Hi
My front calipers are a bit sticky (Capri/cortina) ones.

If i remove the pistons etc for a good clean will i need to replace the seals with new seals?

Looking for the cheapest fix, because i want the mot before the end of the week and the fact i have a new brake set up to be fitted in the future (not happening now as alters the cycle wings so they catch on the wishbones and have not got time to re design now)

thanks

big red will do an m16 kit.

you don't need to replace the seals so long as they are in good condition. If they are on the car you can pump one out with the foot pedal, the other is more difficult. Once out get some wet and dry 600 grade and buff the side of the pistons and the housing, then rince very well before putting back together. The dust seals are a pain in the a$$ I hate refitting them. Don't split the caliper, no need and you might not get the o-rings, though I do remember some site selling them. Use loads of clean brake fluid when pushing the pistons back in.

If it's temporary, you could pump the pistons out until they "almost" pop out, clean around the piston, then push them back in and replace the original dust seals. You might be lucky.
But in my experience, as soon as you disturb the pistons seals they'll need replacing.

If you buy a seal kit from BigRedd you'll a full set including the ones from between the caliper halfs, so it's much easier just to split them and replace them all (speaking as someone who's done both ).

thanks
how do you know which set of seals to get? is there something stamped on the caliper?

foot pump on the nipple and you can blow the pistons out, careful though, they tend to come out a bit sharpish.

probably easiest to take the caliper to a motor factors and get them to identify it unless you know the model/ mk vehicle they came off.

[Edited on 11/4/11 by mrwibble]

Put a piece of wood in the place the disc goes narrow enough to allow the piston to almost come out, put some air to the bleed nippple they will both come out. The wood is to keep from damaging anything, they sometimes gome out very quickly if they are stuck.