Caliper rebuild

[bhamsailor]

I am rebuilding my calipers with a kit from VB and thought it would be easy. Got the O ring in and then tried to install the Seal. It bent so easy trying to tap it in place. Now I know there is a trick to doing this. Had I put the piston in first it may not have happened. Any help would be appreciated. They are the single piston Calipers.
Mike

[FI Spyder]

Not sure what calipers you have but on my dual piston calipers I just pressed them in with a piece of wood. The trick is to apply equal pressure to the seal and to lube it with red brake grease to help it slide in.



- - - - TR7 Spider - - - - - - - - 1978 Spitfire - - - - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - - Yellow TCT

[bhamsailor]

Thank you. My calipers have one piston each side so I guess that would be a dual as well. Good Advice on the grease . .will give it a try with a pc of wood that covers entire surface.
Mike

[bhamsailor]

After destroying two sets of Caliper rebuild kits . .frustration is setting in. Talked to a Brake shop and he says he has never had any luck with the rebuild kits for the split Calipers. Great. I now have a new set and am reluctant to try and install. The manual does not give us any info. on this job.
Do you replace the top seal with piston in or out?
I have some Dot 3 and Dot4 fluid. Notice one says Synthetic/CastrolLM and the other is from NAPA Dot4. They are not sure if they can be mixed?
Any help would be appreciated.
Mike

[FI Spyder]

I replaced seals with pistons out. Never had any problems. Toughest part was blowing out the second piston with compressed air while trying to plug the other hole. Not sure where I got the rebuild kit but I think it was the more expensive OEM kit from British Parts Northwest.




- - - - TR7 Spider - - - - - - - - 1978 Spitfire - - - - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - - Yellow TCT

[TR7Aaron]

You are using ample brake fluid as lube when assembling them, right?

Aaron
1976 TR7 FHC (an ongoing project)

[FI Spyder]

Not sure if Mike used it on his second try but I always use red rubber brake grease when assembling rubber parts as it would give better lubrication than brake fluid allowing the rubber seals to slide in easier. I coated the out side of the piston when sliding it into the installed seals.



- - - - TR7 Spider - - - - - - - - 1978 Spitfire - - - - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - - Yellow TCT

[Beans]

First question that springs to my mind, are the kits correct for the calipers?
What calipers are we talking about, TR7 or TR8 or aftermarket Ford items?

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1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)</font id="blue">
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[Rblackadar]

If worse comes to worst, send them off to the Roadster Factory and have them rebuild them, I think you get a warranty and they reuse <b>your</b> calipers. I also think it's cheaper than getting to remans. Give them a call first and see what they say. I think their in-house rebuilding service is called C-A-R Components. found it. Here you go... http://the-roadster-factory.com/CARWebsite/CARmain.php