How do I remove the rear Caliper?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,106
Likes: 0
How do I remove the rear Caliper?
The engine of my car is working great now and not wasting time we have started on the brakes. We got the front calipers off but can't get the back ones off? I remember watching Horsepower TV and the removed the halfshafts and everything for a disc brake conversion, am i going to have to do that?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Re: How do I remove the rear Caliper? (battsup)
Well, you didn't say where you got stuck. What year is your car? Most C3s have calipers on the rear that are almost exactly like those on the front. Just take the two bolts out (facing the inside). The caliper will lift off the disk rotor. Unless you are replacing the caliper, you don't need to undo the brake line. Just suspend the caliper with a coat hanger to take the strain off the brake line.
If you are just replacing the pads, you don't even need to remove the caliper. Remove the cotter pin, pull the pin from the pads, push the pistons gently back away from the pads and lift the pads straight out. Install in reverse.
If you want to replace the rotor, you may have to drill out the rivets that hold the rotor on during assembly. Just knock the heads of the rivets off with a drill and use a punch to push the rivet shaft out. After they are out, you can slide the rotor off. If the rotor is stuck, it could be because the parking brake is expanded. Relelase it so the shoes move away from the brake drum. You may have to use a screwdriver or brake tool to move the brake shoes inward. Unless you are replacing the rotor, don't use a hammer - it will ruin the rotor.
Good luck -
If you are just replacing the pads, you don't even need to remove the caliper. Remove the cotter pin, pull the pin from the pads, push the pistons gently back away from the pads and lift the pads straight out. Install in reverse.
If you want to replace the rotor, you may have to drill out the rivets that hold the rotor on during assembly. Just knock the heads of the rivets off with a drill and use a punch to push the rivet shaft out. After they are out, you can slide the rotor off. If the rotor is stuck, it could be because the parking brake is expanded. Relelase it so the shoes move away from the brake drum. You may have to use a screwdriver or brake tool to move the brake shoes inward. Unless you are replacing the rotor, don't use a hammer - it will ruin the rotor.
Good luck -
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,106
Likes: 0
Re: How do I remove the rear Caliper? (88'Cubka)
nope that wont work, the bolts are facing toward the outside of the car so the extension and the impact wrench would make a combined length of over 14 inches. O and like i said before the sockets dont have enough room on the bottem to get on the bolt.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,321
Likes: 0
From: Reno NV
St. Jude Donor '08
Re: How do I remove the rear Caliper? (battsup)
That 14 or so inches gets ya around the half shafts to get to the bolts, the wobble makes it so ya can come in at an angle. The socket itself was never on completly and I partially stripped one of them, but I just replaced them since they were rusty anyway.
One thing I know is the rear end of a Vette. :D
One thing I know is the rear end of a Vette. :D
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 896
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette, Indiana
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Re: How do I remove the rear Caliper? (battsup)
I have had both of mine off without taking anything else apart (such as the half-shafts). First, I hosed the bolts down with alot of penitrating oil. I know I used a socket. But I think I used a universal joint and a breaker bar. I used the old bolts putting them back on, so I know I didnt strip them at all. Try putting the socket on first, then connecting the universal and breaker bar. Good Luck!
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 998
Likes: 1
From: Frisco TX
Re: How do I remove the rear Caliper? (CHEESERAL)
I had a problem with mine because the hard brake line was in the way. Make sure that it is not.
I used a good amount of penetrating oil first, and they came off with just my wrench/socket (depending on what I could get in there because of the brake line).
Stupid question, but you never know, since the bolts are on the inside, you are turning them the right way (I have done this myself :bb :bb )
Good luck, they will eventually come off!
I used a good amount of penetrating oil first, and they came off with just my wrench/socket (depending on what I could get in there because of the brake line).
Stupid question, but you never know, since the bolts are on the inside, you are turning them the right way (I have done this myself :bb :bb )
Good luck, they will eventually come off!
Pro
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 553
Likes: 1
From: Valparaiso IN
Re: How do I remove the rear Caliper? (goofygrin)
I had to use a thinwall 5/8ths socket on mine.. There was 30 some years of gunk broken loose by all of the penetrsating oil..<clean,clean> I ended up rounding off a couple , but the Craftsman Impact Bolt-Out saved me.. :crazy: :smash: :smash: :hurray:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 896
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette, Indiana
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Re: How do I remove the rear Caliper? (Frank75)
Use lots and Lots of a good quality penetrating oil - not WD40 type stuff.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 6
From: lancaster ma
Re: How do I remove the rear Caliper? (battsup)
Mine were pretty froze up. I ended up splitting the caliper which allowed the disk to come off exposing the mounting ears for the caliper. This allows you to put the penetrating oil on the threaded end of the bolt. I had to use heat to break mine free. Having an impact wrench was key. I rounded off one bolt using hand tools and had to grind it off. The Impact wrench with a good socket saves the bolt heads. BJs has a cheap air tool set for $80 which worked pretty well.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,770
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
Re: How do I remove the rear Caliper? (adamdinat)
Reading all these horror stories makes me feel dayum lucky. My rear calipers came off with a Craftsman 5/8 box end wrench. My rear must have been rebuilt (!!) at some point in the past as it looks NOTHING like Cubka's before pic.
Brett :thumbs:
Brett :thumbs: