Caliber won’t compress enough to get the pad in

Doing a brake job on my Tacoma, first time, and the caliber won’t compress enough to get the pad in. Any suggestions?

 

How are you compressing the pistons?

 

Tried everything, channel locks, pry bar, brake caliber tool. It won’t budge. I can push in the other piston to push it out and push it back a little, but then it’s a hard stop

 

I could really use someone help

 

Make sure that the master cylinder is open. Might be too much brake fluid to compress enough.

 

C-clamp. Works perfect.

 

Did you loosen the cap on the brake fluid reservoir? If that doesn't help try reassembling with the old pads, hit the brakes to build pressure (move the piston out a bit) and try again with a caliper compressing tool.
Don't try to move the piston out without reassembling or it will come out too far!

 

Can you compress the calipers one at a time?

 

C-CLAMP

You have to be patient and compress slowly. The top off the master cylinder doesn't matter it's vented.

 

Crack the bleeder and push the piston in with a C-clamp or Channellocks.....

 

A welders Vise grip clamp works too.

 

Are you using the old pad as a tool to help compress it?

 

You don't need that if you have a C clamp

 

Thank you all. Got it figured out. Just had to crack the bleeder. Love this forum!!

 

I have never had a problem using a large C-clamp compressing the pistons against the rotor before removing the caliper. The usual problem is breaking the caliper bolts loose without an impact gun. I usually need a breaker bar.