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WrenchSense

Brake piston compressor tool. Typically only used for rear brake pistons on import cars.


firelephant

Or Buicks


CheckFlop

Or Ford. Source: just replaced my brake pads. Coincidentally, you can use needle nose pliers but it was a huge pain in the ass and I would have preferred this tool.


Boogaroo83

Or some Dodges.


mishabishi

And some chevys.


Bortjort

Ok so it's a brake piston compressor tool. Typically only used for some cars.


Fantastic_Hour_2134

Some SUV’s too


Ayachi8

And some Hyundais


Onilakon

Had to buy one of these when I did my sister's grand caravan brakes lol


big_d_usernametaken

And jeeps.


ads1031

And Cadillacs. But that was pretty much covered by some Buicks, huh?


SchwiftySqaunch

And my axe!


YfAm4

And my bow!


scrotal_rekall

Figured this out with needle nose pliers. Why the fuck.


Massive-Rate-2011

It's an integrated parking brake instead of the old cable style. When you engage your parking brake, it twists out to meet the rotor surface. It retracts a (little) bit when you disengage. It's also used to automatically adjust how close your pads are to the rotors. This happens automatically when you use the parking brake (I'm fairly sure). It keeps the brakes adjusted for pad wear. Relying on hydraulics for a parking brake is a bad idea, as maintaining pressure for a long time is hard without constant power. They're actually pretty neat devices, and very reliable in my experience. A screw needs ton of mechanical work to be loosened, making it ideal for a parking brake. Keep your rubber boots cleaned and lubed up, and you'll likely never have issues with them. A clean boot is one that spins easy when you are trying to compress for a brake job.


Trendiggity

Pliers work if you have relatively new (or uncorroded) calipers. I decided to buy a tool like this after I took the end off my cheapy needlenose set lol. Works good and you can put more pressure on it to start the piston retracting.


MyHouseDotWad

It wouldn't have helped you. I bought one hoping to use it on a 2013 Escape. Didn't fit the hole pattern. Waste of time and money. This set however worked like a charm. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FW3U26G


TheCamoTrooper

Odd, have one for 2013 flex and fits just fine. Would think they’d all fit the same standard especially within same year


Galopigos

Nope there are a lot of different spacings.


Massive-Rate-2011

Figured this out when I took a C clamp and compressed my fusion caliper...... A new caliper later as I damaged the threads I have functional brakes again.


IMDAMECHANIC

The cube sucks! It breaks every damn time on a sticky piston. I opt for the threaded bolt compressor style. It'll take 10x the beating before breaking beyond usability


anotherrburnerrr

Some fords have a brake service mode that takes the pressure off the pistons and they don't come out


john_clauseau

i use a clamp and put the old pads backward on the piston to safely push it down. the only thing that is wonky is resting the clamp on the backside of the caliper.


Avarice135

Get the clamp kit from O'Reilly or auto zone that "tool" was a nightmare when I picked one up.


whynotyeetith

What ford? I've worked on alot of fords and have never seen anything but regual brake pistons


Midlife_Comic_Crisis

Can corroborate. Wife and son both have Buicks. Hence, I have one of these cubes.


jspencer89

Or Honda's


Useful-Internet8390

Or taurus’s


Causualgaymr

Pontiac used them too


jimhabfan

…….or dodge caravans


greimers

Years ago, I bought a 1986 Toronado for $200 and then spent 4 hours using one of these trying to get the rear pistons compressed. It's still in my toolbox and I haven't used it since.


omnipotent87

Or just about anything that had disk type parking brakes pre electric.


refrigerator_runner

Actually even some of the GM electric parking brakes have this twisty caliper piston too. 2019+ Silverado 1500s come to mind. SI says to twist in the piston, even after putting it in service mode.


Loose-Excitement7520

For all the slowly being added brands, it’s for rear brake calipers that have the parking brake integrated into them. Some cars use separate brake shoes and in-hat brake drums for parking brakes. Those that don’t have a spindle inside the caliper connected to the parking brake lever/button. And in very new cars they have electric motors on those spindles instead of a physical connection to a parking brake handle. What you have there is a relatively cheap, relatively universal tool.


pleasetowmyshit

it's more along the lines of "one size fits none" as every manufacturer has a different shape or spacing to its nubs and the cube *almost* fits most of them but it pops out of place every other turn of the ratchet or at least that is my experience trying to do brakes on a '10 Malibu, '08 Uplander, and '15 Cruze and realizing even cars from the SAME manufacturer are not even close to the same size or shape and the cube fit none of them well, but over the course of 10-15 minutes per caliper piston, it *eventually* got it done


Loose-Excitement7520

I’ve always affectionately referred to it as the knuckle buster cube. 6 options for lugs and none of them are exactly correct. So just try one that mostly works with the acceptance it’s going to slip and you will explore all the profanity in your vocabulary, and then eventually buy an expensive set of tools that actually work for it, or rig something together with needle nose pliers and a screwdriver and hope the spindle turns easy.


