What a difference the right tools make! Was doing the rear brakes and couldn't
 

get the piston to go in. It always worked before using needle nose plyers, but not this time. After an hour of trying I finally broke down and went over to Autozone and borrowed their tool.

An hour later and it was all done. Quick and easy if you have the right tools!

Needle nosed? How long did that take when it worked?
 

The Harbor Freight kit is good and the little Schwaben from ECS is good and cheap, as well. Sears has one similiar to it.

So what pads did you install?

It only took about 5 mins with the needle nose pliers on my last Audi. This one would not go in, it
 

would just spin and I was pushing in as I did it.

I put on some Akebono Ceramics from Tirerack.

It's an easy job with the right tools...

Yours is a symptom of a sludged up caliper needing an overhaul, your new pads will be dragging and..
 

short lived. With a sludge free caliper, the piston can be pushed in with light finger pressure (front) or turned in easily with a needle nose or screw drivers (rear).

It turned fine, it just would not go in. It may be a bit sludged, but it did not seem bad. How
 

tough is the overhaul?

I just use a C-clamp..

The nut in the piston that rides on the hand brake actuated shaft centered in the caliper cylinder
 

contains a slip clutch that adjusts the HB for pad wear. When this clutch, as well as the piston seal, gets sludged up the nut may not turn with the piston to move down the shaft, thus preventing piston retraction.

Caliper overhaul should be done on all four calipers, with fluid replacement. It is a dirty and lengthy job but not tough nor expensive, no new parts required. IMO, a top priority job for any new to you used car without service history of PM.

On rear calipers?

I got the kit that Harbor Freight sells and works great!
 

I think the kit cost about $28 and comes with all sorts of different size cups. I've used it on A4's, Passats, Jettas and probably soon on the A6.

You're right, having the right tool makes a huge difference.

Good job!

Surprised that with 42k miles I would have a problem ...