As above really, does any one have a clever method, or know of a tool for doing this?

A cheap plastic tyre lever.

I like to use my large pedros tyre lever. Works a treat and no sharp edges

Superstar sell a tool for this

allen key in between, pull back evenly

Old pads in, inexplicably massive flathead screwdriver pushed inbetween.

I’ll have a look at superstar, thanks, I’ve tried the others, to no success

Park make one, the PP-1.2

Northwind – Member

Old pads in, inexplicably massive flathead screwdriver pushed inbetween.

^ That’s what I do a well.

£25 for that park thing !

Another vote for old pads and big flat screwdriver

I like to use the flat handle of a teaspoon. They are available in all good kitchens 😀

Just a thought, but if lever is not shifting the pistons:

1. Are you sure they are not seized?
2. Have you tried cracking a bleed nipple open or opening the master cylinder (depending on type)?

Unless there is equal volume available in the system (ie, master cylinder level is lowish or can overflow/vent) then the fluid you are displacing by trying to spread the pistons has nowhere to go (unless a seal gives up…)

Obviously you may need to bleed after this depending on feel (you may want to anyway)

For tools, Avid do a little plastic wedge. A small wooden wedge should also do. Personally I use whatever lever I see fit between the old pads I’m planning to bin…

Looking at that park tool, an old wooden chisel ground down a bit thinner would be very similar.

I once pulled the brake with the wheel off, literally pulling the bike out of the car ready to ride. Not too big a deal but a pain in the bottom non-the-less. Until my mate took out what looked like one of those spacers I should have had in to prevent such accidents…except it also had a wedge. Effortlessly pushed it in, pistons returned to their usual position and off we went riding.

He says he got it with the bike. It’s functional simplicity still impresses me to this day but I’ve never actually seen one for sale anywhere.

The wedge thingy comes with avid brakes. Unfortunately you need to have avid brakes to get one. 😕