Having popped out one of the pistons on my TCR calipers it has pretty nasty pitting on it and is just generally minging...

So Im guessing both calipers are buggered...

Looking at prices for parts, a piston and seal kit for both sides is around £40...


Big red quote around £100 to rebuild and repaint the calipers...which is a lot of money, but atleast I know its been done properly..


Is it worth trying to do it myself, or can anyone suggest anywhere that might be cheaper for a rebuild?

i think £100 is not bad actually. you know its been done properly by a reputable company, cleaned up and stuff

or you could by something like wilwood, for £100 each, plus all the bother of trying to fit them and making one off brackets/adaptors

or try and find another set of TVR calipers, and hope they're better than what you have already

I'd have big red refurb them really...

TVR used standard off the shelf Girling parts --- if the car has Triumph uprights the calipers will be off a Triumph model.
I don't know what engine your car has but unless it is very early 1960s the calipers will be either (UNF threads) P14 or P16 or (Metric) M14 or M16

Measure the caliper piston dia -- if bigger han 50mmm it is a P16 or M16 as fitted to the Triumph Gt6 Lotus +2S and Triumph Vitesse 6 2 litre.
Although the Cortina used the M16 caliper I think you will find the mounting bolt spacing is different.


If Smaller than 50mm it is M14 or M16 from the Spifire/Herald range.

[Edited on 7/10/08 by britishtrident]

They are deffinately TR6. With M10 pipe inlet thread.

hmmm..might have to pop them in the post to big red I think

Can highly recommend Big Redd, I think it's one of those jobs that's worth paying that extra bit for the pors to do it.

choice is yours.

pop all pistons out and replace any that show corrosion - the chrome starts to go on the part that sticks out beyond the seal. yopu may get lucky and not have to replace all.

then look at the seals - if they show any cracks then replace but you might as well replace them if you have the kit.

so it is a matter of whether you want to do the work yourself or pay someone to do it. You would have to be really incompetent not to be able to assemble them correclty.

The TR specialists (such as Revington TR, Moss europe and others) all offer an exchange caliper service - might be worth a look. I've used Bigg Red and they were excellent though...

Chris

If they are Girling you could do worse than contact John at Kitfit. He supplies new, seconhand and re-furbed parts at very reasonable prices. See www.kitfit-parts.co.uk for more info.
Cheers, Pewe