I've developed a slight leak from one of the rear calipers on my car, which I think I have identified as being from the seal for the handbrake actuator shaft.

Once the spring age retaining bolt are removed, should the shaft just pull out or do I need to dismantle the whole caliper to release the shaft?

Thanks.
Oli

Hi Oli
Complete strip down I'm afraid.
that external seal is not meant to be sealing the fluid into the caliper, thats just a seal to stop crap getting down the sides of the shaft.
One of the internal O rings must be leaking if you are getting brake fluid out of the shaft seal.
I've stripped and rebuilt both of mine, pain in the arse job tbh.
I would get it refurbed by the likes of Bigg Red etc if I need to do any again!

[Edited on 17/10/14 by CosKev3]

When mine go south I will get some VAG callipers, lighter, smaller and by eBay prices much cheaper!

someone will be along to,tell you what's involved if you go this way, I believe the mountings remain but you may need a different offset disc.

I was hoping after looking at a Haynes excerpt that it would be a matter of just pulling out the shaft and replacing the o-ring, but clearly not. Is the shaft keyed into something in the caliper as I can pull it out about 10mm before it refuses to come out anymore.

Mark; I did look at it as a possible opportunity to get some Wilwoods for the rear, but given the prices I can't justify it. I'll have a look at the VAG route for the future.

Yeah there is a cut out in shaft about half way down, and a rod from the spring assembly behind piston locates into it.
so to get shaft out you need to remove piston, then compress the spring assembly, remove a circlip that is a right puss to get to, remove spring assembly, remove another circlip, then remove the rod that locates into shaft.

Think that might be tomorrow morning's task! Ideally need to get the MOT retest done tomorrow, but I can see it being a frustrating endeavour... Most annoying is that I'd never noticed it leaking before it was tested last week.

I've read that a small socket and a g clamp is useful as an impromptu spring compressor, so will give that a go if necessary.

Thats what I used.
the hard part is removing the circlip whilst the socket and g-clamp are in the way compressing the spring.
you need some long thin circlip pliers.
if you damage the circlip they are £7 each from Bigg Red!!!

Well... It's back together now and so far doesn't appear to be leaking so I'm optimistic!

I found getting the circlip out, but getting the spring cover back in the right place to be a fiddle. Spent about an hour and a bit trying to get it back in to no avail, turns out that I had slightly bent one of the lugs on removal meaning that it wouldn't sit properly. Then it went in first go. Definitely a bit fiddly though!

Nice one.
Did you fit a full refurb/seal kit?

Yes, used one of the kits from Bigg Red. Think I'll leave the other side for now though!

Did you find the left over little O ring that is inside the actual piston assembly?