Practically Classics Forum

Halfors pro Series tools - thirded!

Cheers, I'll pop down to Halfords then.

The Deox has freed up the pads a bit so they move and got some of the rust off. I'll leave it another day or two and give removing the pins another go. Not quite giving up on it yet.

Mike

Rebuilt calipers are pretty inexpensive here in the US for Mercedes Benz models of the 70's and 80's. There are rebuild kits available but if the cylinder or piston is pitted, then it won't be worth rebuilding.

Stainless brake caliper pistons are available in the UK alabbasi - there is often an advert in the back of PC.

Calipers can also be bored out and have a stainless liner put down them, but this is pricey, so a decent second hand caliper may be the best bet for a not too rare vehicle.

I think our OP was intending to sell the car on when he's had his enjoyment, so guess that this may be the best option.

I was originally planning to sell it on but I think I might keep the coupe and sell the saloon actually.

It's still slowly de-rusting (pads now move on the pins, which is a distinct improvement, but the bleed nipple hasn't budged yet). Think a second hand or reconditioned one might be the way forward. Getting the parts to recon it myself would probably cost more than sending it off and getting it done anyway. Annoyingly, I won't get a chance to work on the car til next week now.

Mike

Maaarrghk wrote:Stainless brake caliper pistons are available in the UK alabbasi - there is often an advert in the back of PC.

Calipers can also be bored out and have a stainless liner put down them, but this is pricey, so a decent second hand caliper may be the best bet for a not too rare vehicle.

I think our OP was intending to sell the car on when he's had his enjoyment, so guess that this may be the best option.

Sure, but why go through all of this effort when they can be bought rebuilt for around $60 US? Just the basic rebuild kit is $15, you don't know what you have until the pistons are out. If you have to hone the cylinder, then you'll be going upside down very quickly just from the time you've burned up.

Seconded the idea of getting a re-con caliper - I did this recently on my Volvo for the same reason, not too expensive and I know the internals will last another 20 years or more.

Just one more point - given the amount of rust you're taking off, it sounds as if all or at leat most of your problem is external seizure of the caliper movement. If so, I think you'd be very wise to pay the corresponding caliper on the other side some attention, otherwise you're going to end up with very un-balanced brakes on that axle.

Personally I'd strip and service all 4.

Cheers!

/\/\/\ That was what I set out to do with my Volvo 142, but (same callipers both ends as the Benz) bear in mind that you need 12 sets of seals for the whole car (a pair of 4-pots and a pair of twins) and the rear callipers are so cheap from Vauxhall parts specialists or the average motor factor's counter (Chevette fronts) that this post has just become another vote for buying reconditioned.

What I would also consider is changing all six flexies as one restriction in just one of the front ones can lead to a most annoying, slight pull in one direction as the other three will still operate six of the pistons at the front, but will also upset the shuttle in the PDWA, so then you'd lose one rear calliper too.

I'm going to change the flexis anyway (and will get all the rust off the sliding parts at the same time at the least; possibly re-seal). Main priority at the moment is to get it running well enough to make it to and from the wedding and honeymoon.

A guy on ebay is breaking a saloon and has a caliper he'll give me for 30 quid including postage. He reckons it's in good nick. Other than that, Big Redd don't have any so would have to recon mine (and I'm pretty sure the bleed nipple is cross threaded), euro car parts are £100 each plus a core charge, and I've not seen them elsewhere.

I'm not sure about the interchangeability with vauxhall - my car doesn't have 4 pots on the front so doesn't sound an identical setup.

Mike

Benz rears are Chevette fronts, according to both my most recent Lucas-Girling (India) brake & clutch catalogue and my recollection of doing the job on Dad's 220AR (W114 series), a works parts chaser 1985 on a C plate (W123, 240T) and the Volvo at roughly the same time, so I'm surprised that they'd cheapen the front brakes after having such a good, failsafe setup for so long.

And there I was, thinking that only Renault would randomly change hydraulic components during a production run.

On the plus side though but; at least the simpler callipers should be cheaper to rebuild since there are fewer pistons.