[DeTomaso] Fun w/ brakes and questions

[Chuck Adkinson]

A few year ago I rebuilt my brakes front and rear. I split both fronts in
half, replaced the o-rings and seals, slapped 'em back together, painted
them and they've been bullet proof ever since. For street brakes they work
fine. I also plumbed in a prop valve during the complete re-plumb and it
works well also. 

Chuck Adkinson
www.pantera.ws


   

-----Original Message-----
From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com] On
Behalf Of Asa Jay Laughton
Sent: Monday, April 11, 2011 5:29 PM
To: detomaso at realbig.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Fun w/ brakes and questions

There -is- working room with the caliper in one piece. (both halves mated to
each other)  If the pistons are stubborn this way, I would highly suggest
some kind of penetrating liquid be used. I'd spray some around the outside
and then try to get some on the inside via the brake fluid inlet.  Let soak
for a day.

In my case, I used a pair of large water-pump pliers.  Again, grip
-above- the groove as it's non-critical to piston operation.  I got lucky,
didn't have to use any penetrant -and- used a shop cloth on the jaws of the
pliers so I didn't do any damage to the lip of the pistons.  One suggestion,
if they feel like they are getting stuck, push them back in and try to
rotate while pulling out again.

My pistons were severely glazed and I thought they were shot.  They cleaned
up -very- nicely though, turned out to be nothing but hardened glaze.  No
pits, no rust.  The pistons were very smooth, shiny and perfectly usable
when done.  My point being, no matter how bad they look when you first get
them out... clean them up good before making any judgment on bad versus
good.

Good Luck,
Asa Jay
<been there, done that, wrote an article, took some video>

Quoting SOBill at aol.com:

> Konrad,
>
> I found air to be ineffective for completely removing the pistons.  It 
> may lift them somewhat. Put a block of wood between the pistons so 
> they  can't pop out and use air to get them up as much as you can.
>
> When you remove the dust seals you will see that they were  held in 
> small groove. You can move the pistons up somewhat more by using a 
> large screwdriver in the groove and prying up on each side.
>
> What finally worked for me ...... sounds crude but actually worked  .....
> take a large vise grip and firmly grip the piston on the part above 
> the  dust boot groove. Firmly clamp the vise grip in a bench vise. 
> Slowly rotate and pull the caliper off the piston. It's the rotating 
> while you pull that gets the  job done. The area of the piston where 
> the vise grip clamps can be smoothed out  with a file and is a non-
critical area in any case.
>
> I must add that I had my caliper parts separated when I pulled my  
> pistons, so I can't be sure this method has enough working room with 
> the  calipers assembled.
>
> Worked for me. Let me know what works for you.
>
> Have fun  today,
>
> sobill at aol.com
>
>
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--
Asa Jay Laughton - sent from somewhere other than home
******************************************************
http://www.racingagainstautism.com
http://www.teampanteraracing.com

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