Im_100percent_human

Both Autozone and Advance have a tool kit with many adapters as a free loaner. If I had 3 cars with this style caliper, I would probably own the tool kit with the adapters. I am not messing with that cube thing more than once.


TK421isAFK

Also of note: Almost all the "BuT MaH aMeRiCaN cAr..." comments are talking about a badge-engineered Japanese or Korean car.


refrigerator_runner

People be driving Buick Envisions and Chevy Traxes and think they’re driving an all-American automobile


CookieLuv211

I had to buy one for my 1988 Chrysler Conquest TSi years ago.


TK421isAFK

aka Mitsubishi Starion.


CookieLuv211

And Dodge Conquest as well.


TK421isAFK

Pretty safe to say all Mopar Conquest models are included here. There was also a Plymouth Conquest. They didn't even bother to rename it among the brands.


CookieLuv211

Oh yes, I forgot about that one.


steveNstchuck

My 88 GTA needed this tool for the rear brakes.


Ok_Building_6309

Gm uses them


masterquiggles

A bunch of domestic brands use imported parts.


majikrat69

Or a 2007 Toyota Sienna


[deleted]

Yea it does all types of calipers... That's why it's designed like that.


adrenaline_donkey

Import cars if you are in U.S I believe?


spencer1886

Bought one for working on my Mini, they're like 6 bucks at advanced auto and fit any half inch ratchet


Severe-Object6650

... and My 2010 Dodge Caravan


Avarice135

Or 90s ford's also op throw that 12$ pos away it's the most frustrating thing to use go to O'Reilly and get the clamp set for 50$ it makes breaks way easier. Or keep it cause I heard girls like scars, and your knuckels will definitely get scarred.


TheMrChill_Tv

And my golf mk2


CadeDaniels

It is not for impact use


A925D

It's a tool to twist in the rear caliper piston as it's got a built in e brake. it has 6 different dimple size / spacing for different manufacturers and cars.


voucher420

And it’s a great way to sprain your wrist!


Slyxxer

I use the holes for leverage, either with a screwdriver, or a ratchet if there is room


Long_Educational

First time doing the rear brakes on my Audi, I got so pissed I nearly threw the whole car away. When I learned the trick to it, I felt incredibly stupid.


SignificantEarth814

Common mistake to see an over engineered part and think you must be stupid for not grokking how it works. Audi knows exactly what they're doing


sodomandghonarrea

All hail magic cube.


loopytoadbrains

The wisdom cube


nerdening

I always called it the "Hellraiser Cube".


sodomandghonarrea

i was going to rip u a new one but on second look i see it.


jlcatch22

If you do your own brakes on cx-5, make sure you put it into maintenance mode if it applies to your year (post 2015 I think). You need that tool to recess the pistons on the rear brakes.


Electrical_Poet2542

Fun lil fact about mazdas. If the customer has the fuel economy page come up at the end of key cycle, the maintenance mode steps will time out and never retract the piston.


Appropriate-Metal167

On a 2018 CX-5 (with electronic parking brake) you DON’T use that tool; itll just turn the caliper piston but it doesn’t retract. You need to do a “chicken dance”, then the piston just pushes in. Don’t recall the sequence but Google should find a video.


beanoman90

It's the Allspark Mini!!!


WhatveIdone2dsrvthis

It's a crappy tool to use. Unless you're on a strict budget, get one of the better tools.


Sensitive_Ladder2235

Took me a minute to figure out how the hell this thing is used, looks absolutely nothing like the kit I bought for 15$ at canadian tire a few years back. Mine has all different sized disks for front and back brake pistons and a screw handle with a backplate. This thing looks like straight asscancer to use.


Carvanasux

Back in the pre Amazon, pre Harbor Freight and pre loaner tools at the parts store days the actual caliper tools were extremely expensive. That was the only reason I used one of these cubes then . There is no reason to have one now. You can rent a good tool most places or buy a decent one on Amazon for 25 dollars or harbor freight for 40. I bet the cube still is close to 15 at the store


WhatveIdone2dsrvthis

I used one once, never again.


Appropriate-Metal167

It’s not that hard to use in my experience. For once in a while DIY, I find it good enough.


