Anyone change their own brakes on a MINI?
 

My god daughter has a new-ish MINI, (2012?), that might need brakes. I want to do them for her but I remember from another friend's MINI that you need a special tool to compress calipers...where can I get this? How much? TIA.

You're thinking of my old thread. Mrs. Lee's Mini was 2006. I don't know about the newer ones, but you can borrow the caliper press kit from AutoZone. You can't use a c-clamp for this, as there are two notches in the piston, into which you lock the tool and I think rotate cw as you tighten down. Can't recall, but it will be immediately obvious to you and the tool is free to borrow.

I've done it on my 05 MCS. The rear calipers need to rotate as they go in or out (related to the parking brake, I believe). I just picked up the cheap harbor freight kit just to avoid having to go back and forth to AutoZone. But that's a good option too.

Hate that tool. Had to use one on my Starion. Always slipped making it a knuckle buster. I resorted to a pair of needle nose, they work in a pinch.

You are looking for this.

http://new.minimania.com/images_temp...001nmb1300.jpg

The brakes on the jag are the same way.
I just borrow the tool from advance auto....it's about two miles away.
The kit has a bunch of different fittings for a variety of calipers....
Really doesn't add any time to a brake job other than bleeding it out a little more thoroughly.
Jag shop manual calls for installing the caliper with only the piston side pad in and a rag between the outer fingers and rotor. Pump til stiff, bleed, remove, compress, install both pads, install caliper and bleed again.
If it's an electronic parking brake, there's probably a calibration sequence required as well

you can also find a 'brake caliper tool' from harbor freight....

autozone had the tool that looked like a cube with various pins sticking out of it. iirc it was under $10.

This

Four Wheel Disc Brake Piston Tool

Better

18 Piece Disc Brake Pad and Caliper Service Tool Kit

Thanks! I assume that the electronic parking brake reference was for a Jag, not MINI? The Jag I drow recently had a button for e-brake, MINI has normal lever.

So it's only the rear calipers that need to rotate pistons to release/retreat? Do pistons need only be turned or compressed at same time? Thx.

Turn and push.

Watch the seal as sometimes it can pull.