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Tips
Tips

brake callipers

Donny_L

Jedi Trainee
Offline
I got the callipers off,pistons out,piston rings and dust boots off. Cleaned the untis well and ready to put back together W new pistons,seals and boots. My question is do I reassemble dry or lightly lube the parts with some of the brake fluid ?
 
lightly lube the parts with some brake fluid--Keoke
 
I got the rings in and boots on. Should I push the piston into place and then fit the last edge of the boot into the piston lip ? I'm afraid that last edge of the boot will get stuck in there. Just trying to be safe and ask before moving forward in the wrong order of procedure and being sorry.
 
That is the only way I know to doit just be patient.
 
I prefer to use Girling's "red" rubber grease, as brake fluid gets sticky. But yes, seal rings in first, the dust boots intheir groove. Slide the pistin in past the dust boot until the circumference of the dust boot fits in the groove of the piston, then push them fully home.

Wlak in the park :wink:

IMG_2809.sized.jpg
 
Not so much a walk in the park for me today. I maneged to kill two piston rings in the proccess. I'm so mad I could .......This is no longer looking like the frugal way to go. WTF............I feel sick
 
Donny, what Randy doesn't say is when the boot is installed in the caliper pull the edge up so you can push the piston over into the edge and pull the boot then around the piston , the boot will stretch enough and still stay locked in to the caliper if you're careful. Square the piston to the bore and press in with a big pair of sliding adjustable head pliers working working side to side. As the piston slides in the boot will slide along the greased piston and fit nicely into the piston groove. Just like in the picture !! Of course you could split the calipers like I do ( British Car Specialists has the correct seal, Moss doesn't sell it I don't think) that makes the job a lot easier. Kevin
 
Hey! Take a break, relax. These things take time . Remember what Keoke said, be patient. When you try something new like this you have to first situate yourself in a comfortable position in relationship to your workpiece. Be calm and slow of movement. Think first of how the piece you are going to apply will fit, and how you are going to apply the piece so as not to add undue force that may botch your job. Then proceed slowly, and if things get difficult STOP! Revaluate. Try again, never hurry... Remember, even if you have to buy a number of these rebuild kits, you are not only saving the cost of a mechanic, you are learning to be self sufficient. This skill alone will see you through life with a confidence that you cannot purchase. Many people have struggled at first. You will be more careful next time and will be surprised at your success. The key is to start in a comfortable position with all you need at hand. Take your time. Do not rush. --elrey
 
on that note, I have no spec as to how tight the bolts when you put the splits back together, I have just made them darn tight in the past. What do you suggest? Please inform --elrey
 
I put some grease or antiseize on the bolt threads and use new lockwashers. Tighten them evenly with a torque wrench. There's no spec., it takes a feel to it. Tight and even will do the trick.
 
Love that antiseize. thanx for the tip. Also, it is indeed a good thing to purchase the O-ring with the proper profile. I've had a hard time finding them in the past, and have used standard rings at times with trepidation. No problems yet, but has always been a concern, especially since most instructions warn against handling this particular maneuver yourself. ==elrey
 
Elrey, Its interesting that Moss sells the o rings for the TR3 calipers but not for the Healey. They also warn against splitting the calipers. Its a liability issue I'll bet. The concern is that you damage the machined mating faces by not working carefully. Work carefully and be meticulously clean. Use new lockwashers and lube the threads. Then tighten the bolts evenly with a torque wrench . British Car Specialist sells an oring for the Healey caliper . I'm sure David has split and rebuilt hundreds of them. Kevin
 
Since discovering antiseize and diaelectric grease my life has smooothed right out! --elrey
 
Well yesterday I threw a little tantraum after killing two of the four seal rings that came with the rebuild kit. I geuse it was fortunate that I ordered two kits, thinking I needed one for each side. So after a good night sleep I thought about trying it again and decided the risk of destroying the second kit was too great. I got estimates from a few shops and found a guy that put them suckers back together for $20. Acceptance, courage and the wisdom to know the dif. Thanks for all the input. I still learned alot about the proccess and myself.
 
Donny_L said:
Well yesterday I threw a little tantraum after killing two of the four seal rings that came with the rebuild kit. I geuse it was fortunate that I ordered two kits, thinking I needed one for each side. So after a good night sleep I thought about trying it again and decided the risk of destroying the second kit was too great. I got estimates from a few shops and found a guy that put them suckers back together for $20.
-------------------------------- :lol:

Acceptance, courage and the wisdom to know the dif. Thanks for all the input. I still learned alot about the proccess and myself.

---------------------------------Keoke-- :thumbsup:
 
There is a very specific torque setting for the caliper bolts:
inner large bolts: 6.2-7 kgm (45-50lb ft)
outer small bolts: 3.5-4.2 kgm (25-30 lb.ft)

I believe there is no place here to 'feel' it correctly - it has to be done according to the specs..

Best, Tadek
 
:savewave: Thank you Tadek. Where did you find this information? A manual, or based on the size and thread pitch?
Just curious. Wow! Poland. --elrey
 
Tadek said:
There is a very specific torque setting for the caliper bolts:
inner large bolts: 6.2-7 kgm (45-50lb ft)
outer small bolts: 3.5-4.2 kgm (25-30 lb.ft)

I believe there is no place here to 'feel' it correctly - it has to be done according to the specs..

Best, Tadek

You are correct.!!!
But my information came from a different country. A very experienced Bulgarian foreign car mechanic. Also do not put any sealing compound on the threads.---Keoke- :thumbsup:
 
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