Gollum Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 As I type, my 81 ZX is sitting in the driveway and will be there until I get these brakes fixed. I've searched for the answers to my questions but I can't find them. Ok, my rear driver's side brake won't retract. It will onlt push. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that at slow speeds there was a little bit og brake grind in the back left, so today I go to put on some new pads and there isn't any room to put new ones on. The old ones where dead (well, just the inside one, the inside pad was at about 50%). So I figure, what the hey, maybe if I press on the brakes it'll release like it should, so i'll have the room I need.... bad idea. Now it's enguaged and I can't get anything in there.... BAAA! I really hope to be able to fix this without rebuilding the caliper, so someone please help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjhafa Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 Get out the C clamp and squeeze......or go get a new/rebuilt caliper. Sounds like a stuck caliper. By just putting on new pads wont solve anything except make you buy new pads and have brake dust all over the place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 On a ZX, the rear caliper pistons are to be ROTATED back into the caliper... A C-Clamp will do you NO good whatsoever. Use a pair of needle nose pliers in 2 of the 4 grooves around the outside edge of the flat part of the piston's surface to rotate it back into the caliper. Refer to FSM section BR-10 for more info. Hope it helps. Warren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsunlover Posted March 2, 2005 Share Posted March 2, 2005 You may be into replacing them anyway.. if they've come out too far and seized, you're probly screwed as far as getting them back in.. I've ran into this on many vehicles.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gollum Posted March 2, 2005 Author Share Posted March 2, 2005 well, I get the new pads put on. Just had to rotate and it freed up fine. I hate to give the caliper a little love tap from the inside to get it far enough outward for the outside pad. But it's all in now and the it doesn't seem to be sticking at all. I'm in happy land... ....except for one thing... ...my ebrake light won't turn off when I start the car.... The handle it pushing the sensor button just fine, but the light persists. I was under the impressoin that the light's only sensor was the button under the ebrake handle. What else could be tripping the circut? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Low brake fluid level in the reservior, or the wiring associated with the sensors in the caps. Check to make sure you have the fluid topped off and that the wiring is still plugged in. Warren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gollum Posted March 3, 2005 Author Share Posted March 3, 2005 i don't remember there being any wiring. i'll check again. thanks for the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgia Flash Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Did you break (open) a line when you worked on your brakes? If so you will have to bleed them. Sometimes it is hard to get the light on the dash to go out because there is a switch inside the proportioner valve that will move one way or the other if for instance the front or rear brake lines loose pressure. This will also make the light come on. Also on the ZX there is a couple of wires that go from the brake caps down to the switch. Check that these are still hooked up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gollum Posted March 3, 2005 Author Share Posted March 3, 2005 actually, i pulled off the pressure relieve thing-a-majige (yes i just said that... can you tell i only work on my own cars?) thinking that there might be too much pressure to back the caliper (i wish i knew the names of the parts i'm working with). I probly lost about 4 ounces or so. Today it was braking in a straight line so it seems there is equal pressure. So, if I have to bleed the lines do I need to drain both back and front and/or left and right. Well, i'm not looking foward to draining the system, but while i'm at it, are there any high performance brake fluids out there I should look for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgia Flash Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 If you broke open any lines you will need to bleed the system. Check with an auto parts store on the brake fluid. Someone else here may also have a suggestion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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