[C2] Caliper casting gone bad?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,191
Likes: 951
From: Corpus Christi, TX
Caliper casting gone bad?
Rebuilt the RF caliper a couple weeks ago to fix a leaking lip seal. Noticed brake fluid on the inside of the tire. Just pulled the wheel and found fluid only on the bottom of the caliper. It even started to visibly drip when the hose was disconnected. Pulled the caliper and replaced the o rings. Still leaking. All around the pistons it's completely dry. Seems like there's porosity or an invisible crack in the casting. Anyone else have this happen? Calipers were on the car when I bought it. 33 years with only an occasional lip seal leak.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,541
Likes: 1,975
From: Temple Terrace Florida
If it is not leaking from the pistons and or seals, could it be a leak from the copper washer on the rubber hose? If not, did you torque the two caliper bolts up to 150lbs.? It is really hard to do off the car. I may have an extra set of sleeved front calipers. They will need pistons etc. Jerry
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,191
Likes: 951
From: Corpus Christi, TX
Jerry, it's for sure not the copper washer. That got replaced, too. To be fair, Ive never seen one leak in over 40 years of owning one of these cars or another. The only wet part on the caliper was at the parting line on the bottom. After resealing it, it got blasted with brake cleaner to find where the leak was and was not. The o rings were replaced and the bolts were for sure torqued up. I do those with the calipers on the car loosely so a 13/16 socket will fit and to get leverage. Funny thing is it leaked worse with new o rings than before I pulled it off this morning. A drip every few seconds from the bottom.
I covered my eyes, gritted my teeth and picked up a rebuilt one from Auto Zone. So far leak free. I have extra seals if it doesn't hold. Thank you for the offer, though.
I covered my eyes, gritted my teeth and picked up a rebuilt one from Auto Zone. So far leak free. I have extra seals if it doesn't hold. Thank you for the offer, though.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,693
Likes: 3,683
From: Central Arkansas
I may be dealing with something similar. I replaced the front brake pads yesterday and noticed some fluid on the bottom at the parting line after getting the new pads seated. No sign of leak on tire or on floor until then. I may have dislodged a seal trying to get the retainer clips over the pistons and the new pads in. I checked this morning and still some fluid clinging to the bottom of the caliper parting joint. So I guess I’m off to find a seal kit for the fronts.