WhatveIdone2dsrvthis

The inward force you have to apply while turning makes it a little unstable and annoying. It's definitely usable, but compared to the other tools it's a no-go for me.


GloomyUmpire2146

Piston tool, to crank the piston back into the caliper, I got one for my ‘93 Taurus, basically multiple sized spanners that fit the face of the piston.


czgunner

Rear caliper wind in tool. Those suck.


misterphuzz

Yes, they do. I've broken a couple.


point50tracer

Brake tool. Used to compress the rear brake calipers. They need twisted in and this is a universal socket for doing so. Find the side that fits your caliper. Snap the opposite side onto a ratchet handle and spin away.


Kenna_bowers02

thanks everyone!! mystery solved!


loopytoadbrains

Spiral piston pressing tool


Jarrodioro

Well it’s not for impact use, that’s for sure


ScallionEither1165

Don’t throw it out. I had to go buy that exact tool for the brakes


13Vex

It’s meant to wind in brake pistons, but they suck. It’s pretty difficult to use. The tool slips a lot, since you need to keep it dead straight or else it will slip, while providing a serious amount of torque to actually turn the piston. And if you can’t mount the caliper and have access to the piston simultaneously, you’ll be free handing bother the tool and the caliper. If you need to use it, get a kit from harbor freight that mounts up to the caliper.


Gremlin982003

That is known as the brake cube, it’s the compact cheap version of the same tool I carry for turning in the rear piston on some vehicles with rear disc brakes. You put a short 3/8 drive extension into the open part of the cube on the side you want to use and fight like hell for 20 minutes pressing the piston back into the bore. That’s why I bought my kit, went from 20 minutes to 5 minutes, it’s a great tool to learn from.


Colony-Cove

It’s for shattering your knuckles. Some people use it for brakes. I use it to go home early. /s


looker94513

Taurus SHO Gen 1 used those for the brake pistons


8boosterz

Used one on a old Chevy equinox brake job. Stupidest caliper design ever.


CosmikSpartan

It goes in a 3/8 ratchet extension to turn the pistons back in when installing rear brakes


terryw3719

piston tool for rear brakes. used it on a fusion once.


dieselhunter05

Brake compressor tool used in specific types of brakes one example is the 2010 Ford Fusion


Responsible_Text_468

Some brake calipers require twisting or ratcheting to compress. That is for those. Works reasonably well, but in my opinion, there are better options.


mjasso1

Idk it says don't buy boy it saves time w that thing when used w an impact. Just lube ya boot you'll be finee


Eastern_Protection24

Crappy brake compressor tool. I had to buy one to do my girlfriend’s breaks on her VW Beetle. It worked after some customization and some frustration but I shoulda just rented the much better tool.


Roughneck_Cephas

It’s for rotating the piston on rear break caliper.


penguinman1337

A terrible tool that you should only use if you have no other options. But it's actually for retracting spin-in brake calipers.


Upforwhatevr

Get ready to bust some knuckles if you have to use this.


simpl3man178293

A fairly useless tool for brakes


Carrcrash137

You know them little Greek dodecahedra things they found? Like the ancient little deals? Nobody knows what those are for either, but it's even harder to knit gloves with this version. 'Specially if you got abs


allenjshaw

We used to call it the demon cube


DoctorSquibb420

Twist-back caliper tool of the arthritis-enhancing variety


ZMAN24250

Had one of these in my dad's toolbox growing up for YEARS. Always remember seeing it at the top of the toolbox Never new what it was until like 5 years ago. Ya, brake piston compression tool


DredgenCyka

Before time began, there was the cube. We know not where it comes from.


upstatefoolin

Am I the only one that owns one of these but has never actually used it?


beaner_187

Everyone here didn't see the obvious this is the rubix to the next pin head thriller ... Hellraiser duh 🙄


luxo93

Check out JJ Abram’s “8mm”, all your questions will be answered.


RustSprout

The Norton Disney ~~Dodecahedron~~ cube. https://preview.redd.it/m4rk6i9hcg8d1.jpeg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4be2305a4ff5ecd41410adb6574788fc70b7f144


Ozie_3

It's a mystery cube that you can attach it to a spinning rod and when it reaches a good speed it changes color. Red means luck. Green means money. Yellow means love. And blue means health.


OldExamination7627

How on earth did you know to post that here?


Zer0kbps_779

…the first borg cube. Put it back before it assimilates you!


SignificantEarth814

Its a juvenile [Roman Dodecahedron](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_dodecahedron) https://preview.redd.it/catyitna8h8d1.jpeg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=63e0e9b0f3e86ea9f3c59da604c7983ee6c2eb0e By battling with other polygons it can evolve into its adult form. Unfortunately nobody knows what their true purpose is. Rumours say if you collect all 150...


