Splitting rear calipers

[njhucker]

I want to renew the rear discs and at the same time replace the seals and pistons on my rear brakes.
Looks to me like it would be a real pain to get the calipers out, especially the top bolts.
Has anyone doe this by splitting the calipers, which seems a lot easier.

[RCK974X]

YES. Rear ones have the connecting pipe so no worries about sealing.

Actually have split front ones too, despite the dire warnings not to.
Seal kits here (NZ) actually have the extra little seal for that very purpose !!

I just made sure the bolts were tight, and the halves were aligned by using the 'rust'/stain marks
when reassembling.

Make sure you clean out the groove as much as you can, including the edge you can't see...

Might as well strip, clean, and regrease the handbrake mechanism too...

[350zwelgje]

Was not too difficult without splitting, only right rear disc had to be removed as there was no space to get it out through the chassis. Most time took the jobs before you start to unbolt the calipers themselves in my case. Due to this was thinking to make an access hole in the boot, but until now it is fine without that. In an old thread there is a nice picture of how things look from the top if you would make a 'maintenance access hatch'.


Rob

[voltage_maxx]

See my thread here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[njhucker]

Thanks for that guys. I hadn't noticed that each side of the caliper has a separate feed. Thought they would be connected by an internal way and an o ring. Think I will split the caliper leave the inner halves and fit new seals & pistons in situ.

[RCK974X]

When I did mine, I decided to take the whole rear assembly out.

Seems like a lot of work, and it's VERY heavy, but then it's only 8 (ish) bolts and one hydraulic hose to undo, and then it's really easy to get at everything. Just have to be careful with the jack.

Did a whole refurb, UJs, calipers, handbrake mechanisms, etc.... and it was definitely worth it.

[Campbell]

When i did mine i took out the calipers but its not the easyest of jobs but worth doing but it would be interesting to take the caliper apart on the car...
Remember to take pics and keep us posted.

Cambelt

[njhucker]

Job now done. Have replaced discs, pistons and seals, and did it by splitting the calipers. You need good quality tools to do it, The bolts holding the two halves of the caliper are torqued up to about 50-60flb. I would also split them if I wanted to take the calipers off completely, as once the disc is out if the way the top caliper bolt can be got to from the side.
I firstly removed the A frames and drive shafts.

after removing the handbrake calipers and undoing the pipe union I used a socket and T bar to undo the 4 bolts holding the 2 halves of each caliper together.
The condition of the pistons was not too bad, but a couple of dust seals were perished and the discs corroded, as can be seen in the following pics.


I have fitted new pistons, seals, discs, pads and pins.

Quite a time consuming job, but not difficult.

[Campbell]

Nice one, i gess you made sure the shims were the same as when you took of the drive shafts.

Im sure you will notes the difference.

Cambelt

[Andy390]

Surprised you had to split the calipers to get them off??
My 390's standard rear calipers came off without too much grief by just undoing the driveshafts and the rear tie bar and swinging the driveshafts out of the way, and then removing the discs...the calipers can be withdrawn past the chassis tubes (it is a bit like the crypton factor tho!)
However they wont go back on in situ if you fit vented discs & space the calipers!