jon928se

Google "Spark Erosion"

It's kind of like watching a movie reel running backwards of MIG welding.

Bill Ball

I was going to have EDM (Electric Discharge Machining) or spark erosion, as Jon called it, when I broke a tap in my engine block, but I managed to get the tap out myself with diamond tipped bits. There are local services that can do EDM. I found one in Concord via the phonebook. You don't want to geve the diamond bits another try? They usually make quick work of this.

Nicole

That's good to know - much closer than this other guy!

There are two things I'm a bit worried about:

1. If you slip, drill too far, or anything else goes wrong in the process, the caliper could be toast.

2. If any of the debris from drilling made its way into the caliper, it would be hard to remove and could potentially cause some long-term issues.

These calipers are EXPENSIVE - more than GTS calipers! So, if this service is reasonably priced, it would make a lot of sense to me. I just had never heard of it before.

smudaaar

how much you want for the calipers? I'm a Tool and Die maker and could fix them pretty easy.

dr bob

Nicole--

EDM is fast, safe, easy with the caliper removed. If it's not too expensive it's teh way to go after common methods have failed.

The nipple is not that hard, and is steel in the aluminum caliper. I guess I'd have it in the drill press for a bit to drill part way down the center for an extractor. Left-hand drill if possible. Then high local heat, like MAPP gas torch, to get the aluminum caliper to expand and break free of the steel. It will come right out then. The danger is with drilling to the point where the bit gets into the machined seat for the bleeder nipple-- that will ruin the caliper rather instantly.

Nicole

At this point I don't intend to sell them. The thought was to refinish them and put them on the shelf for future needs.

These things are pretty darn expensive to replace, if ever needed...