1. You should not open the bleed screw when changing brake pads; If
brakes are not applied the brake fluid will flow back to the reservior.

2. According to the 1994 Civic service manual "Rotate the caliperpiston
clockwise into place in the cylinder, the align the cutout in the piston
with the tab on the inner pad by turning the piston back" "Caution:
Lubricate the boot with rubber grease to avoid twisting the piston boot.
If piston boot is twisted, back it out so it sits properly"

The Helm manual is invaluable for all work on the Civic. Buy it at
http://www.helminc.com

Brent wrote:
>
> Hi:
>
> I'm helping my friend with a 1995 Honda Civic EX 1.6L w/ ABS. He's
> replacing the brakes on all four corners. We replaced the front, no
> problem. But we can't get the rear caliper piston (rear disk brakes)
> to retract enough to fit around the new pads. We opened up the
> bleeder valve and plenty of brake fluid came out, but still, the
> piston won't budge -- with pressure, the fluid only drips out at the
> same rate as with no pressure. There was another drain plug around
> the point where the brake line meets the metal of the caliper, so we
> opened that too -- fluid dripped out -- but still the piston won't
> budge.
>
> We were using a pair of channel lock plyers so its not a matter of
> we're not pushing enough ... it should be easier, right? The front
> piston retracted very easily.
>
> Thanks.