I decided it was time for new pads and rotors since I could hear the wear indicator from the rear right side. After a closer look it was obvious I needed a new caliper on the right rear. It looks like the E-Brake cable had bound up. Now I'm putting the new rotor and pads on the left rear and I can't get the piston to retract. I can't think of anything I can do differently. The front went back in fine. Anybody else have a problem with both rear calipers needing replacement? Should I waste any more time or just get another new caliper for the left as well?

 

you need a rear piston caliper compression tool, it turns the caliper in.

a search would have yielded a few threads, such as THIS ONE

 

any idea why they are like that? Or any idea why our rear brakes suck so badly?

 

Our rears do not suck.. just a typical compromise of having the handbrake integrated with the regular braking mechanism... and before you laugh, not all cars do that.

The reason we have to turn the rear piston in, they rotate slightly whenever you use the handbrake, this keeps them adjusted. Because of this, you need to turn them back down as you push the piston back into the caliper... even my fiat is this way.

My BMW uses a small drum brake built into the hat of the disc.. this small drum is ONLY used for the handbrake. It makes it easier to work on the brakes but a serious PITA to remove the rear discs.. it also makes the rear discs more expensive and heavier than on the tib.

so there is a compromise either way

 

Actually Alex01 I did search. I guess not deep enough. Thanks for the assistance!