Brakes stuck on...

[Ste00]

I am having a ever so slight problem with the fc at the moment the brakes on the front have locked solid...
 
I have took the cap off the BMC and tried to push the pistons back in but with no luck.... any ideas? could it be because the rear pads are knackered?
 
Car is a 87 EGI with turbo 2 front brakes.

[TiddlesRX7]

I think you have to wind the pistons back in from what I have read on here. Never done it myself though so I could be wrong.

[m1tch]

Perhaps they are seized? how old were the brakes when you put them on?

[Prof]

Rears wind in, the fronts should be able to be pushed in - but they can be quite firm.  It\'s possible that the pistons have ceased - if water has got into the brake fluid and it\'s been sat any time.
 
You could try taking the pads out, unbolting one of the caliper bolts and swinging the caliper off the disc and then:
 
Insert a bit of wood between the pistons to prevent them coming all the way out, and then apply the brake - it might help free them up by allowing them to come out first - once they are moving, should be able to push them in - but you\'ll need a clamp or something.

[pdtaylor18]

I use a big G clamp to compress the pistons, works very well. As Prof says you need to work the pistons free and the only way is to exercise them one way or another or if you have the time and skill pop them out altogether.  At least this way you can clean the rust and bores with some fine emery cloth or similar sort of stuff.  If you have some very corroded calipers then drop me a line as I have some spare ones kicking around.  Sometimes just putting new pads in does the trick as they are ok at certain points of their travel and not so when they are worn.