Tool for twist-in brake calipers?

Frosthy · May 17, 2013

I saw the "cube" on ToolTopia yesterday but now I can't find it... Anyone have a link? I'm also confused as to how that tool is to be used?

aleccolin · May 17, 2013

It's just a universal brake caliper tool, you can get them at any auto parts store. The pins are sized and spaced to fit the slots in different caliper pistons and the cube accepts a 3/8" drive ratchet or extension so you can press in while you turn it, which is the only way many rear calipers with integral parking brake will retract for installing new pads.

purplezr2 · May 17, 2013

Cube *****, I would get the kit with the different adapters

ken w. · May 17, 2013

The cube works well on very few calipers in my opinion. When the cube is easy to use , you most likely could have used a pair of needle nose to rotate the piston. I prefer the kit with the adapters. Up here in the Northeast I prefer to replace calipers more often because the piston tends to rust up and stick from the salt and slush we drive in.

zkling · May 17, 2013

purplezr2 said:
Cube *****, I would get the kit with the different adapters

X 10000

ken w. said:
The cube works well on very few calipers in my opinion. When the cube is easy to use , you most likely could have used a pair of needle nose to rotate the piston. I prefer the kit with the adapters. Up here in the Northeast I prefer to replace calipers more often because the piston tends to rust up and stick from the salt and slush we drive in.

Same as above just a bit more detail. If the cube will work, so will a pair of needle nose pliers. You need a pushing and twisting force to compress the piston the threaded adapters work well for this.

MeentSS02 · May 17, 2013

I bought a cube from HF to use on my Viper's parking brake caliper pistons (they require the push and twist method to retract), but none of the patterns lined up with the holes in the pistons. I ended up using a set of 90° bent needle nose pliers to do the job instead.

I'm really not sure what calipers the cube type tools work on, but it sure wasn't mine. It would have been great if it had fit, but I guess you can only cover so many bases with that type of tool.

braol · May 17, 2013

If you get a kit, I would suggest you get one that doesnt require wrenches like the OTC kit.

SpiderGearsMan · May 17, 2013

I use needle nose pliers to crank them in on ultra small mazda rear calipers

dclassical · May 17, 2013

Following the advice of someone here I got the Lisle tool kit:
Lisle 25000 Rear Disc Brake Caliper Tool

It works very well and their warranty department is just great. I had a problem at first with the main part being a little too big to fit completely inside the adapters. One email is all it took for me to get a replacement part.

jayoldschool · May 17, 2013

I used to think the cube sucked until I used it on my cordless impact.

volvo92906 · May 17, 2013

I used the cube every day when I worked at Honda. A 7.00 tool compared to some 50.00+ tool that does the same thing but with discs instead? I admit its nicer.. But I never had a problem with the cube. I guess my main reason is since I mainly work on heavy stuff, I didnt want to spend the money for something to work on cars for a short time.

mrborohachi · May 17, 2013

volvo92906 said:
I used the cube every day when I worked at Honda. A 7.00 tool compared to some 50.00+ tool that does the same thing but with discs instead? I admit its nicer.. But I never had a problem with the cube. I guess my main reason is since I mainly work on heavy stuff, I didnt want to spend the money for something to work on cars for a short time.

great post as to the merits of the Cube :beer:

, cheap, takes up less space than a 3/8th dr deep socket. It's a great on the road tool for when you go help a friend do brakes

Jeeper · May 17, 2013

I used the Lisle cube on my Pontiac Grand Prix rear brakes and it worked fine. I can understand if you did a lot of them, you might want something different but it worked fine for me.

tjmonsen5 · May 17, 2013

The cube *****. It works on nice newer cars with pristine calipers. On an old rusty caliper, forget about it.

I use the LIL25000, i had to do a Nissan maxima brake job last night, and had to use my impact gun to turn the caliper in. The rubber seal was torn on the piston, and it was all rusty. I reccomended the customer buy a new caliper.

rob0781 · May 17, 2013

I used the cube on my 05 acura rear calipers, 180,000km and the original calipers driven thru canadian winters with lots of salt and the cube works great on them.

stephen4785 · May 18, 2013

All I do is leave the top caliper bolt in then swing the caliper up and prop it up with a wrench. Then stick a large flat blade screw driver through the top of the caliper and use it to press the piston while I turn the piston back in with some channel locks. As long as you dont squeeze the pistons too hard while turning it it works great.

shampoop · May 18, 2013

I have the cube and don't like it much. I like this much better.

http://www.tooltopia.com/sunex-tool...utm_term=SUN3930&utm_campaign=pricegrabber_r1

jfdestree · May 18, 2013

shampoop said:
I have the cube and don't like it much. I like this much better.

http://www.tooltopia.com/sunex-tool...utm_term=SUN3930&utm_campaign=pricegrabber_r1

I have the exact same set up and it's a pleasure to use. Buy this and forget the extra $ spend the first time you use it

gtlaw · May 18, 2013

shampoop said:
I have the cube and don't like it much. I like this much better.

http://www.tooltopia.com/sunex-tool...utm_term=SUN3930&utm_campaign=pricegrabber_r1

Anyone know the difference between the sunex set for $75 and this astro set for half the price link

cburnscrx · May 18, 2013

volvo92906 said:
I used the cube every day when I worked at Honda. A 7.00 tool compared to some 50.00+ tool that does the same thing but with discs instead? I admit its nicer.. But I never had a problem with the cube. I guess my main reason is since I mainly work on heavy stuff, I didnt want to spend the money for something to work on cars for a short time.

I tend to do a lot of work on Honda's (CRX, Prelude, Acura CL), and I've used the cube too. Works just fine and was cheap! I am sure one of those kits works very nicely, but for the cost, grab a cube from any autoparts store. If you don't like it and you want a kit, you're just out a few bucks...

jeffk14 · May 18, 2013

If I were doing rear disc brake jobs every day, then I might opt for a fancy kit.

For the rare occasion that I need it, the cube is just fine for me. I've even got one or two that I've "modified" by grinding the little knobs to fit vehicles that the cube would not have otherwise fit. A couple of cubes laying in the drawer takes up a lot less room and is a lot less to keep up with than a kit too.

dirtmister16 · May 18, 2013

i have a otc kit on here, but i also think the cube is easier, faster and nicer. at least you can push and only need one hand. no setup time just slap it on the extenstion.

it doesn't work everywhere but it does work in places when the kit doesn't have anything that works.

Tool for twist-in brake calipers?

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