Rebuilding brake calipers
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
Rebuilding brake calipers
Since I get my T/A's back on Monday and I will have that job finished. I want to get my original calipers powder coated. These calipers have 21,000 miles on them. Not that the mileage make any difference. I was going to pack them up and send them to VBP but after reading other posts on rebuilding I think I can do most of it myself. Here is my question, Below is a pic of one of the capipers I took apart. I am going to order VBP O ring rebuilders kit for 4 calipers and I am using silicone brake fluid
Does it need to be stainless steel sleeved?
If so, are there rebuilders in my area that would do this or should I send them to VBP to be sleeved?
I would then take them to my powder coater
When I rebuild the caliper it seems I have to be carefull installing the seal. It looks like finding a socket the same size as the seal and use it to pound the seal in place evenly.
Again my steps are,
Take apart
Sleeve them
Powdercoat them
rebuild them
Thanks agian for your help
Does it need to be stainless steel sleeved?
If so, are there rebuilders in my area that would do this or should I send them to VBP to be sleeved?
I would then take them to my powder coater
When I rebuild the caliper it seems I have to be carefull installing the seal. It looks like finding a socket the same size as the seal and use it to pound the seal in place evenly.
Again my steps are,
Take apart
Sleeve them
Powdercoat them
rebuild them
Thanks agian for your help
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
They are the factory units and i don't remember the factory using stainless. maybe it just the flash from the camera reflecting off the caliper, is there anyway to ckeck
Last edited by spedaleden; Feb 29, 2008 at 07:38 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
The o-ring pistons are sized for sleeves. If yours are NOT sleeved and you put them in it will leak. I can't tell from your pictures. And the factory did NOT use stainless-- or sleeve the calipers.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
Let's say there not sleeved, do you know if a local shop can sleeve them? I looked a VBP cat and i can't find sleeves anywhere.
I think what looks like a sleeve in the pic is actually the wall that the seal sits on.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,359
Likes: 428
From: Seattle Area WA
From the photo they look sleeved because I think I see a little ridge at the bottom where the shiny wall (possible sleeve) meets at the bottom of the casting? Maybe it's just the photo and I'm totally wrong.
They will have to be sent out as originals to a shop to be machined and sleeved. Either VBP or Lonestar will send you back your originals if requested.
They will have to be sent out as originals to a shop to be machined and sleeved. Either VBP or Lonestar will send you back your originals if requested.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
From: Moon Township PA
Honestly? There isn't any mechanical reason to so SS sleeves on calipers. The only reason I can think of is that our cars sit for long periods of time when the weather is lousy. This can result in rust in the bore of the caliper.
Fwiw, you can easily rebuild your calipers IF you can find a good rebuild kit. I actually found it cheaper to replace the ones on my Buick Electra (the big land barge type) because the kits were rare. Oth, if I had to do my Corvette calipers I would go with an O ring kit and do it myself.
Gary
Fwiw, you can easily rebuild your calipers IF you can find a good rebuild kit. I actually found it cheaper to replace the ones on my Buick Electra (the big land barge type) because the kits were rare. Oth, if I had to do my Corvette calipers I would go with an O ring kit and do it myself.
Gary
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: Upstate New York
I have Delco calipers that are 20 years old and they have stainless sleeves (they were not original). The pucks were corroded somewhat but the sleeves looked like new so I just ordered 8 new pucks and seal kits to do the fronts.
If you're not sure whether the calipers are stainless sleeves or not, check them with a magnet.
If you're not sure whether the calipers are stainless sleeves or not, check them with a magnet.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
Let's say there not sleeved. If I rebuild them and I am using silicone brake fluid. They should be fine. Correct?
Here are more pics
Here are more pics
Last edited by spedaleden; Mar 1, 2008 at 10:30 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,359
Likes: 428
From: Seattle Area WA
You could any type of fluid and they will be fine as long as you maintain the system. You'll need to do a complete flush of the system to remove the old fluid if you swap to DOT 5.
That looks like a sleeve to me too, note the machined ridge at the bottom of the bore where the sleeve is pressed down against, and there appears to be a visible line around the top of the sleeve at the shoulder where the seal sits.
That looks like a sleeve to me too, note the machined ridge at the bottom of the bore where the sleeve is pressed down against, and there appears to be a visible line around the top of the sleeve at the shoulder where the seal sits.
Last edited by Scott Marzahl; Mar 1, 2008 at 10:48 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
Looks like they have been sleeved. If so, just clean them up and rebuild them and you should be ok. You can use some 000 steel wool to shine up the bores - just make sure you completely flush out any steel wool fibers left. I have used silicone fluid in my brakes for 25 years. Some people don't care for it but it has worked well for me. It is a lot kinder on the rubber seals in the MC and calipers.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
Thanks guys, you are the greatest. I am more of a part changer than a rebuilder. I am finding the more I play with this stuff the less complicated it is. I guess it's like riding a bike for the first time.
I bought brand new GM calipers when I restored my car and the car has silicone fluid in it now. I will clean thes up per your instructions and I will flush silicone fluid tru these. Then I guess I'm off to the powdercoater again. I have to go there Monday to pick up my shock mounts and now drop off calipers.
Thanks again
I bought brand new GM calipers when I restored my car and the car has silicone fluid in it now. I will clean thes up per your instructions and I will flush silicone fluid tru these. Then I guess I'm off to the powdercoater again. I have to go there Monday to pick up my shock mounts and now drop off calipers.
Thanks again
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
No No. The Car now has New GM Calipers form Lonestar. The ones I have pics of are the originals. So I have two sets of calipers. I want to get the originals back on and then sell the lonestar set.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 1
From: Aussie expat in Saudi Arabia
