Disc brake pad spreader

Abstract

A manually-operable tool is provided for insertion between the inboard and outboard caliper-mounted disc brake pads for the purpose of spreading the pads to facilitate placement over the rotor. The tool employs a screw having an elongated partially-threaded shank and a handle at the rearward end for manually rotating the screw about its axis. Supported on a non-threaded portion of the screw shank is a pivot-stud body having pivot studs extending laterally in opposite directions. Supported on the pivot studs, on each side of the screw shank, is a pair of scissor-like jaw levers or spreaders. Supported for sliding movement on the screw shank rearward of the pivot-stud body, i.e., between the pivot-stud and the shoulder of the handle, is a shoulder-stud body having camming studs extending laterally in opposite directions into the rearward jaw openings of the scissor-like spreaders. Threaded on the screw shank forward of the pivot-stud body is a shoulder-nut body having camming studs extending laterally in opposite directions into the forward jaw openings of the spreaders. When the screw is turned in a proper direction, the forward and rearward sets of camming studs are moved toward each other into the crotches of the scissor-like spreaders to spread both pairs of spreaders, thereby to spread, or to maintain at spaced separations, the inboard and outboard disc brake pads.