So Ive collected my nice big Escort Cossie single pot stoppers to cure my potential rear over brake problem, ive started to clean them up and notived the seals are not brilliant, im thinking whilst I have them out I should give them a refurb, now this is something Ive never done, so should I give it a bash or just chop em in agianst remanufactured calipers,

I re sealed my front sierra ones got the parts from Brakes international but I would compare the cost of this or re con items.

Just spoke to a guy from Big red who do alot of caliper refurbishments,

£21.90p for the seal kits, and I need to measure the pistons before calling back, i think im going to go with refurbishing them myself.

Does anyone know what I can blast the calipers with to clean them off, obviously something as abrasive as sand is out of the question, aluminum cleaning shot perhaps?

or alternatively does anyone know anywhere in herts for beds that does soda blasting?

Sand blast them if youve got the facility to do so, just use lots of layers of masking tape over the important surfaces and slightly beyond, as the edges of the tape will erode away whilst blasting. Obviously youll neded to strip them completely first, then thoroughly flush them out. Assemble the seals with a drop of brake fluid rather than vasseline

[Edited on 6/3/10 by andrew-theasby]

Before buying new seals check that the chrome plating on the pistons is in good condition and not pitted on the area in the seals.
Corroded chrome is likely to cause leakage.

i have rebuilt a few and they never seem as good as a nice new set.

personally i would say if they are not leaking and were working fine on the car they come off then leave them alone and just give them a clean up.

or at least before you spend any money get the pistons out and inspect the bores and pistons for corrosion. if they are pitted don't bother just send them off for exchange.

I use fine glass bead (in my blast cabinet) to clean up callipers as it won't damage the bores/threads etc. and then I powder coat them. Make sure all debris is removed from galleries and threads etc. A quick lick with a small bore hone and the seals should seat lovely. I usually polish pistons in my lathe using some Brasso or similar and then clean with a little isopropyl before refitting them. Use brake fluid to lube everything as you put them together and all should be well!

This assumes that the pistons etc are serviceable of course

Without the kit, it is probably easier to have them done somewhere for you!