Front calipers

[TT Tim]

This is a bit of a plea, I've just heard from the garage servicing my car that they've got a problem with a front caliper.

I'm not 100% clear on exactly what's happened, but I do know that a bolt has snapped, and it is unlikely that my car will be ready today. :cry:

If needs be is there anyone in the SE who has a set of calipers that are sitting in their garage that I could borrow, so that I can make CREAM? I've arranged to call the garage again mid-afternoon to find out the situation.

Thanks guys, I'm beginning to think I'm not destined to make this weekend. :(

Tim

[satman]

TT Tim said:

I'm not 100% clear on exactly what's happened, but I do know that a bolt has snapped, Tim

Its possible that the bleed nipple has sheared off...Joos did my brake upgrade recently, and he said the most common problem with the calipers, is seized bleed nipples!(fortunately mine were ok).

Hope you get it sorted.....


>> Edited by satman on Thursday 22 September 15:16

[TT Tim]

Things are beginning to look up...

...just 'phoned them and my car will be ready tomorrow morning! Don't know what time, but tomorrow morning sometime.

Guess I won't be joining the convoy but never mind - I'll be at Elvington on Saturday! Yipeeeeeee

Tim

[tvrolet]

TT Tim said:

...but I do know that a bolt has snapped, and it is unlikely that my car will be ready today.

Are wherever-it-is-where-your-car-is keen to get it back on the road though? I can only think of 3 possible 'bolts' it could be.

The bolts holding the caliper to the hub carrier. Unlikely, as they're monster bolts. But assuming it is, and assuming you have the later updated [TVR recall] hub carriers, the plate they bolt on to comes off, so drilling the snapped but out shouldn't be an issue.

The bolt that goes across the top of the caliper? Unlikely too - this is more likely to strip the threads in the caliper and need re-helicoiled! But, if it is, then it shouldn't be an big issue to get out either. Some of the AP calipers are helicoiled for that cross-bolt as standard, so not really an issue if the threads get damaged getting it out. Or a longer bolt with a nut would work.

....or the bleed nipple. This would be the most likely suspect. I'd be surprised though if a garage couldn't get a broken nipple out though. But....IIRC there are two nipples on the cerb calipers - one each side. If you take the caliper off the car you should be able to bleed it through one nipple by moving it around to that any air will be under the single nipple. OK, so you have to put a block of wood or something in the caliper to stop the pistons coming out, but it is do-able.

I had this some years back with a 911. Desperate to get the car back on the road for a track day and got a caliper off a breaker. Unfortunately they sent me a LH caliper rather than a RH, so the nipples were on the bottom when it was mounted (oh er missus). Then one broke! But, it could be bled by taking it off the car again and waggling it around on the end of the hose to make sure all the air would end up in the side with the working nipple.

Got to be possible to get the car back on the road PDQ....

WB