I bought a totalled 04 Bonneville which has been sitting in a salvage yard for an unknown time. It has rear disc brakes and the rears were frozen when delivered. Dragging the car with a chain did not free them. So I had to take the rear brakes apart. The caliper piston on the left rear is fully extended and will not push in to put the pads back in. Is this normal? I thought of using an 8" C-clamp to push the caliper piston back in. Am I going in the wrong direction or should I just get a new caliper? As I get older, this newer stuff gets harder as I wonder about the technology. Thanks in advance Dan
You may have to turn them to get them back in. Part of the parking brake mechanism. Are there a couple of holes in the face of the piston?
Nope, no holes in the face of the piston. I have pulled the caliper off the car to work on it on a bench. I was working on it originally in a gravel driveway which is drenched due to our big rains and snows this year. Glad to get the car inside, I am too old to work outside in the damp weather laying on cardboard. Dan
Thanks!! I was wondering if there was a tool for the job.. I appreciate it buddy! Note, you were right about the holes in the face, only they are not holes, it has machined ridges to handle that. Dan
Hmmm no holes? Here is another version that will fit more applications. http://www.kd-tools.com/3163.htm I agree on the working damp weather.
If it has the integral parking brake(lever w/cable),you have to turn them in,if it doesnt,they just push in.If it dont go its DONE just get a new one.Rebuilding them will cost as much as a re-man once you include the time involved and the swearing.I feel your pain too,damp/cold/outdoors=
That Bonneville, just toss it. It is crap. We bought one thinking it was a nice car (leather seats, heated seats, heads-up display, supercharger, etc.) but of the 2 years we owned it, it was in the shop for 4-5 months!!! Seriously! We lost a lot of money on that deal. I finally told Anna to get rid of it and get something she wanted...leading to the black mustang convertible...
Yeah Scott, those Bonnevilles are crap, my 98 only has 400,000 miles on it. Best car I ever owned. But like you, I have had cars that have been bad to me like that too. One bad car can turn you off a car line for sure. I am thinking my 05 Superduty is going to get traded in on a GM, right now it wont come out of 4 wheel drive and it is stuck in the low range too. It is still under warranty but I think I will get it fixed and trade it. Now, back to subject, got the special tool and got brakes back together, Thanks guys! Dan
I admit, I will never buy another pontiac. We just had problem after problem with that thing. Everyone else says they love their bonnevilles, but we couldn't keep ours out of the shop more than a month or 2 at a time... problems, which a quick google search will show that they were fairly common on our car. 1) trunk full of water, several times. New seals on the trunk. 2) back seat floorboard full of water, several times. Ended up being a leaky sunroof. Had to replace the entire unit, not just the seals. In the shop 3 times for this one. 3) "farting" sound from power steering. over 8 trips to the shop for this one, and ended up getting 4 new power racks. Only one didn't fart, and it was the wrong ratio, so when you turned sharp, the brakes automatically started to pulse on and off from the skid control doohicky. 4) all the lights went out on the radio. 5) driver seat warmer went out. Couple of other minor things from wear that were normal. But this all happened within 2 years. 4 months total in the shop and driving a rental. Yet I have talked to several other owners and they love theirs. I guess this one was manufactured on either a Friday or Monday...
Yeah, I remember that bonneville when you came to Roundup. Didnt know you had all those problems with it. Bad car for sure. Sounds like the Stang has been doing you well though. Dan
Yup, that was what we drove up there. After the Bonneville, I now buy the extended warranty on my cars. The stang is working out GREAT!!!
Dan I believe the parkong brake is seperate on that model. Can you post'some pics? If it won't push back it's done. But new rotors why you are at it. GM rotores tend to rust pit really bad. I would also open the bleeder and see if it goes back then. May have collapsed hose or ABS valve sticking on.......... Make sure nobody has put the wrong fluid in there. check the cap for a swollen rubber cap.....
Lance, the tool got the job done for me. You are right when it comes to the rotors. I am going to replace them. I did undo the bleeder and it would not push back in. Since I had not ever had that happen to me, except old rusty stuff, I came here for help, and got it. Right now just have the car so it moves under its own power. Taking it to a frame shop to get the ass end pulled out and the left unibody frame rail tweaked. Then I will finish the car out from there. Dan
