylinder & push them in slowly

THIS!! Do NOT open the bleeders. You will most likely introduce air into the system. BAD!

Yes, squeeze piston slowly. I use a carpenter C-clamp.

yep.

and if you are doing REAR pads, you sometimes have to use a special adapter tool to dial the pistons back in, instead of the c-clamp.

Just compress the cylinder. . No need to open a bleeder valve. Its best to use the proprietary tool but a vice grip or ive even used a channel lock. But they do compress the cylinder unevenly and can cause the cylinder to bind up.

But that being said ive never had that happen personally

You have to use care with pliers and c clamps. Some calipers use a phenolic (plastic) piston that can easily be damaged. Always use something flat, like the old brake pad to push on the piston with.

Yup c clamp.

This

Just remove the reservoir cap of the master cylinder, BUT leave the cap resting over the fill hole to prevent the brake fluid from squirting out all over the engine compartment. Then you can use a c-clamp on the caliper.

Don't forget to put the cap back on!

I've heard just pushing the cylinder back in on cars with abs can stuff the abs system ? Anyone know if that's true ?

hopefully the reservoir has not been filled prior to changing the pads.

not sure what that means.

I loosen the cover to the fluid reservoir so the brake fluid can go back into it when you compress the cylinder.

The bleed valve is used at the wheel cylinders to bleed air out of the brake line if it got in from the master cylinder fluid running out or if you change the caliper because air would have entered the open hydraulic line.

'Not a mechanic, but I play one in my driveway.

Ok , " can damage " the abs system

I'm damaged a caliper by uneven pushing with a C-clamp.

had not heard that.

always thought , it is a hydraulic system and fluid flows either way anyway.

curious, if someone knows that abs pump can be affected as you are describing.

No.

Just push it in. Use channel locks or a hand vice or something. The master cylinder and brake reservoir will take up the slack hydraulic fluid.

Jim, use a c clamp and push the cylinder in. I would recommend taking the brake fluid reservoir cap off first.

If you like to bleed brakes, use the bleeder screw and you will get a lot of air in the line.

That must have been on a rusted out ‘79 Chevette.

Yes this is true on certain models. Best practice is to bleed off fluid when pushing pistons back in. Then push enough fluid through system by bleeding to change all fluid. Brake fluid naturally draws moisture and should be changed every few years.

if you are going to bleed the brakes, i recommend using the gravity bleed method.

Remove caliper, before removing old brake pads put a spanner (ring/ open end) between the brake pads and use a bar in the ring end to twist the spanner and gently force the pistons in. Remove old pads, install caliper..job done. Use an old shitty spanner.

Neither.

You uncap the brake fluid reservoir, then push the cylinder back in.
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What are we working on and I will tell you.