Caliper Rebuild
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
Caliper Rebuild
I am looking to buy a caliper rebuild kit from VBP but want to make sure that my calipers are sleeved.
How can I tell if they have been sleeved?
How do I get the old caliper pistons out?
How can I tell if they have been sleeved?
How do I get the old caliper pistons out?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 391
Likes: 1
From: Bend, Oregon
There is a ring seal around the piston. This seal is removed and the piston will pop out. If you have a sleeve, it should be shiny and have a fine finish to it. You can see that a sleeve has been installed by looking for the different metal color (the caliper is bored oversized and a sleeve pressed in)
garson
garson
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,706
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
I don't think that there is any easy way to tell if your calipers are sleeved untile you open them up. I've heard that there will be some kind of stamp or numbers on the caliper somewhere, but I've never seen them.
The pistons are very easy to remove. Once you have the two halves of the caliper separated, push the piston in all the way (watch out for squirting brake fluid) then use a flat screwdriver under the lip of the dust boot. Pops off with fairly little resistance. Once the boot is off, the piston will come right out.
Once the piston is out, it will be very easy to tell if you have sleeved calipers. If they are rusty and corroded, you don't. If they are nice and shiney, you do. Also, if you do have sleeved calipers, clean them out with a little rubbing alcohol on a paper towel. This removes any rubber residue (got that tip from VP&P).
The pistons are very easy to remove. Once you have the two halves of the caliper separated, push the piston in all the way (watch out for squirting brake fluid) then use a flat screwdriver under the lip of the dust boot. Pops off with fairly little resistance. Once the boot is off, the piston will come right out.
Once the piston is out, it will be very easy to tell if you have sleeved calipers. If they are rusty and corroded, you don't. If they are nice and shiney, you do. Also, if you do have sleeved calipers, clean them out with a little rubbing alcohol on a paper towel. This removes any rubber residue (got that tip from VP&P).
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
Thanks guy's
I got the pistons out and found that I do have sleeved calipers.
How can I tell if I have o-ring seal's or lip seal's?
Do I need to buy the whole o-ring kit (with pistons) or just the o-ring seals?
I got the pistons out and found that I do have sleeved calipers.
How can I tell if I have o-ring seal's or lip seal's?
Do I need to buy the whole o-ring kit (with pistons) or just the o-ring seals?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 391
Likes: 1
From: Bend, Oregon
The O-ring seal is just that, an O-ring looking seal. The lip seal is more rectangle and has a lip sealing surface. If you have lip seals and want to change over to O-ring, Order the kit from VBP( a supporting vendor) for the O-ring pistons and seals. It is an easy job and if you need any help thier techs can give you a hand.
Garson
Garson
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
I used the Oring kit from VBP - $125 or so.
It is a nice complete kit ... even antiseize on the new bolts.
All you'll need are the castings. I had some light scoring
on my stainless sleeves ... cleaned them up lightly with some
1000 grit wet/dry paper. They are installed, bled, and currently
no leaks.
It is a nice complete kit ... even antiseize on the new bolts.
All you'll need are the castings. I had some light scoring
on my stainless sleeves ... cleaned them up lightly with some
1000 grit wet/dry paper. They are installed, bled, and currently
no leaks.
