Brake Caliper Rebuild - When?
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Instructor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 210
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From: Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Brake Caliper Rebuild - When?
Just put new pads on the car (sensor light came on - RF melted the plastic even though 1/2 material there). Car has 125K and brakes work great, hoses good, etc. (just did 3 hours at Road Atlanta last weekend).
Is there any reason to rebuild the calipers as preventative maintenance?
Is there any reason to rebuild the calipers as preventative maintenance?
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Joined: May 2001
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From: TX
I rebuilt my calipers when I found a pool of blue brake fluid under the tires (around 110K-115K miles). The only other reason to rebuild them is if you have a symptom to correct, ie, brakes pulling to the side or a pad not retracting. Of course, there may be other causes to those problems that a brake rebuild won't fix. For example, if your rubber brake hoses are greater than 10 years old, they may be swelling internally which could keep the pistons from retracting all the way. OTOH, rebuild kits are cheap, too. So, if you have nothing better to do and want peace of mind, go for it. Be sure and carefully clean out the inner rubber seal groove. It's meant to be square, and munge does accumulate in there over the years.
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 86
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From: Newman, California
Due to not having records etc with my SC, I opted to do numerous maintenance items to increase my comfort zone. New brakes (could have gone approx 5000-10000 miles more), caliper rebuilds,(they looked ok inside), paint calipers, new hard and flex lines (hard lines were so bad they twisted upon removal). Also, inspection and repack of the front wheel bearings. If you can do it yourself, it is relatively inexpensive and easy to accomplish. While it's up in the air, it is a good time to power wash the wheel wells. Also, good time to inspect bushings etc. It's now good to go for many miles. Perhaps I am to ****, but it makes me feel better!
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Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Stuttgart FRG
Hello
Most people wait untill they have trouble.
While a service you look at the parts and can see if it is time to go trough them.
Mostly the dustcover on the piston will indecate a partial rebuild ( Thats just dissasembling cleaning, inspect piston and caliperbore and reassemble with new parts ). While there the rubber brake hoses should be renewed as well. They wear inside and only will show problems if it is very late.
If you use the brakes harder the parts will get hoter and age faster. But age ( sun and ozone )also has a high tool an rubber
Grüsse
Most people wait untill they have trouble.
While a service you look at the parts and can see if it is time to go trough them.
Mostly the dustcover on the piston will indecate a partial rebuild ( Thats just dissasembling cleaning, inspect piston and caliperbore and reassemble with new parts ). While there the rubber brake hoses should be renewed as well. They wear inside and only will show problems if it is very late.
If you use the brakes harder the parts will get hoter and age faster. But age ( sun and ozone )also has a high tool an rubber
Grüsse
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 8,305
Likes: 16
From: Kingston, NY
Buffalo,
Question for you, I too am in the process of replacing my rubber lines since they are origianl and the hard lines are starting to twist when I try to free them. I'm soaking them now with WD40, but if that doesn't work, I'll probably have to replace the whole line. Did you have to get your new lines from the dealer and were they prebent? Also how difficult was it to replace the line to the master cylinder, ie how much did you have to take a part to do it.
Thanks.
Question for you, I too am in the process of replacing my rubber lines since they are origianl and the hard lines are starting to twist when I try to free them. I'm soaking them now with WD40, but if that doesn't work, I'll probably have to replace the whole line. Did you have to get your new lines from the dealer and were they prebent? Also how difficult was it to replace the line to the master cylinder, ie how much did you have to take a part to do it.
Thanks.
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 86
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From: Newman, California
Geoff. The hard lines are from Porsche. However, they were ordered through Pelican Parts. They were not formally listed on the Pelican web site, but Pelican will make a "dealer run." Rears were $12.50 per side and front $15.00 per side. They are pre-bent Can't speak as to the price if you dealt with dealer. This is easiest for me due to the fact that the nearest dealer is 100 miles in each direction.
Removal and installation was not to bad. The rear does take a little reach, especially if you are removing and replacing the flex lines. The front is a snap. I cannot speak as to the replacement of other hard lines such as from the master cylinder. Good luck
Removal and installation was not to bad. The rear does take a little reach, especially if you are removing and replacing the flex lines. The front is a snap. I cannot speak as to the replacement of other hard lines such as from the master cylinder. Good luck
