Type 14 Girling Front Brake Calipers

[john g]

I rebuilt my calipers with new pistons, seals, covers etc about 3 years ago. I've had a 'sticking' piston recently and stripping the caliper down it looks like crud and dirt has seeped under the dust cover and caused the piston to rust.

So, I'll rebuild and ....... Is there anything I can use, Vaseline, copper slip or whatever to smear inside the dust cover to try to combat the problem.

[7 wonders of the world]

always rebuild and lube pistons and seals only with RRG  (Red rubber grease) available in shoe polish size tins up to 500g on fleabay, anything else makes the seals swell resulting in sticky pistons etc.

[SM25T]

Rust in the caliper can be due to water absorbed from the air by the brake fluid ... as it sinks to the lowest point and sits under the brake fluid. This is why you change the fluid regularly.

[7 wonders of the world]

or a damaged dust seal allowing water ingress leading to corrosion of the bore / piston on the non pressure side of the hydraulic seal.

[elie boone]

Better to spend a little more and fit 4 pot Hi Spec calipers, they offer a much better brake feel.

[rj]

Given their (lack of) customer service? No thanks.

[TomB]

In my experience, the HiSpec 4 pot front calliper isn't a bad bit of kit - but I bought second hand from here and didn't need to deal with HiSpec direct.  Its very light, saves about 2kg unsprung mass from each side.  Ive run it on the road for this season, and plan to take out the pads shortly to see how the pads are wearing after hearing of irregular wear during hard use.  But so far, so good.  

[elie boone]

One need about 2 hands to count the company's with perfect customer service, but the more you deal with a company in the UK the better the customer service get, better as in : acceptable but still a long way to be perfect, bottom line is that their 4 pot caliper weighs much less and out performs the Spitfire item

[7 wonders of the world]

I run HiSpecs all round on stock discs - Ultralight 4 up front and ultralight 2 SVA at the rear, service from point of order was fine,

well in excess of 2kg per corner saving in unsprung weight over the AP 4 pots and Sierra rear that we on the car.

Great choice of pads options for both ends too,  

 

[john g]

I'll try the red rubber grease option first and then the different caliper option if it fails. Are the Hi-Spec calipers a straight replacement?

Thanks 7 wonders and everyone else.

[7 wonders of the world]

yes they offer direct fit for the stock 232mm discs or for the front an option for a larger 260mm solid disc.