When to rebuild calipers ??

[TR4]

How do you know when to have calipers rebuilt? My brake pads rub some when I try to turn the wheels while up on jacks. The brakes also hold the car at the light without me applying pressure but I do not feel they are holding me back too much as the wheels do not get too hot after a drive. Is there a test to determine if the calipers should be rebuilt?

Thanks for any and all help......

Phil

 

[TR3driver]

Re: When to rebuild calipers

Does your car still have the residual pressure valve installed? It's function is to hold pressure in the brakes, which causes exactly what you are talking about. I took the guts out of mine.

 

[TR4]

Re: When to rebuild calipers

It most likely still has a restrictor valve inline since I beleive the lines have never been worked on. I can check that out and see if the guts can be removed or maybe replace the valve. Thank you very much for the advice.

 

[Geo Hahn]

Re: When to rebuild calipers

...I can check that out and see if the guts can be removed or maybe replace the valve...

Don't know that replacing that valve will help much as it may be performing as designed.

The innards can be removed, then the empty valve refitted (body of valve needs to be there for lines to connect correctly). Here's a rough diagram of the bits:

Removing it will likley reduced the drag you're experiencing but possibly at a cost of slightly more pedal movement when applying the brakes.

<span style="font-style: italic">PS: As the notes show, I removed the insides in 2002 -- but I put them back in about 2 years ago for a firmed pedal feel. Perhaps it isn't as bad as I imagined or perhaps simply taking them out and cleaning them made the drag less. </span>

 

[TR3driver]

Re: When to rebuild calipers

Here's a (poor) photo of an actual valve; along with my comments:
https://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh260...lveexploded.jpg

(Note to self : Use neutral colored background when taking photographs :laugh: )