Brakes question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
From: Kinzers. PA
Brakes question
Ok, once my New heater core comes in and thats done, my next big job is my brakes....
NOw i was wondering is a FULL brake overhaul easy or to complex for a garage job... Is there any special tools or anything that you have to have a big car lift to complete it.... I have the car on jack stands about a foot up would thi be enough room or will i need more??
I dont like to pay people to do work, but its my first car and i was wondering do you guys think i am more then capable of doing it with my dad(hes good with cars owned a c3 at 18, and a c4 a couple years back)or do i take it to a shop and pay hundreds.....
NOw i was wondering is a FULL brake overhaul easy or to complex for a garage job... Is there any special tools or anything that you have to have a big car lift to complete it.... I have the car on jack stands about a foot up would thi be enough room or will i need more??
I dont like to pay people to do work, but its my first car and i was wondering do you guys think i am more then capable of doing it with my dad(hes good with cars owned a c3 at 18, and a c4 a couple years back)or do i take it to a shop and pay hundreds.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,317
Likes: 292
From: Ocala FL
It depends on what you are doing. Why a full overhaul? Are they leaking? Pulling to one side?
Corvette brakes usually work or they leak. If they have been rebuilt before (most have), then usually you need new seals at about $30 or whatever now.
If they have been leaking a lot, then the pistons may be corroded. Sometimes you can clean the corrosion in the piston seal grooves and sometimes you can't. In that case, you need new pistons.
The easiest route is a set of new stainless steel sleeved calipers. Unbolt the old, bolt on the new. Insert pads, change fluid, bleed, and go have fun. Anywhere from $250 to $500 on where you find the sets.
Unless your rotors are in terrible shape, rusted with deep pits or grooves, don't have them turned. Turning them often gets the run-out out of spec and then you get them pumping air into the system.
Corvette brakes usually work or they leak. If they have been rebuilt before (most have), then usually you need new seals at about $30 or whatever now.
If they have been leaking a lot, then the pistons may be corroded. Sometimes you can clean the corrosion in the piston seal grooves and sometimes you can't. In that case, you need new pistons.
The easiest route is a set of new stainless steel sleeved calipers. Unbolt the old, bolt on the new. Insert pads, change fluid, bleed, and go have fun. Anywhere from $250 to $500 on where you find the sets.
Unless your rotors are in terrible shape, rusted with deep pits or grooves, don't have them turned. Turning them often gets the run-out out of spec and then you get them pumping air into the system.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Originally Posted by Procrastination Racing
It depends on what you are doing. Why a full overhaul? Are they leaking? Pulling to one side?
Corvette brakes usually work or they leak. If they have been rebuilt before (most have), then usually you need new seals at about $30 or whatever now.
If they have been leaking a lot, then the pistons may be corroded. Sometimes you can clean the corrosion in the piston seal grooves and sometimes you can't. In that case, you need new pistons.
The easiest route is a set of new stainless steel sleeved calipers. Unbolt the old, bolt on the new. Insert pads, change fluid, bleed, and go have fun. Anywhere from $250 to $500 on where you find the sets.
Unless your rotors are in terrible shape, rusted with deep pits or grooves, don't have them turned. Turning them often gets the run-out out of spec and then you get them pumping air into the system.
Corvette brakes usually work or they leak. If they have been rebuilt before (most have), then usually you need new seals at about $30 or whatever now.
If they have been leaking a lot, then the pistons may be corroded. Sometimes you can clean the corrosion in the piston seal grooves and sometimes you can't. In that case, you need new pistons.
The easiest route is a set of new stainless steel sleeved calipers. Unbolt the old, bolt on the new. Insert pads, change fluid, bleed, and go have fun. Anywhere from $250 to $500 on where you find the sets.
Unless your rotors are in terrible shape, rusted with deep pits or grooves, don't have them turned. Turning them often gets the run-out out of spec and then you get them pumping air into the system.
