2 questions about Xantia brake calipers?

falling-out-with-my-car · 22 Mar 2009, 23:16

1. Today I tried to fit new front brake pads to my 1998 Xantia,
whilst trying to screw in the piston turnning it clockwise it would
only travel in about half way, the piston still turns but does not
want to travel in any further.
I tried lowering the suspension to let the pressure off but this didn't
help at all.
I have changed the pads before several times and never come across
this problem before. fortunately there is some wear left on the old
pads so I have put them back in until I find an answer.

2. does anybody know please where I can buy the tool to wind in the
pistons other than a citroen garage at a reasonable price and what
the proper name for the tool might be?

Thanks In Advance. Regards nigel.

Toby_HDi · Unread post by **Toby_HDi** » 22 Mar 2009, 23:22

Am doing my brakes currently. I found the pistons could be a little stiff and reluctant to go in. You have to turn clockwise whilst pushing the piston in I found. Have you tried this?

The tool is called a Caliper Rewind Tool. Available at most good factors. I just used an allen key with a long shank. Worked well.

falling-out-with-my-car · 22 Mar 2009, 23:28

Toby,

I tried pushing the piston in whilst turnning it and it was still reluctant to move, it was hard to get any kind of pressure on the piston to push it. I ususlly use the edge of a flat file to turn the piston and usually they don't need pushing they just screw in, thats why I don't really understand whats going on.

regards nigel.

vince · Unread post by **vince** » 22 Mar 2009, 23:49

Hi Nigel, GSF do the caliper rewind tool

If you have one near by and want to enquire, make sure its not the mark 4 Golf one that they quote you on. Those are the most common ones we get asked for. We do list a specific one for Xantia's

falling-out-with-my-car · 23 Mar 2009, 08:28

vince,

GSF ah ha found one in Northampton online, will give them a ring, thanx for that.

I will go for the tool, it sounds good that at least someone lists the cars it can be used on, in a short search online not many manufacturers list the vechicles.

regards nigel.

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 23 Mar 2009, 08:47

lowering the suspension will not releave any presure at the brake calipers, it can help some times to just open the caliper bleed kniple and have a tube atatched to collect any fluid,

always unhook the cable and make sure the hand brake lever on the calliper is fully off before windding the pistons back

regards malcolm

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 23 Mar 2009, 09:47

When i did my Activa's pads recently the only way i could get the caliper pistons in just enough was to make sure the suspension was set to low - It worked for me!

falling-out-with-my-car · 23 Mar 2009, 14:48

citronut wrote:
always unhook the cable and make sure the hand brake lever on the calliper is fully off before windding the pistons back

Nope tried that and still no joy, can't help thinking maybe there's some dirt lodged behind the piston somehow, why should it be so easy to wind them back one year and the next year they don't want to move in far enough? do the seals expand over time? maybe that's the reason?
nice though it is the info on the caliper rewind tools is a bit vague it seems quite possiable to end up with the wrong tool for the Xantia.

regards nigel.