Brake Job/ caliper spreader
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,896
Likes: 2
From: CO
Brake Job/ caliper spreader
What should I use to spread the pistons in the caliper? Do I need a special tool for the 4 piston calipers?
Also I will be turning the rotors on all 4. Any tricks / tips and pitfalls will help out. Thanks :cool:
Also I will be turning the rotors on all 4. Any tricks / tips and pitfalls will help out. Thanks :cool:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 5,635
Likes: 4
From: Orlando Floriduh
Re: Brake Job/ caliper spreader (flood)
The tool sold by most corvette parts houses makes the job easy. It is worth the price (cheap). Do NOT turn the rear rotors. It will result in run out and the pumping of air into the system. There was just a topic about this.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 8,164
Likes: 0
From: ohio
Re: Brake Job/ caliper spreader (flood)
i've always just put a flathead screwdriver in between the pad and the caliper and pried the piston back into the bore. Every proffessional mechanic i know just does it like this. Course it has sort of a "grease monkey" feel to it....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,162
Likes: 2
From: Beaverton, OR
Re: Brake Job/ caliper spreader (RJR99SS)
i've always just put a flathead screwdriver in between the pad and the caliper and pried the piston back into the bore. Every proffessional mechanic i know just does it like this. Course it has sort of a "grease monkey" feel to it....
Oh yeah, as for having the rotors turned, if you do it, see if there's a shop that can do it on the car. If not, make sure you measure the runout when they are on the car and shim them to get them within .003" total runout if possible.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Re: Brake Job/ caliper spreader
How strong are those springs really? I've always just grabbed the calipers with my hands and squeezed the pistons down with my thumbs. It's not as hard as it sounds, but then again I've never tried this on spring loaded pistons.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Re: Brake Job/ caliper spreader (flood)
My buddy and I made up small blocks of wood. Costs about a nickle a piece as opposed to the price they charge in catalogs for a piece of bent metal. Just measure the thickness of your rotor then cut a piece of 2" X 2" to that length. You will need two to do a caliper. WIth your hand pull back on the pads and slide in the blocks. If you have a lot of trouble use smaller blocks initially then build up to bigger blocks. Yes the springs can catch but if you wiggle the pads a little they will free. Then just slip the caliper over the rotor and the blocks of wood get pushed out of the way by the rotor. Make sure your master cylinder is open when you do this. Put rags under and around it as you will be pushing the fluid around and may cause some splash. If you don't crack the brake system you will experience "Hydraulic Lock" ie you will be trying to compress the psitons and there is no where for the fluid and air to go hence it is very difficult if not impossible to push the psitons in with the system closed.
Keep sharp objects away from those seals. They look flimsy enough!
Good luck.
Pete
STINGRY
:steering:
[Modified by stingry, 7:11 PM 8/26/2003]
[Modified by stingry, 7:11 PM 8/26/2003]
Keep sharp objects away from those seals. They look flimsy enough!
Good luck.
Pete
STINGRY
:steering:
[Modified by stingry, 7:11 PM 8/26/2003]
[Modified by stingry, 7:11 PM 8/26/2003]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,162
Likes: 2
From: Beaverton, OR
Re: Brake Job/ caliper spreader (wcsinx)
How strong are those springs really? I've always just grabbed the calipers with my hands and squeezed the pistons down with my thumbs. It's not as hard as it sounds, but then again I've never tried this on spring loaded pistons.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Brake Job/ caliper spreader (wcsinx)
If you are talking a new caliper with no fluids, and old decent corvette mechanic I know, just slips the pads in place, pin and all, pushes them back with his two hands/fingers, and slips the damn thing home, all in an accomplished movement....like its freaking nothing....course it helps to be a pro....duh.....
I removed the springs straight away on my first rebuild about 7+years ago when the original lip seal pistons were in there, and it ran fine for about 5 years like that, but they slowly began to leak I do wonder if the DOT5 fluid does gradually attack the rubber used in brake systems....I dunno....
but anyway, it's an O ring system now, and so the pads were just changed, and the pistons pried back with a screwdriver, and pad inserted, first one side then the other....no sweat...messy floor under the m/cyl...but that's life....
GENE
I removed the springs straight away on my first rebuild about 7+years ago when the original lip seal pistons were in there, and it ran fine for about 5 years like that, but they slowly began to leak I do wonder if the DOT5 fluid does gradually attack the rubber used in brake systems....I dunno....
but anyway, it's an O ring system now, and so the pads were just changed, and the pistons pried back with a screwdriver, and pad inserted, first one side then the other....no sweat...messy floor under the m/cyl...but that's life....
GENE
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,896
Likes: 2
From: CO
Re: Brake Job/ caliper spreader (mrvette)
So there are places that can actually turn the rear rotors while they are on the car? This sounds crazy to me :crazy:
I am concerned about this as I have heard of problems with the rear rotor runout. I will measure the runout.
It seems impossible to turn the rear rotors without causing problems with air. What a PITA ! Cause my rotors are really glazed and squeal like crazy. I have heard of using emory cloth to get the glazing off. Maybe I will just turn the fronts and try this on the rear. :confused:
I am concerned about this as I have heard of problems with the rear rotor runout. I will measure the runout.
It seems impossible to turn the rear rotors without causing problems with air. What a PITA ! Cause my rotors are really glazed and squeal like crazy. I have heard of using emory cloth to get the glazing off. Maybe I will just turn the fronts and try this on the rear. :confused:
