Cadillac Repair: 1999 STS rear brakes, rear caliper, rear brakes

Question
I have initiated removal and (pending) replacement of the rear brakes on my 99 STS. I am having difficulty compressing the piston to facilitate installation of the new pads. It appears that the emergency brake is holding the piston out. How do I release the Em. brake to compress the piston?

Answer
If the rear brake piston is smooth on the surface of the piston, Use a "C" clamp to LIGHTLY force the piston inward . Make sure you remove 2/3 of the brake fluid from the master cylinder or it will make a horrible mess when the master cylinder overflows.


OR open the bleeder screw on the rear caliper as you use the "C" clamp to depress the piston and when the piston bottoms out TIGHTEN the bleeder screw.


If the piston has big notches in the surface of the piston you will have to screw the piston CLOCKWISE as the piston is mounted on a large screw.