# Mazda 3 2006 Rear Piston Brake Pad Change

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-3-2006-rear-piston-brake-pad-change/45770>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** mazda3, mazda, brakes\
**Created:** [March 8, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-3-2006-rear-piston-brake-pad-change/45770 "2010-03-08T20:35:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mali\_Fakin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Mali\_Fakin](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mali_Fakin)\
**Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-3-2006-rear-piston-brake-pad-change/45770/1 "2010-03-08T20:35:50Z")

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I’m changing the pads on the rear brakes on my 2006 Mazda 3 (2.3L). I am having a hard time retracting the piston. The parking brake is off and I took the cap of the brake reservoir. I bruised my hands trying to use pliers to push the caliper in as I turned it clockwise. I am going to by a brake caliper tool to help in pushing it back to accommodate the new pads. Any advice?

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-3-2006-rear-piston-brake-pad-change/45770/2 "2010-03-08T20:42:19Z")

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See if any of the local auto parts stores rent this tool. Otherwise you’ll spend about this much for a good rear caliper tool. [http://www.denlorstools.com/home/dt1/page\_6504\_12/rear\_brake\_caliper\_piston\_tool\_set\_kd\_41540.html](http://www.denlorstools.com/home/dt1/page_6504_12/rear_brake_caliper_piston_tool_set_kd_41540.html)

Tester

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**Author:** ![Mali\_Fakin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Mali\_Fakin](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mali_Fakin)\
**Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-3-2006-rear-piston-brake-pad-change/45770/3 "2010-03-08T20:56:02Z")

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I’ve read since the parking brake is integrated that I need to remove the parking brake cable to push the piston back into the caliper. Is that true? Or will this tool do it?

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-3-2006-rear-piston-brake-pad-change/45770/4 "2010-03-08T20:58:52Z")

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No. The parking brake cable doesn’t require removal. The tool does it all.

Tester

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**Author:** ![COROLLAGUY1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/corollaguy1/32/7575_2.png) [@COROLLAGUY1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/COROLLAGUY1)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2019, 8:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mazda-3-2006-rear-piston-brake-pad-change/45770/6 "2019-01-15T08:13:02Z")

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This post is 9 year old…the OP probably solved the problem by now.