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Front brake caliper replace or refurb


niceboyjohn

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 Evening all,

 

thought I would try and replace my front brake pads and found myself with some bother.

I couldn't get one of the pistons to go back in and upon removal of the caliper, I can see that the piston is rusty.

Can I send this off for refurbishment or is it better to buy a new one? In either case, where should I try?

I've read about the caliper refurb kits that can be had from places like Redline etc but I've never done one before and would worry that the condition of the caliper would mean that this might not be successful.

Advice appreciated,

 

John

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I have happily refurbed my own calipers - even thinking I'm not an expert at it.

There's a knack to getting the pistons out before you split the caliper.  I ease them out each side a bit at a time with compressed air (taking care about the spraying brake fluid!).

Unless the pistons are properly bad, the rust often polishes off.  Reassemble with new seals (make sure they go in the right way round as they are not a square section) soaked in brake fluid.  New dust covers.  New bleed nipples if you feel like it.

Make sure the caliper half mating surfaces are really clean and bolt back together.  Done it now on many calipers and never had a problem.

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Years ago it used to be pretty standard that calipers would need the pistons cleaning and new seals, in this modern internet age its ingrained that touching anything you don't know about will result in an instant mini apocalypse.

I've not rebuild the Caterham calipers but as I suspect Englishmaninwales is referring to, on twin piston calipers there'll likely be a sealing o-ring between the two halves where the fluid is transferred. Some calipers have an external transfer pipe and don't have the need for the seal, but if you dissemble the calipers halves and there's an o-ring it really ought to be renewed.  As already mentioned the seals on the pistons themselves are tapered to prevent fluid passing the piston, it'll be common sense which way round to fit them but definitely check, the last thing you want is fluid all over your brand new brake pads!

On my list of jobs for this weekend is refurbishing a pair of Mini rear drum brakes ... oh the joy!

Stu.

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I'm assuming that its a Girling Type 14 caliper (Spit Mk3), in which case you don't need to split. The Triumph workshop manual says DO NOT SPLIT but it's commonly done and easier to release the pistons and refit everything if you do. There's a small seal around the fluid hole between the halves that doesn't come in the repair kit but will almost certainly be serviceable or can be replaced if needed.

Without an air line the easiest way is to give it a good dose of release fluid (Wurth Rost Off Ice works well) and work a pair of levers around the piston using the groove. Don't worry too much about damaging the end of the piston - they're only about £30 for 4 and worth replacing anyway. The repair kit only has the dust cover, retaining clips, piston seals, and bleed valve dust cap. You might want a pad fitting kit as well if you're doing a tidy job - this has the pins. shims and clips. Also the bleed valves are available separately. Rimmer Bros handily show everything  here (although you might want to buy elsewhere). There's a couple of youtube guides showing rebuild of Type 12 calipers which is the same job.

If you don't want to do them yourself then Rimmer and other Triumph specialist will no refurbs on an exchange basis or, as Alan says, send them to Bigg Red and get a lovely pair of electroplated gold calipers back :)

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the small transfer seal is a small square section seal.

The main seals on the vast majority of calipers are also square section, the defrormation of this seal in operation is responsible for the retraction of the piston to prevent drag.

some calipers have a retaining groove with a tapered base but the main seal to piston face is still square,

attention should to paid to carefully clean the seal groove as this is responsible for retaining debris which prevents the seal from returning to its relaxed position after braking resulting in the brake dragging and the piston being difficult to push back,

All seals should be prelubed with RRG 

The Type 14's I've rebuilt using genuine Girling service kits have conventional square piston seals.

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I did my Girling type 14's earlier in the year. Never refurbed a caliper before but it was easier than I thought. The hardest part was getting the pistons out. Technique for this described above. I replaced the pistons as one had a stubborn mark that I could not polish out. I did not separate the two halves of the calipers . It was a bit of a pain getting the dust cover spring clips back on though. I also got a pad fitting kit to complete the job. 

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The Bigg Red ones will be good. Does the quote include electroplated finish? If so, then the £20 extra is probably worth it.

On the exchange ones check the finish being offered - some will clean and just blow over with clear varnish. Also check you're getting original calipers back not re-manufactured ones.

 

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The £150 for the pair is without the electroplated finish. Car is only for track so not too concerned about the finish (gold would look nice though). Th ebig downside is 15 day turnaround.

 

I'll check on the Rimmer calipers to see if they are original.

 

Thanks,

 

John

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BCS-automotive do a lot of modern and high end refurb'ing / refinishing with quick turnaround and might be worth a call as an alternative to Bigg Red.

For exchange try Canley Classics as well - their refurb's I've seen have been decent. Wins are another who offered exchange.

If there's any question whether your calipers are serviceable then go the Bigg Red route as at least they'll sleeve them, at additional cost of course, and you won't be left arguing about refund

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Just a note.......A couple of years ago I bought new callipers from a Triumph/MG 'shop' and they caused me endless problems. They weren't Girling I hasten to add. I complained to the 'shop' to no avail and ended up refurbishing my old Girling ones.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I've now got my standard calipers (front and rear) off the car and ready for refurb.  Could anyone recommend a company further south?  I am around the Twickenham / Richmond area and it would be great to find a company relatively locally to drop off the calipers for refurb.

#23 - having recently gone through 2 Land Rover rebuilds, I've had my eyes opened to the appalling quality of some pattern parts nowadays.  Brake wheel cylinders have been particularly poor.  I agree - I would stick with original where possible.

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In case anyone is considering replacing, I spoke with Rimmers today to identify the brand of their Type 14 Spitfire calipers.  I am trying to decide whether to refurb or replace.  It is marginally cheaper to replace and I would prefer new calipers, if I can be confident in their function.

Rimmer told me that these calipers are made to their own specification / order rather than just being bought in from a third party manufacturer.  Where issue s have been identified in the past they have altered to design spec and I am assured by them that they are well received by customers.  However they are of a design that is not splittable.  If they fail, it seems that they will probably need to be replaced rather than refurbed.

I am minded to go for new set from Rimmer.

As for the rears (standard spec), does anyone have any recommendations for sources for new calipers?  If I refurb, BCS seems the people to go to and I'm currently waiting to hear from them on a price...

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