Brake Calipers

[BIGUNDIES]

I have been trying to remove the four front brake pistons from the calipers. The rear brake pistons came out of their callipers quite easily, but the four front will not budge. So does anybody have any tricks of the trade to pass on? I have tried connecting a footpump but that does not cause any movement either. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Lee

:tu

[JimT]

Hi Lee,

I had problems with my rear calipers, once I'd removed the old seals I sprayed on a little WD40, clamped the caliper in a vice and then gently tapped the piston out with a hammer and standard flat head screwdriver. You can't get much of an angle on the piston, but if you tap the piston gently and equally around the whole piston it should slowly make it's way out. Might want to use a blunt tool rather than a screwdriver if you're keeping the pistons.

If you're lucky enough to have a real thin vice, you may be able to lock the rim of the piston in and twist the caliper by hand, haven't tried it though.

Jim.

[BIGUNDIES]

Thanks Jim.

By the way how long did it take with this method?

Cheers

Lee

:tu

[JimT]

Only 10 minutes per piston, I think I could have been more heavy handed but didn't want to scratch the caliper bores too much. Oh, and spray some WD40 in through the bleed nipple too.

Jim.

[BIGUNDIES]

Cheers Jim

I'll try your method out. If this does not work, does anybody else have any ideas?

Cheers

Lee
:tu

[tonym]

the way i was told is to reconnect the caliper to the brake hydraulic system whilst they are off the car and put your foot on the brake, start the engine if need be to get more pressure from the servo. if they're second hand not sure what you could do except take a line off your normal car and connect that to the sticking caliper.
hope this helps :tu

[BIGUNDIES]

Thanks Tony.

The calipers are second hand and I am a little bit worried about connecting them to my other car. I was thinking about connecting them to a small air compressor to see if this will give me enough pressure to move them. I did hear a small creaking noise under the footpump pressure, so with a bit more they may move. Has anybody else out there tried this method?

Cheers

Lee

:tu

[roll control]

Machine mart sell a brake calliper piston remover. It's a version of a slide hammer but how it connects onto each piston i'm not sure. I've always connected the calliper back to the vehicle and used the system to remove them. WARNING - if you are going to use an air compressor, be damn careful coz when the loosen off and come out you'll certainly know about it!

[marcel]

Hi Lee,

I did the caliper thing last weekend, using my air compressor to push the pistons out. I used WD40 on the pistons, and after 10 minutes pushed the airgun nozzle into the hole where the brake line used to be. Be careful hough, if you don't want your pistons flying out with great force. Oh yes, once one of the pistons breaks loose, you'll have to push it back in and hold it in place with something, to get pressure on the other piston. (don't trap your fingers between the pads/[istons, I can assure you air pressure is enough to make it hurt...

Good luck on reconditioning your calipers/pistons.
Cheers,
Marcel

[TINKA]

Lee, have you thought of takeing them down to a garage and using their tyre inflater to pump them out. Be careful to wrap them in plenty of rags and to put them in a bag of some sort so if they come out too quickly any break fluid and in fact the pistons them selves wont go anywhere and make a mess. x( x( x(

Hope this helps Martin :tu :tu :tu :tu