I didn't change the rotors this time around.

I did loosen the break fluid tank cap before trying to compress the calipers. Do i have to loosen the nut and bleed the breaks after?

 

You shouldn't have to bleed the brakes for a basic pad change. In your case it may help though; if a bunch of fluid comes out before you start pumping the brakes then that may somehow alleviate pressure in the system. But if no fluid (or very little) comes out then you know the problem is elsewhere (stuck guide pins, stuck/rusted pistons, etc).

 

The guide pins are not stuck. I was able to remove those and clean them and re-grease. And they reinstalled fine. The calipers are a bit rusty, but they did move very slowly and by having ot apply a lot of pressure.

 

Did you team out the bores that the sliders go through? You can get crap in there that makes it tough for even a greased slider to move.

 

....just getting frustrated now. I had extended the caliper again and loosened the bleeder valve to try and release more pressure as i pushed it back in. Got it to what seemed like the end and part of the piston edge broke off. Tried to set the new pads again and still not wide enough.

Do i have to just bite it and get new calipers for both sides?

...this was supposed to be so easy haahaaa!

 

....self bump