Sourced (Harbor Freight - $9): 17mm thin wrench for front brakes

Soon after we bought our 2010, I was wandering 'round in Princess Auto up here, spotted a slim 17 mm. Just a mm or so less than one I already had, but slim enough.

Funny thing is: even if you don't restrain the boot with a 17 mm, it doesn't rotate much, when you're breaking that bolt (going into slide pin) loose. And you pretty much need 3 hands to use it while loosening or torquing the bolt.

But yeah, they're out there; you don't have to use a sheet metal bicycle wrench.

 

How thin does it need to be? Under 6mm, around 5mm?

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I use a 'spanner' wrench that is intended for bicycles...something like this :

//http://www.amazon.com/T-best-Spanner-Durable-Multi-Function-Bicycle/dp/B07GCLWDXC/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=17mm%2Bspanner&qid=1635285158&sr=8-6&th=1&psc=1

Works like a charm.

 

Same here, I use a 17mm Park cone wrench for bicycles.

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I've got a couple of 17mm wrenches.

The thicker one, which I've had for years, checked with a caliper, is a smidge over 8 mm, not even 8.1. It does not fit.

The thinner one, which I picked up while browsing at Princess Auto, is a similar smidge over 6 mm, and it just fits.

That said: the construction of the caliper slide pin seems the same as Honda's I've dealt with for years, and Honda Shop Manuals say nothing about restraining the pin when breaking loose or tightening the bolt.

Also, the few times I've opened up the brakes on our Prius, I've used the slim 17 mm wrench to restrain the pin sometimes, and some times I've forgotten. I may just "forget" more, because it's awkward, holding that extra wrench.

 

As one who has needed and gradually built up a broader set of bicycle tools, having multiple applications makes it easier to justify certain items.