My Caliper Battle
Discussion
Unashamedly copied from my Facebook post-
The caliper rebuild; my journey.
Chapter One - my struggle.
I got up this morning really optimistic that the caliper job was going to be easy, I'd watched a video where a Corvette owner discovered his caliper was seized because of a rusty guide pin.
Armed with this dream, I got the Monaro up on the stands. Caliper off - the heat of being seized had cracked the paint (more of this to come). Damn. The guide pins were sliding easily. Caliper off the car completely.
Caliper in hand, my next dream was that the pistons would slide freely. No chance, they were seized solid. A LOT of work later, the pistons are out. The bores look good but there was a lot of corrosion around the face of the bores and the seals and pistons were just too tight to get out easily.
So I have a rebuild kit coming but look at the state of this before I rebuild and get on the car - two paint jobs with paint on the seals, inside the pistons and all over the calipers. I guess there was zero prep involved when they were painted yellow then red.
A few questions then.
1. The face of the bores - can they be wire brushed to clean off the corrosion? It was all outside the seals but I think some was being dragged in at some point.
2. The bleed screw is totalled too. Can anyone point me at one that'll fit?
3. Bleeding - I presume that as I've clamped near to the banjo bolt that bleeding will be reasonably simple?
4. Any other top tips?
The caliper rebuild; my journey.
Chapter One - my struggle.
I got up this morning really optimistic that the caliper job was going to be easy, I'd watched a video where a Corvette owner discovered his caliper was seized because of a rusty guide pin.
Armed with this dream, I got the Monaro up on the stands. Caliper off - the heat of being seized had cracked the paint (more of this to come). Damn. The guide pins were sliding easily. Caliper off the car completely.
Caliper in hand, my next dream was that the pistons would slide freely. No chance, they were seized solid. A LOT of work later, the pistons are out. The bores look good but there was a lot of corrosion around the face of the bores and the seals and pistons were just too tight to get out easily.
So I have a rebuild kit coming but look at the state of this before I rebuild and get on the car - two paint jobs with paint on the seals, inside the pistons and all over the calipers. I guess there was zero prep involved when they were painted yellow then red.
A few questions then.
1. The face of the bores - can they be wire brushed to clean off the corrosion? It was all outside the seals but I think some was being dragged in at some point.
2. The bleed screw is totalled too. Can anyone point me at one that'll fit?
3. Bleeding - I presume that as I've clamped near to the banjo bolt that bleeding will be reasonably simple?
4. Any other top tips?
Wire brushing around where the boot slots in should be ok but inside the bore might be better with fine wetn dry (1000 ish)
Also i used a L shaped pick to clear the groove out.
Found brush painting the caliper easier and quicker than an aerosol.
if any of it is to corroded maybe some chemical metal to fill any bigger dents.
Also when putting on the piston boot slide it all the way on over the piston before locating it on the caliper then sliding the piston in the bore?
think thats how i did mine either way check the youtube video.
Also i used a L shaped pick to clear the groove out.
Found brush painting the caliper easier and quicker than an aerosol.
if any of it is to corroded maybe some chemical metal to fill any bigger dents.
Also when putting on the piston boot slide it all the way on over the piston before locating it on the caliper then sliding the piston in the bore?
think thats how i did mine either way check the youtube video.
Back on the road for £50, caliper painted (4/10!) and bits and bobs I can use again into the bargain. However, it has whetted my appetite for something a bit better. So.....
£600 all in for CTSV 4 pot front calipers, discs, pads and the fitting kit plus about £150 for the brackets. I'll ship them in from Rock Auto and the brackets will come from Bohnman Customs. This should be a marked improvement.
£600 all in for CTSV 4 pot front calipers, discs, pads and the fitting kit plus about £150 for the brackets. I'll ship them in from Rock Auto and the brackets will come from Bohnman Customs. This should be a marked improvement.
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