Disassembly

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Jeep Liberty. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Remove brake shoes from caliper.
Drain brake fluid out of caliper.
Take a piece of wood and pad it with one-inch thickness of shop towels. Place this piece in the outboard shoe side of the caliper in front of the piston. This will cushion and protect caliper piston during removal. See Fig 1.

Fig 1: Padding Caliper Interior - Typical
Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - SHOP TOWELS OR CLOTHS

2 - CALIPER

Remove caliper piston with short bursts of low pressure compressed air. Direct air through fluid inlet port and ease piston out of bore. See Fig 2.

CAUTION: Do not blow the piston out of the bore with sustained air pressure. This could result in a cracked piston. Use only enough air pressure to ease the piston out.

WARNING: NEVER ATTEMPT TO CATCH THE PISTON AS IT LEAVES THE BORE. THIS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.

Fig 2: Caliper Piston Removal - Typical

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - AIR GUN

2 - CALIPER PISTON

3 - PADDING MATERIAL

Remove caliper piston dust boot with suitable pry tool. See Fig 3.

Fig 3: Caliper Piston Dust Boot Removal - Typical
Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - COLLAPSE BOOT WITH PUNCH OR SCREWDRIVER

2 - PISTON DUST BOOT
Remove caliper piston seal with wood or plastic tool. See Fig 4. Do not use metal tools as they will scratch piston bore.

Fig 4: Piston Seal Removal - Typical
Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - REMOVE SEAL WITH WOOD PENCIL OR SIMILAR TOOL

2 - PISTON SEAL
Remove caliper mounting bolt bushings and boots. See Fig 5.

Fig 5: Mounting Bolt Bushing And Boot - Typical

Courtesy of DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP.

1 - CALIPER SLIDE BUSHING

2 - BOOT