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Brake calipers and master cylinder repair or exchange ?
givemethebighammer - 14/4/03 at 07:57 PM

What do the rest you you people do, buy repair kits for brake parts (as I always used to) or just exchange your filthy old calipers and master cylinders for nice clean exchange reconditioned units ?

Cost is the issue here, exchange caliper = £33, repair kit is £10. I changed the seals in umpteen mini wheel cylinders ten or so years ago and had no problems.

eddymcclements - 15/4/03 at 08:29 AM

I exchanged one rear caliper (Sierra) and kept the other as the donor had only just had a new one fitted before its owner stuck it in a ditch last winter, but I rebuilt both fronts with a 10 quid rebuild kit.

You pays yer money...etc etc.

Eddy

givemethebighammer - 15/4/03 at 06:01 PM

When you rebuilt the rear sierra caliper did you have the special tool (Ford Tool No. 12 007) detailed in the haynes manual to compress the adjust spring ?

I think I will probably use repair kits throughout. Not had problems in the past with this method on both cars and motorbikes. I guess the exchange units are only cleaned, refurbed old calipers anyway ? That is unless anyone wants to add any horror stories ...

Dick Axtell - 15/4/03 at 07:50 PM

Don't EVER try to re-work the modern (e.g. Sierra) mcyl. You'll never be able to replicate the factory tolerances on re-assembly. Buy new, or factory rebuilt.

Alternatively, I just happen to have a spare Sierra mcyl. If you're going to Stoneleigh, I'll bring it along.

Dick

givemethebighammer - 15/4/03 at 09:09 PM

does that go for calipers as well ?

jollygreengiant - 15/4/03 at 10:13 PM

quote:
Originally posted by givemethebighammer
does that go for calipers as well ?


Calipers are remanufactured on an exchange basis to as new spec, so if youve got a suspect caliper for my money its not worth trying to fit new seals.

Dick Axtell - 16/4/03 at 09:15 PM

quote:
Originally posted by givemethebighammer
does that go for calipers as well ?

Not necessarily. If you have the workshop facilities to remove the old pistons cleanly, and a suitable cleaning/degreasing rig, you could do it. I fully re-worked my calipers in the caliper development shop (we used to make the bl**dy things!!).