Calliper Refurb
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi Guys

I recently brought a set of 4 pot vended callipers, hubs, drive shafts etc. The callipers are in a right state and need a good refurb. The pistons are seized in there well and truly and so are all the bolts and bleed nipples.

I popped down Halfords yesterday and saw some Kurust rust remover (not the converter but a solution you dilute and leave parts in for 24 hours) Does anyone have any experience of this? Is this going to help remove the build up of rust seizing everything in or am I best to get a couple of litres of petrol / diesel to soak them in over night before attacking them with penetrating spray and a blow torch? I almost expect this stiff just removing the surface rust and not getting in to all the tight gaps that are seized solid.

Any other suggestions would be great as I want to get these sorted whilst having a break from body work.

Cheers

Should be OK, but I would not like to use a blow torch on that lump of cast iron ! Try compressed air on them first, or seal up the hose entry with a bolt and copper washer, substitute a bleed nipple with a grease nipple and pump grease in from a Wanner or similar -takes some time to fill them up, but the hydraulic pressure is enormous and will usually move those pistons.

As above, pumped grease...

But you have to improvise various blocks of wood as once the first piston to move gets most of the way out, you have to physically stop it to allow the pressure to work on the next, then the next etc. until they are all nearly out.

I wouldn't bother with the fancy Kurust stuff, just soak in diesel (heating oil is cheaper in my case) overnight.

If you do use grease to force them out, obviously the body will need thoroughly soaking afterwards with petrol or solvent to remove all traces of it (be careful of fire hazard).

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

I left mine in a bucket of parafin for about 3 weeks (i forgot about them...brought them up a treat though. Like Rod says use a block of wood etc to stop the pistons moving out so as you cant get the next one. I used compressed air to get the pistons out (being as careful as possible) but I knew i was replacing all the pistons and seals

Thanks Guys.

Will look at getting these sorted over the weekend if i have a chance. Looks like a trip to get a greese gun, I assume i will be able to get the right size tread to match the bleed nipple in a grease nipple quite easily from my local motor factors.
I love jobs like this but also hate them at the same time because I'm the clumsy sort of idiot that ends up sheering off things like the bleed nipple in the casing. 1 is already sheered of where somoene has had a go at it, I dont want to end up drilling and retapping all of them lol.

Easy does it i think.

Thanks Again

dont forget to get some red rubber grease for the rebuild