Review on Caliper Ratcheting Spreader for Five Bananas by Frank Tyrance

I almost bought this tool - too many negative reviews. Upon re-reading, some of the issues may have been operator error. That means the gears and pawl in the ratchet must first have some resistance/load for the ratchet to work. Here's what I've experienced with a Toyota Highlander dual-piston caliper: never unscrew both caliper bolts, remove the bottom bolt, loosen the top bolt and rotate the caliper to its maximum rotational position, then tighten the top caliper bolt. Both hands are now free to press down on the caliper pistons with this tool, then clean the protruding edges/faces of the piston around the rubber seal, use brake cleaner and wipe with a cloth to make the exposed piston surfaces as shiny as possible, then the piston and rubber seal to be lubricated with brake silicone grease - the same product as on the sliding fingers of the caliper. This makes it really very easy to push the caliper piston down - retract the tool to its minimum width, insert into the vertical body of the caliper, press the tool lightly against the pistons (both hands are now free) while ratcheting to shut it create enough resistance against the ratchet to expand and engage, stop pushing once the tool finds its own resistance against the ratchet in the caliper, begin to engage the cleaned and lubricated piston into the caliper body - I had when I was eleven no problem with this tool old original equipment. Calipers - If the rubber dust seals stick out or look swollen after the caliper piston is fully retracted, insert a small pick and pry up the rubber dust seal. Insert a pick into the caliper along the outside of the piston and slightly lift the rubber. You can even hear a slight hiss of air coming from the dust cover, the rubber is now smooth and even with the outer edge of the piston. Never use a pick where the rubber contacts the cast iron caliper body, ie where the rubber dust seal is inside the caliper body - remove the top caliper bolt, hang the caliper and continue with the rest of the work. Obviously I like the tool and its possibilities. for compressing multi-piston calipers. Perhaps the supplier could add some instructions to the tool that could stop negative reviews and returns and help less experienced customers.