I'm going to be doing my back brakes tomorrow, pads and rotors. I was flipping through the guide on Audiworld.com and it says that the tool twists the piston as its pushing it in. Is that of any importance? I was going to use a piece of wood and a big pair of pliers to push it back in. Is that okay or do I need the tool to rotate the piston?

Thanks in advance.

 

You need the tool - you can't press it in (threads are too fine). Autozone loans it out or you can buy it. For the record, the fronts do press in but rears require the piston tool.

 

Ahhh what do you know lol

 

Lol I've heard a couple things in the past about Audi repair. Don't take it as gospel though - still kind of a noob to wrenching

 

Dear God, I was just about to do my rears this Saturday. i did the fronts and rotated the tires and noticed the rears need it too. This might be a snag, now I need tool. Bummer.

 

I bought a tool, it ended up not fitting by itself (from harbor freight, it was built solid, just too big to fit between the caliper). So i had to twist, then push with a C-clamp, and switch back and forth until it was pushed in all the way. My point is, you might be able to do it with some needle nose pliars if they are the right size to rotate the piston, then press with a c-clamp and switch back and forth. If you find the right tool it would make easier, shorter work of it though.

 

The kit at Autozone has interchangeable heads and a brace to pin it against the outer pad retainer. Or you can buy it from ECS, German, or Harbor Freight.