Posted By : Dan Owen, 09-May-2007,
10:27am
Ah. I've overhauled calipers a couple of times and I don't think you're meant to split them unless you're fitting a spacer for vented discs or
the like..! However I imagine you can get the necessary gaskets or whatever from somewhere, I just don't know where!!!
If the caliper was still in one piece, what usually works well is a greasegun filled with brake fluid, if you're lucky it might fit into the
brake bose entrance or sometimes the blled nipple can be used instead, otherwise you ideally need to make up some kind of adaptor. However you
connect up, clamp the near piston in plave with molegrips and one of the old pads, or a scrap of steel plate or similar (have to use your
initiative on this one, if there's a special tool I've never seen one), pump the far piston out and then simply remove the clamp on the near
one and it should come out in the same fahion. I've never had to do anything about the fluid leaking out of the far side but if yours leaks
rather than move the second piston then you'll have to rig something up with the old pad or similar and a bit of rubber to stop it...
Actually, going through it here, I've realised I never want to do it again and would sooner pay the extra for recon calipers!
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Posted By : Steve Cureton,
09-May-2007, 02:12pm
I'd support the recon caliper route, at £40 per side it saves a lot of hassle and wil last for years. However, if you need to
save money then re-connect the caliper back to the brake pipe and operate the pedal until the piston comes out - but don't overdo it
otherwise you will get brake fluid everywhere. You may need to work the piston in and out a few times usining a G clamp to push it back in
followed by the pedal to push it out again until it moves freely. This wil only fix one piston so you then need to apply a G clamp to the
piston you've just released while you repeat the process on the other one. Once they're both free you wil need decide if they need to be
removed, you will need to do this if there's any sign of rust or pitting on the polished surfaces, and at the very least you should replace
the seals.
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Posted By : George Ralph,
09-May-2007, 02:29pm
I split my calipers and refurbed them myself some years ago. It was a lot of work and after I paid for new pistons, new High Tensile
bolts (essential and must be 5 chevron not 3, not cheap) and tracked down the little O rings, it just wasn't worth the bother. I
wouldn't bother again and I saved very little in the end.
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Posted By : John Fannon,
10-May-2007, 02:09pm
Dan
I've used the brake pedal before to force them out. Once you've got one part way out you need to prevent that one moving (ie with a clamp
or block of wood, then the other should free up.
More recently I've used an airline to blow them out whilst off the car, this also works well and doesn't get fluid everywhere.
I would also concur that £40 for a recon caliper is worth it, especially if your pistons need replacing, which they probably
will if they've been stuck solid. This also leaves hours of free time that would've been spent trying to get the piston seals and dust
seals on!
John
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Posted By : Philip Brammer,
10-May-2007, 10:13pm
From my (long time ago) professional experience and from my current experience there is no real choice.........go for exchange recon's!