Brake caliper cylinders

[gjoakes]

This is my first post in this forum so I really haven't paid much in the way of "dues" yet. Believe me when I say that I really appreciate whatever help I receive.

Car is a '72 MGB. Recently I did a routine front brake pad replacement and noticed that the cutaway portion of the caliper cylinders (where they contact the pads) were oriented every which way. This is of some concern because the Bentley manual is pretty specific that all 4 of these need to be directed towards their respective hubs. Anyway I left them as they were and stuck the new pads in.

1). Is this a problem? Bentley doesn't say anything about why they should be oriented that way. I really haven't had any problems with the front brakes either before or after the new pads. But then maybe I don't know what I'm missing.

2). If it is a problem how does one rotate these without tearing the caliper apart? I made a meager attempt at rotating them when I replaced the pads but they would not move.

Again any comments will be appreciated.

GJ Oakes

 

[tony barnhill]

About only way to rotate them without separating calipers is remove the caliper from the car & try to wiggle them around....Doc Entropy will have a better answer on the why's - & probably a trick on how to do it!

 

[PAUL161]

GJ, If they don't leak and work fine, then I'd leave them alone. Tony, Doc ? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif PJ

 

[DrEntropy]

Well, the "cut-outs" are oriented so's the pads contact the rotor evenly as pressure is applied and keep "chatter" to a minimum. There's a tool wot looks like a pair of pliers with stellated "half-cones" on the business end made for turning "pots" (read: caliper pistons) in their bores... Doubt the tool is common, but: if the pistons have been in place for more than a week, leave 'em and ~plan~ to rebuild the calipers and realign the pistons properly at some future date. In all but repeated HEAVY breaking there will be no noticeable problem.

If you attempt to realign 'em now, all you'll get is torn piston seals and leaks... Let sleeping dogs rest in peace! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[tony barnhill]

See, told ya Doc would know!

 

[jlaird]

Doc always knows, that's why he is Doc.

And when he does not know he has an opinion, 10-4 Doc.

 

[DrEntropy]

Yeah, Jack. I'm "up to here" with opinions! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

How was your trip home, BTW?

And: GJ!! Welcome to the forum!!! You'll find this bunch are a pro-active lot, so answers to questions will be posted a LOT more quickly here than most "other" forums you may (or do) encounter... Jump right in!

 

[tony barnhill]

Doc - go over to the Spridget Forum to catch up on Jack's escapades (& see photos of his Bugeye body in paint)

 

[gjoakes]

Thanks for everyone's input. I've decided to just go about my merry way until I have a good reason to rebuild the calipers. Of course that leaves the lingering question of how everything got mis-aligned in the first place but with this cars history nothing surprises me.

GJ Oakes

 

[DrEntropy]

Good approach! These cars are 40 years old and more: Nothing should surprise you with regard to what you'll find "under th' skin".
That as many of 'em survive as have is a testimony to the stout nature of the li'l beasties. An ex-pat English friend once remarked: "Even put together HALF right they'll RUN... when assembled correctly they'll run in the bottom of 'a bucket o' <expletive deleted>'!!!" They've largely gone through the stage where they were regarded as a "throw-away" item and have now filtered into the hands of those who WANT to keep and drive them.

Remarkable, frankly. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif