Watch out for those plastic brake caliper pistons

I was doing rear brakes on a 2014 Honda Accord last Thursday in my garage outside Denver. Got the old pads off fine, then went to push the piston back with my regular tool and it just cracked right in half. That plastic material crumbles if they're old enough. Had to order a whole new caliper from O'Reilly's for $85 and lost the whole afternoon. Anyone else run into these failing without warning?

2 comments

2 Comments

jenniferwells14d agoTop Commenter

Those plastic ones are actually phenolic resin, not regular plastic.

jenkins.wade14d ago

Jen mentions "phenolic resin" and that reminds me of how those old rotary phone dials were made from the same stuff. It's basically compressed paper and glue under heat... yet people think it's just cheap plastic.