Refurbishing brake calipers

[Ryannn]

Afternoon all,

I've got a pair of Cooper S calipers from my old mini that I'd like to put on my current one. They've been sat on a shelf for about 3 years since I took it off the road. To replace them is over £200 compared to £12 to change the seals! lol

I haven't checked the condition of them for a while but is there anything I should specifically do before, or during, refurbishing them? I believe that the pistons can be reused providing they aren't rusty or pitted. Is it just best practice to replace the seals or do they have a general life span?

Cheers

[usedabused]

Get on to BIGRED all the info is on there and the pistons need to be replaced even if the chrome is scored..

Give bigred a ring they are very very helpfull....

[Ryannn]

Apr 16, 2016 13:32:34 GMT usedabused said:

Get on to BIGRED all the info is on there and the pistons need to be replaced even if the chrome is scored..

Give bigred a ring they are very very helpfull....

Cheers for that, I'll have a look!

[steveg]

Another recommendation for Bigg Red from me. www.biggred.co.uk/

If you are going to the trouble of rebuilding the calipers fit new seals, not worth messing about. Check the bleed nipples come undone before doing anything else though. One tip I was given was to try to slightly tighten the nipple before trying to undo it, could be worth soaking with something to help free them up as well.
Have a look round to see whats available as I would imagine lots of Mini specialists do repair kits. If you plan on keeping the car for a while it might be worth getting stainless steel pistons. Bigg Red do them for some cars, but if they don't a specialist might.
As you have spare ones consider getting them rebuilt.

[Rebuilda]

I found Brakes International to be competitive on price and service. I did my M16 calipers last year and got all my parts from them.
Seals are a minimum, but as usedabused says pistons too if there is even the slightest damage.
When I did mine I used M10x1 bleed nipples in stainless, not cheap but worked for me.

[Ryannn]

Apr 16, 2016 17:17:44 GMT steveg said:

Another recommendation for Bigg Red from me. www.biggred.co.uk/
If you plan on keeping the car for a while it might be worth getting stainless steel pistons. Bigg Red do them for some cars, but if they don't a specialist might.
As you have spare ones consider getting them rebuilt.

Yeah, MiniSpares do stainless ones for £14 a pair. I'll get them soaked in plus gas for a few weeks as I'm in no rush to use them yet!

[usedabused]

s for bleed nipples rock the spanner back and forth increasing force,

Take your time its worth it in the end....

[ChasR]

As said if you are going to do it, do it properly . I remember going in my old Mondeo after the new owner simply sanded down the piston in one caliper ; it seized on. I am surprised as to how it braked (It was superb in my ownership) and as to how it got an MOT!

But if you are going the whole hog with new pistons etc. then happy days. Stainless pistons made a big difference in my MGB ; even after a few years of sitting they were still spot on .

[Ryannn]

Thanks guys, had a look at big red and their site doesn't seem to cater for any pre 1980 minis. I can get everything from MiniSpares though.

[Rebuilda]

Stainless is definitely the way to go for anything that's 'infrequently used'. All the body to chassis fixings on my cars get replaced with A4 stainless when I restore them. Bolting down fibreglass to steel. Lets face it any deficit in tensile strength is going to happen in the fibreglass before the stainless...

[hario]

Apr 17, 2016 14:34:11 GMT Rebuilda said:

Stainless is definitely the way to go for anything that's 'infrequently used'. All the body to chassis fixings on my cars get replaced with A4 stainless when I restore them. Bolting down fibreglass to steel. Lets face it any deficit in tensile strength is going to happen in the fibreglass before the stainless...

Minis had front drums pre 1980's so you'll want bigred for their post-80's calipers