HOW DO I CHANGE REAR BRAKES ON ZAFIRA?

it is a real pain to wind back the caliper.. just done the job today i used another pair of hands, a jimmy bar and some mole grips. not ideal . also had major probs with the hand brake adjusting. The bar the cable sat on was seized and took some time to get free.

chenk21
June 2010

Hi,
Firstly loosen the wheels nuts, then jack the car up and use stands (car stands) if necessary just for safety. Now take off the bolts holding the wheel. The wheel should come out. Use a number 13 spanner to take of the bolt holding the caliper housing. (The bolt is at the bottom). After doing so, remove the E clip that is holding the hand brake cable, (make sure your hand brake is not on). Now press the break lever in a downward action and release the break cable of the hook where it sits. With a screwdriver lift the caliper housing in an upward action from the bottom, (where the bolt you loosened). The caliper housing will lift up. When that is done, you may slide it in a backward action where it will slide out of the top slide rode. With that being out you see the caliper. (this is the part that presses onto the inner break pad - It is the flat faced round metal with like two holes on it), use a wind back tool and while Appling push force turn the caliper in a clock wise direction a few turns. The caliper will go in. (Keep turning using pressure for the desired depth). (The wind back tool is something with two studs to fit over the caliper and the studs will fit in the holes). Now insert the new break pads and slide the caliper housing back with the slide rode first and fit the new bolt and stop clip that came with the break pads. Tighten the bolt and put the break cable back and put the E clip back. Put the wheel back and tighten the bolts, jack the car down and tighten the wheel nuts. Go over the other rear wheel and do the same. After doing both the rear wheels start the car and check breaks by pushing the break pedal. Breaks may feel a bit spongy; pump the breaks a few times. Then pull the hand break up and down a few times. With the hand break down, press the break pedal and feel if the break is ok. One may need to bleed the breaks if it is still spongy or may need to adjust the hand break. This can be done at the rear, where the break cable fits onto the caliper.
It is not easy if you have no idea. This is Break we talking about. Before you start get yourself the wind back tool, it is cheap in fact get yourself a multi one, as there are different sizes for different cars. Job done. Mail me if you have questions. bchetty@gmail.com

Basil
March 2009

hi clint i gave the answer to your problem to the brake shoe guy ,sorry

steven slingsby
October 2008

hi, take out the 2bolts at the rear of the caliper,support it by tying up, loosen the disc,if the disc has a ridge on the outside edge .grind it off front and back about 100mm, rotate this gap to pads and slide disc out,give yourself 2hrs each side as the pistons take some winding back in

steven slingsby
October 2008

Is your handbrake on??

Paul D Lane
August 2008

Wish I could help you but I'm in the same boat waiting for an answer.

The pads are so tight the piston needs to go back before I can even shift them & it looks like the caliper will have to come off like on the front?

I've seen posts about winding back the piston - that's nothing new but I can't get to that stage yet!!

Clint

Clint
September 2006