Cannont compress the piston in the brake caliper. this is an 03 lincoln ls. the rear brakes. I tried using a "C" clamp but it is still very hard too hard. what am i doing wrong.

You open the rear caliper bleeder valve as it is
near impossible to push fluid to the front of car

Then you turn the caliper piston clockwise-to turn
in the parking brake adjuster- as you push the piston
into the caliper bore

Two functions-piston turned in & pushed in

You line up the piston notch to the top-so the
round bump on the inner pad goes down in place

After the caliper & pads are on & before you start the
car & bleed the 4 corners & then push brake for a firm
pedal-----You ratchet up the lever on park brake at back of caliper

They don't make a tool for an LS

I took the cube avail at any parts store & filed the outsides
of two pins to fit the piston notches

Open the bleeder valve & push the piston in,
only by hand

You can use an old pad & 4" C-Clamp on the front
Calipers

As you push in, you rotate the parking brake adjuster
clockwise, with the small cube you need to turn it.
(avail at parts store)

Have to file the 2 pin side a little, to fit an L/S

Piston Notch goes up,so pad will drop in caliper
mount & onto slippers & pad pin goes into notch

Then ratchet brake up by hand when all done,
that will seat pads

On the front you go buy a large C-Clamp
& use one old pad against the caliper piston

On the rear you need a tool to turn the parking
brake in while pushing the piston in

On the back you need to open the bleeder valve
to make it easier

You should be flushing your brake fluid on ALL
your vehicles every 2 years

You don't put on new pads without machining or
replacing the rotors & you have to remove ALL
rust from caliper & pad abutments & sliding surfaces
and put anti-seize on contact & sliding points

I checked my clamp --it is a craftsman 4" from
Sears Hardware

On the back you get the small cube from the auto parts
store & choose the side with the two smallest pins
& file flats on the outside of them to fit the caliper
piston. Don't think they make an exact tool for the LS

Ratchet up parking brake in back when done & push pedal
a couple times after beelding with engine running & a helper
to seat pads

On the back the piston notch goes up or the pads won't
go down

When you take the caliper off, take a large C-clamp and put on the caliper. Tightening the clamp will compress the piston. Then put the new pads on, and remount the brake caliper.

they take a tool to turn the piston in soo you have to open bleeder vavle an take pry bar or screw driver to push piston in. but you have to have the tool to turn the piston back in the caliper any auto store will have it & it not much $5.00-$8.00. it is square w/**** on it that goes in the holes on the piston

Loosen the brake fluid reservoir cap to allow pressure to escape. Use a large C clamp connecting it to the front of the piston and back of the housing. Turn the screw on the clamp to compress the brake piston then release the clamp. The piston will remain compressed allowing you the fit the housing over the new brake pads.

YOU NEED TO REMOVE 2/3 BRAKE FLUID FROM MASTER CYLINDER.THEN YOU WILL NEED A LARGE C -CLAMP.OPEN C - CLAMP PLACE C - CLAMP OVER TOP BRAKE CALIPER AND AGAINST THE BACK OF THE OUTBOARD BRAKE PAD. THEN TIGHTEN THE C -CLAMP UNTIL THE CALIPER PISTON IS PUSHED INTO THE CALIPER BORE JUST ENOUGH TO SLIDE CALIPER OFF THE ROTOR.WARNING WHEN FINISHING BRAKE JOB.PLACE COVER BACK ON MASTER CYLINDER.TAKE FOOT PUMP BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL YOU GET SOLID BRAKES.THIS SEATS BRAKE SHOES AGAINST THE ROTOR.THEN RECHECK BRAKE FLUID LEVEL IN MASTER CYLINDER.

For the rear you need to turn the piston as you crank with the C clamp. It's a lot easier with the right tool. Any good parts store has the tool. The tool to use is a universal brake caliper tool, I picked mine up from Pep boys for $10 bucks. The tool fits on a socket wrench and you turn it clockwise to depress the piston into position.
If everything is apart and you don't have an extra car, just used a pair of sturdy needle nose pliers to get int the groves and twist, no pressure needed.
Tork it down just enough to get the caliper back on. Once it is all bolted back up you will pull many many times on your e-brake handle to tighten the piston back up against the new pad.
Good luck, but try to use the tool.

They have to screw in.You need a specail tool like this
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MAC-DBC2500M-DISC-BRAKE-CALIPER-TOOL-SET_W0QQitemZ170310027055QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Automotive_Tools?hash=item170310027055&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

You may be able to rent one at your local parts store like NAPA or Autozone.

The caliper is probably stuck, I had to replace one of mine, drivers rear. The piston on the caliper screws back in, so you'll need a caliper press to seat the piston.