Father makes a comeback after he makes a pile (4)
I believe the answer is:
heap
'a pile' is the definition.
(I know that pile can be written as heap)
'father makes a comeback after he' is the wordplay.
'father' becomes 'pa' (pa can mean dad or father).
'makes a comeback' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (I've seen 'making a comeback' mean this).
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'pa' written backwards gives 'ap'.
'ap' put after 'he' is 'HEAP'.
'makes' is the link.
(Other definitions for heap that I've seen before include "Pile (of scrap?)" , "Rough pile" , "Wreck of a car" , "car on its last legs" , "good deal" .)