brakes

MAZDA PROTEGE
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MIKE7655
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I have a 2002 mazda protege (rear brakes) I'm not much of a car guy but thought I would do my own brakes (pads) having a friend to come over later to help (show) me but thought I would see what I could do on my own before he got here when I took off the caliper to put new pads on there is not enough room to put back on over the rotor the pads are almost touching??? How do I get them farther apart?? Thanks for your help
Apr 2, 2006 at 9:17 PM
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SYNCRAIT
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you need to open the brake fluid container under the hood and try to stuff a rag under it the best you can because you will have fluid overflow probably..... next while the caliper is off you need to find a way to depress the piston in the caliper probably using vice grips or a screwdriver.... do this only when the pads are off because you may crack or gouge the pad itself
May 5, 2006 at 7:05 PM
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COSMO
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WEll you could try all you want to push the piston back with a pair of channel lokcs or a screw driver....but buddy it aint gonna happen with the rear calipers on a '01-'03. The rear calipers of a protege have to be turned back using an allen key.

Also the protege's have a rather common problem with seizing the pads in the caliper cages...so make sure the cage is filed/sanded out well
May 5, 2006 at 9:23 PM
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