Buy the stainless-bolt on-have fun!You will have all of us on the forum if you run into problems.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
If your calipers are SS lined already you can get a o-ring kit for them, I think it was about $159. Rebuilding them is very simple and will be a good experience for you. I ordered SS Rotors from corvette stainless steel, don't have them yet. While you have it apart, checkout the runout on the hubs and make sure to get it corrected before reassembly. New brake hoses is a good idea, they are old and they do fail. None of this requires more than a handfull of tools and the shop manual covers it very well and we are here to help.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,407
Likes: 2
From: Carmichael CA
I suggest that you search the forum for brake advice. Over the years there has been tons of good advice. The difficult part about a FULL brake overhaul is that the rear brake lines run between the body and frame...some vettes you just can't remove them without removing the body; thus, you may have to leave them there and route the new ones in a different path.
If you aren't an experienced mechanic, then you will need some tools:
1/2" Torque Wrench
1/2" SAE socket set from 1/2" to 7/8"
3/8" socket wrench
3/8" SAE socket set
Combo Wrench set from 1/4" to 7/8"
SAE Pipe Wrench (also called flare nut wrenches) set from 1/4" to 11/16"
I seriously advise you NOT to try rebuilding your calipers yourself...rebuilt units are fairly cheap. The reason is that you will need a Bench Vice to do the job correctly due to the large (about 140 FtLb) of torque required to put them back together.
Also, if you are not experienced with brakes at all then you might want to let a shop take care of them, but not just any shop...Vette brakes are special...the rear calipers for example have TWO bleeder valves each and requires a special bleeding method to get them correct. The comination valve is similar to other brake systems, but it also requires some special methods to get it to "center" and operate properly. If you really want to work on brakes then I suggest that you contact your State Beureau of Automotive Repair and order a Brake Inspection and Repair manual which all auto shops must have before they can be licensed to work on brakes. That manual helped me out a lot when I went to work on brakes...it has more info than you need, but it has the guaranteed true facts concerning brakes.
If you aren't an experienced mechanic, then you will need some tools:
1/2" Torque Wrench
1/2" SAE socket set from 1/2" to 7/8"
3/8" socket wrench
3/8" SAE socket set
Combo Wrench set from 1/4" to 7/8"
SAE Pipe Wrench (also called flare nut wrenches) set from 1/4" to 11/16"
I seriously advise you NOT to try rebuilding your calipers yourself...rebuilt units are fairly cheap. The reason is that you will need a Bench Vice to do the job correctly due to the large (about 140 FtLb) of torque required to put them back together.
Also, if you are not experienced with brakes at all then you might want to let a shop take care of them, but not just any shop...Vette brakes are special...the rear calipers for example have TWO bleeder valves each and requires a special bleeding method to get them correct. The comination valve is similar to other brake systems, but it also requires some special methods to get it to "center" and operate properly. If you really want to work on brakes then I suggest that you contact your State Beureau of Automotive Repair and order a Brake Inspection and Repair manual which all auto shops must have before they can be licensed to work on brakes. That manual helped me out a lot when I went to work on brakes...it has more info than you need, but it has the guaranteed true facts concerning brakes.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
From: Kinzers. PA
Thanks for all the info its great.
Now ALL FOUR of my brakes are leaking horribly, and they have never been touched or attempted to be fixed before. My dad filled my brake fluid once i got the car and we took it out for about 5 mins and when we came back it was half way and the next day it was empty.... It leaks horribly, so i thought its my dd why not just do the whole thing instead.
Rotors are in Decent shape and dont need replaced, and parking brake just needs oiled. But i belive all my pistons are pitted and corroded along with the seels. I only want to do the job once so i just want to do it all at once.
I was looking at Corvette centrals brake overhaul kit the one with everything but the parking brake assembly and master cylinder, because my m/c is in good condition.
Now ALL FOUR of my brakes are leaking horribly, and they have never been touched or attempted to be fixed before. My dad filled my brake fluid once i got the car and we took it out for about 5 mins and when we came back it was half way and the next day it was empty.... It leaks horribly, so i thought its my dd why not just do the whole thing instead.
Rotors are in Decent shape and dont need replaced, and parking brake just needs oiled. But i belive all my pistons are pitted and corroded along with the seels. I only want to do the job once so i just want to do it all at once.
I was looking at Corvette centrals brake overhaul kit the one with everything but the parking brake assembly and master cylinder, because my m/c is in good condition.