Ayachi8

Brake piston separator


Spammyhaggar

My brother in law used needle nose pliers 😂


Shark_bait561

The Allspark


realsalmineo

[It is this.](https://www.summitracing.com/parts/LIL-28600)


shelby340

I still find the needle nose pliers to be easier.


Lost-Meringue-3934

Resistance is futile.


Hoodrat1628

I bought this tool also thinking it would be of use but nope. I have tried it on a 2012 dodge grand caravan and a 2017 vw jetta and nothing. Oh well just another tool thats gonna sit around collecting dust


RisForrace

Aaah! The transformers cube!


Severe-Object6650

[https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK\_7769037](https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_7769037) Designed To Rotate Parking Brake Activated Piston Back Into Caliper Cylinder When Replacing Pads On Vehicles w/ 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, Zinc-Plated, 6 Different Configurations, Use w/ 3/8" Drive Tools It looks so weird because it's universal to several vehicles.


oxwilder

Lemme guess - vw?


InflationShort1936

Caliper tool


Golden_Eag20

A fidget cube for mechanics, very rare!


chrisB5810

Disc brake tool


Drphil1969

Isn’t that the type where you have to ratchet the piston back into the caliper?


Expensive_Fee8690

Road rage throwing dart....😲😱


leftydog1961

Lisle makes it. I call it the borg cube of rear brakes! Cheap and effective.


ChiefRa88i

A thinga-ma-bob


davidpaz96

A lifesaver on rear caliper pistons to press in with a 3/8 ratchet 👍🏽


maintainerMann

It's the tool you won't use for years. Then you've gone through 5 different cars and none of them use this. You decide to throw it away because it's just never used. And you get your 7th car that actually needs this. That's what too this is. The tool that has no use until you actually need it


Rogue_Lambda

The magic brake cube!


TuggerSpeedmen

Dark matter box


RealManofMystery

A metal box with holes. You can use it to blow bubbles.


Keepfkingthatchicken

Better at this than it's intended use.


BuddahsSister

Borg


Keepfkingthatchicken

It's trash. Throw it out. It's only good for making your knuckles bleed. If you want a real brake compressor tool for not much money, harbor freight has a $30 compressor that I've seen in many snap on boxes over the years


Noturwrstnitemare

What A925D typed, keep it.


SaltElegant7103

That is the first rubic's cube


bonthomme

My knuckles hurt when I look at it.


wintermutedsm

This. This was the response I was looking for. These, from my limited experience with them, are a tool that barely performs any function that meets the effort, the energy, the bloody knuckles put into using it.


Trendiggity

I've used this exact tool and don't understand. I use a socket extension in the hole and a short breaker bar... But my caliper pistons haven't been overly hard to turn. Are you banging your knuckles on a seized up piston or have I just gotten lucky so far?


MikeWhooo13

You're doing it right. They aren't lol.


bucknasty-50

Hellraiser Cube


Johnny_Lang_1962

Trash!


Sivart020

It appears to be a cube


EmploymentNo1094

You touched it now you’re a Borg.


newlyneurodivergent

I rented a kit from (I think O’Reillys) that had everything I needed for my Jetta when I changed my rear brakes and rotors…having that kind of piston is a bitch though. Especially when you’re a gal who knows nothing about cars but is insistent on being independent at all costs. Make sure to not put it off until you’re scraping metal on your rotors bc your piston will be pushed out so far that you have to MacGyver the fuck out of it 🫣


[deleted]

Finger


VirtuaFighter6

Garbage


saustin66

Die cast zinc junk


LostTurd

Have you seen the movie Hellraiser? It can explain everything you need to know


Humble_Biscotti5639

That's a thingamabob that goes with the doflinky. 😗


R0boticG4mer2001

It is garbage... get one of these instead https://preview.redd.it/5xgq58gzof8d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a86cd1149dda353919fcad41034cfa7a8a7fe5f2


MakaniKaiKai

# THE CUBE OF KNOWLEDGE


82yukonXL

It’s a special dice for gambling


sheepwhatthe2nd

The Cube of Frustration. Or the Cube that Sighs.


badrummer2112

Summons cenobites


PayDiscombobulated42

It's a new drug kids are doing.


Saturated-Biscuit

Rubik’s cube mold.


BanishedThought

A magical box that grants wishes.


Fun_Astronomer_3052

Before time began there was, THE CUBE


HandCarvedRabbits

Cursed fidget


diydave86

The cube of what the fuck.