May need to buy my first Icon tool

[JHZR2]

My accord rear caliper has a turn in type piston. I wasn’t aware TBH.

Our odyssey didn’t. None of my other vehicles do AFAIK.

Found that out this am with the thing apart.

Amazon can deliver me tons of stuff same day, but not the Astro kit that is apparently the same as the Snap-on. Snap-on claims their kit is Chinese.

So I may get the icon despite not having a coupon.

https://www.harborfreight.com/master-brake-caliper-set-20-piece-58117.html

I tried a needle nose pliers but it’s pretty tight. May be part of the reason why my pad was worn excessively.

Any thoughts on the kit?

 

[PKFan]

This OMT one is what I got for my son's GTI, which I never needed since he wrecked it before we did his brakes. I've used it to compress regular push-in calipers, too. Not sure it's worth the extra expense for the Icon, but I'm no expert. Don't know if it's available same day for you, either. Quickest for me is overnight.

 

[JHZR2]

This OMT one is what I got for my son's GTI, which I never needed since he wrecked it before we did his brakes. I've used it to compress regular push-in calipers, too. Not sure it's worth the extra expense for the Icon, but I'm no expert. Don't know if it's available same day for you, either. Quickest for me is overnight.

Available by 7am tomorrow.

 

[fdcg27]

When I did the brakes on my '12 I just purchased a cube and it worked very well with an extension on a flex handle.
Not as easy as a C-clamp on other calipers, but still pretty easy.

 

[spasm3]

This OMT one is what I got for my son's GTI, which I never needed since he wrecked it before we did his brakes. I've used it to compress regular push-in calipers, too. Not sure it's worth the extra expense for the Icon, but I'm no expert. Don't know if it's available same day for you, either. Quickest for me is overnight.

Available by 7am tomorrow.

I have that set, its under several different names, orion, 8 mile lake,

It works fine. I don't know who makes icon.

 

[UncleDave]

Cant speak to the kit specifically but my few Icon purchases have been satisfying, and the products held up.

I'll never confuse it for Nepros when I reach in the case - but the tools have been perfectly serviceable so far.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Those kits work very well. But for the rare use, the Rubic Cube will do the trick. Once they get moving, it seems to get easier.

 

[Trav]

The Icon stuff I have has been good, even on that tool it has a lifetime walk in walk out with a new one. Regardless of which tool you use get a very small screwdriver or thin plastic spray can straw and move the boot away from the caliper while you put a bit of brake fluid in the gap otherwise you run the risk of tearing the boot while turning it. Carefully clean the rust away from the slots on top of the piston.

 

[DCDG]

How often you need the tool could rent from the auto parts store.

 

[I<3oil]

#doit

 

[JavierH19]

I bought a cheap set from amazon that looked about identical to the cheap one harbor freight sells but for less than half the price and it was fine, Only used it once so far and worked perfectly. if the piston seal isn't too tight you might get away with using needle nose pliers but usually they're too tight to do so comfortably. Get some silicone spray and spray the boots so they're lubed and don't tear from being frozen onto the lip and rip off when screwing them back in.

 

[AutoMechanic]

I have the OMT set at home and work and it works fine for whenever I need it. I don’t know about the Icon set. The Icon stuff I have has done well so far.

 

[vssjim]

I have the Astro Tools and Lisle older sets and they both work but the Astro is newer and fits more cars

 

[Chris142]

That hf kit looks exactly like my Cornwell one. I bet it is but I paid a lot more than $70 im sure.

 

[JHZR2]

I bought the Maddox set. It was $41 vs $69 going to China. Getting it today meant I could finish one side today in the free time we had amongst other activities.

It worked fine.

I cleaned the piston and lubed it with some Toyota red grease and it went in easily after the first bit.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

I got one of the Amazon versions, it works. I'm probably doing something wrong between the left and right thread versions as the plate loosens up as I turn also. The last multiple times I used a pair of needle nose and they worked well. I might need to get the cube for next time.

Side note on my Accord, I turned it all the way in like I would push a piston in, leaving more room to put caliper over pads. When you apply the brakes then the piston also turns so unless you are careful the slots turn and not aligned with back of pad anymore. If you have someone help you to apply brake slowly you can hold/slide the caliper tight to rear pad at piston if that makes sense. This was was what I found next time I removed for cleaning/lube/replace.

Note the nub imprint in piston face and wear on the nub on pad.

 

[JHZR2]

I got one of the Amazon versions, it works. I'm probably doing something wrong between the left and right thread versions as the plate loosens up as I turn also. The last multiple times I used a pair of needle nose and they worked well. I might need to get the cube for next time.

Side note on my Accord, I turned it all the way in like I would push a piston in, leaving more room to put caliper over pads. When you apply the brakes then the piston also turns so unless you are careful the slots turn and not aligned with back of pad anymore. If you have someone help you to apply brake slowly you can hold/slide the caliper tight to rear pad at piston if that makes sense. This was was what I found next time I removed for cleaning/lube/replace.

Note the nub imprint in piston face and wear on the nub on pad.

View attachment 342800
View attachment 342801
View attachment 342802

I was wondering about that. I’ll need to check it again tomorrow. Turning the piston all the way in was not a tight fit, it seems like it may be better to turn it and just go a quarter turn at a time when it’s close, until everything clears so there is no chance of plat or misalignment.

I too found that it was necessary to hold the lower nut and keep tightening it to the plate for best success.

 

[Chris142]

I got one of the Amazon versions, it works. I'm probably doing something wrong between the left and right thread versions as the plate loosens up as I turn also. The last multiple times I used a pair of needle nose and they worked well. I might need to get the cube for next time.

Side note on my Accord, I turned it all the way in like I would push a piston in, leaving more room to put caliper over pads. When you apply the brakes then the piston also turns so unless you are careful the slots turn and not aligned with back of pad anymore. If you have someone help you to apply brake slowly you can hold/slide the caliper tight to rear pad at piston if that makes sense. This was was what I found next time I removed for cleaning/lube/replace.

Note the nub imprint in piston face and wear on the nub on pad.

View attachment 342800
View attachment 342801
View attachment 342802

One is RHT and the other LHT. Try the other one

 

[Sequoiasoon]

One is RHT and the other LHT. Try the other one

I think I did that and one was definitely worse but the other the plate didn't stay tight either way. I know it has to be user error but I just don't need it that often either.