Quick brake question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 686
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From: Southeast
Quick brake question
This is the first time I've done brake work on my corvette myself. When I was taking the back left pads off of the calipers and pushed the pistons back in, fluid came out around the front piston. Does this mean I need to change or rebuild at least both back calipers? Thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 780
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From: Also available in sober.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Corvette brakes! Chances are that you have a rusty caliper piston bore. Water gets in old brake fluid due to condensation and begins to rust piston bores in the calipers. Check the back of the tire and backing plate for traces of brake fluid. (Ask me how I know...) If you look at any Corvette parts websites, you will see calipers that have been rebuilt or produced with stainless steel piston bores to prevent rust and leakage. If your budget allows I would recommend purchasing new calipers or quality rebuilds with stainless sleeves versus rebuilding them yourself. Remember, brakes have to work every time!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,429
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From: Tucson AZ
I rebuilt my right rear caliper to make it to a once a year car show. Now I'm about to do all 4 again, with new springs, cups, seals, etc. My cups corroded pretty bad. The one that I did do, still works after 200 miles or so. It's really not that hard, take your time and inspect, inspect, inspect. Clean all the reusable parts and get after it.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
From: Southeast
Welcome to the wonderful world of Corvette brakes! Chances are that you have a rusty caliper piston bore. Water gets in old brake fluid due to condensation and begins to rust piston bores in the calipers. Check the back of the tire and backing plate for traces of brake fluid. (Ask me how I know...) If you look at any Corvette parts websites, you will see calipers that have been rebuilt or produced with stainless steel piston bores to prevent rust and leakage. If your budget allows I would recommend purchasing new calipers or quality rebuilds with stainless sleeves versus rebuilding them yourself. Remember, brakes have to work every time!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 780
Likes: 0
From: Also available in sober.
Yes, they either need a quality rebuild or to be replaced. I purchased quality rebuilds for my car. By the time you buy all of the parts and tools plus your time, it just makes sense to replace them IMHO. This is a very common problem with these cars. I'm sure just about every C3 owner has had leaky caliper issues at one time or another. Do you notice any fluid residue anywhere? If you see some, you'll know that that caliper has been leaking for some time. Also be sure to bleed all of the old brake fluid out of the system while you're at it. It contains the moisture that most likely caused the problem of rust in the piston bore. 
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
From: Southeast
Yes, they either need a quality rebuild or to be replaced. I purchased quality rebuilds for my car. By the time you buy all of the parts and tools plus your time, it just makes sense to replace them IMHO. This is a very common problem with these cars. I'm sure just about every C3 owner has had leaky caliper issues at one time or another. Do you notice any fluid residue anywhere? If you see some, you'll know that that caliper has been leaking for some time. Also be sure to bleed all of the old brake fluid out of the system while you're at it. It contains the moisture that most likely caused the problem of rust in the piston bore.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,429
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
Yes, they either need a quality rebuild or to be replaced. I purchased quality rebuilds for my car. By the time you buy all of the parts and tools plus your time, it just makes sense to replace them IMHO. This is a very common problem with these cars. I'm sure just about every C3 owner has had leaky caliper issues at one time or another. Do you notice any fluid residue anywhere? If you see some, you'll know that that caliper has been leaking for some time. Also be sure to bleed all of the old brake fluid out of the system while you're at it. It contains the moisture that most likely caused the problem of rust in the piston bore.
But that said, my piston bores in the right rear were clean, and no rust. I can hope that the other 3 are the same, if not, plan B.
The master cylinder won't have to be bled, if there is no problem with it prior to the caliper issue. Vette Brakes and Products (vbandp.com) has all the parts and pretty good prices too.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 780
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From: Also available in sober.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
If your calipers are stainless steel sleeved (not original to the car) then you can most likely rebuild them. If your calipers are the originals carefully inspect the bores. Chances are rebuilding them will not be successful if any corrosion or pitting is present. Replace them with a quality remanufactured SS Sleeved caliper like VBP's product. Replace all four of the flexible rubber brake lines at the same time too. Save youself the "learning experience" of putting everything back together, bleeding the system, and a few days later an old weak hose blows out on you and you are back bleeding your brakes again and maybe replacing a set of brand new pads soaked with brake fluid. Oh, and invest in a Motive Brake Bleeder. Makes bleeding Corvette brakes almost fun.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: magnolia ms
I had never done a brake job before ever, and everything depends on what you want to do. I was in your same boat too. All I wanted to do was change the pads but it turned out in the end it was more practical to get new pads, calipers, hoses, mastercylinder, and bolts for the calipers. I dont know the shape of your car but it is a very new learning proccess. It is alot better to do it all at once if you have the cash. Also, if one is leaking chances are that you will be fixing another one not to far from now. Thats just my long opinion. good luck