Rebuilding
a brake
caliper is pretty much the same on any vehicle whether its a Honda,
Mitsubishi, Ford or a Volvo. As a general rule, a caliper rebuild kit
cost around
ten to twenty dollars for most street cars. If you take the time and
rebuild your calipers every other brake job, you greatly reduce the
risk
of ever experiencing a leaking caliper or seized caliper.
With
the caliper removed from the car, pull away the dust boot to
expose the piston. With the dust boot removed, place a block of wood
between the piston and caliper. Making sure your hands are totally
clear of the piston, use a compressor and air gun to slowly pressurize
the
caliper via the brake line port. This will force out the piston
violently (MAKE SURE YOUR HANDS ARE CLEAR).
With
the
piston out of
the caliper, clean it with a rag and inspect the chrome liner for any
pitting or rust. You can clean the surface with a scotchbright pad to
aid with inspection if needed. Below you can see the piston after it
has been cleaned and inspected for any damage. In street cars damage is
rare but does occur. Should you note any damage or pitting you should
replace the piston.
Highlighted
below in red, you
can see the old piston seal in its groove. Using your fingers or pick,
carefully remove the old seal and discard it. With a rag soaked in
brake cleaner wipe down the caliper bore paying particular attention to
the seals groove. With the bore clean install a fresh seal after
lightly
coating it with new brake fluid.
.
With
the
new seal
in place install the piston half way. Now install a new dust shield
onto
the piston and seat it in its groove before pushing the piston all the
way in.With the piston back in the caliper, use a dull screwdriver or
plastic shim to push the lower half of the dust boot into its groove on
the caliper. This can be tricky but with a light coat of brake fluid it
will pop back into place.
Before
installing the
caliper back on the car make sure the boot is completely seated as
shown below. You now have a completely rebuilt caliper that is as good
as new! Safety being a major concern, you should always check
for
leaks and proper operation after working on your brakes.
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