I Replace my front brakes today and followed the directions in the manual. After you remove the wheel it tells you to compress the caliper and then remove it. I am assuming compressing it makes it easier to remove. Can anyone actually tell me how to compress it so I can remove it easily. I did my front but was a pain to get calipers off because I actually did not know how to compressthem other then pushing on the brake pedal but don't see how that would work. Thanks for any help

 

i believe they mean after you remove the caliper from the rotor you have to compress the pistons back into the caliper so that when you replace the pads and rotors you'll be able to slip the caliper back on

 

For the purpose of brake caliper replacement, pushing on the brakes will extend the pistons, not compress them, making them harder to remove. I agree with Pyro that it's easier to compress the piston after you have removed the brake caliper and it sounds like you've already got the caliper off. If so, you'll see the round silver pistons that are extended about 3/4 inch or so. It is these pistons that you need to compress, by compress I mean you'll need to push them back down to where they are flush with the rubber boot. You'll need a large C clamp and something flat and sturdy that is small enough to put over the piston(s) (you can do them one at a time or both simultaneous). I use a 1 inch piece of wood. Anyway, put the wood over the piston and tighten the c clamp until the piston goes back into the body. Make sure your brake fluid reservoir has some room because you will push a lot of fluid back into it.
PM me if you need any help at all. Don't worry, it's easy after the first time.

 

Jrsick is right. Definitely check the fluid level before you do this. Brake fluid removes paint real well. You can remove a some brake fluid from the reservoir just as long as you don't remove enough so that the level falls below the lines coming out of the reservoir. If you do that you can get air in the lines and will have to bleed the lines.

I have done brakes before when I have not compressed the pads with a clamp and the caliper goes back on, I don't know why though.

This all makes complete sense after you finish the first one.

 

Compress them with a c or g clamp,use the old pad to cover the piston so the clamp does'nt slip into the hollow piston.

 

I understand compressing pistons after you remove calipers to get it to go back on after you put on new pads. This is how it explains it in the Dodge Repair Manual. It tells you to compress before you remove it. It is very confusing because they say do it before you remove the caliper that is what I don't understand.

BRAKE PADS/SHOES
REMOVAL
(1) Raise and support vehicle.
(2) Remove the wheel and tire assemblies.
(3) Compress the caliper.
(4) Remove the caliper, (Refer to 5 - BRAKES/HYDRAULIC/
MECHANICAL/DISC BRAKE CALIPERS
- REMOVAL).
(5) Remove the caliper by tilting the top up and off
the caliper adapter (Fig. 10).
NOTE: Do not allow brake hose to support caliper
assembly.
(6) Support and hang the caliper. (Fig. 11)
(7) Remove the inboard brake shoe from the caliper
adapter (Fig. 12).
(8) Remove the outboard brake shoe from the caliper
adapter (Fig. 13).
(9) Remove the anti-rattle springs from the caliper
adapter (Fig. 14) and (Fig. 15).

INSTALLATION
(1) Bottom pistons in caliper bore with C-clamp.
Place an old brake shoe between a C-clamp and caliper
piston.
(2) Clean caliper mounting adapter and anti-rattle
springs.
(3) Lubricate anti-rattle springs with Mopar brake
grease.
(4) Install anti-rattle springs.
NOTE: Anti-rattle springs are not interchangeable.
(5) Install inboard brake shoe in adapter.

 

Take the two bolts off that hold the caliper on,the caliper should come off with a bit of wiggling then compress the piston.

 

Kev, I agree with you that the part about compressing the calipers before removing the caliper assembly is confusing. I don't know anyone that does it that way but you might need to if you were unable to remove the assembly. Idea here is that once the tire/lugs are removed then there is some play with the brake rotor. If the caliper assembly was difficult to remove then you could use a c clamp to push on the back of the outboard brake pad and it's mount. This would cause the brake rotor (now loose) to push on the inboard brake pad and the caliper behind it thus giving some clearance.
Good on you for working through this. Where are you now with your brake job.

 

I did Get the front brakes done and everything worked out fine. Just was very hard to get calipers off had to use a small pry bar to get them started. That is why I asked about the part of compressing them prior to removal to see if there was something I missed that would make the brakes easier to do before I do the rear. Thanks guys for all the help.