Help - Rear Brake problems

ChrisG · Post by **ChrisG** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 6:43 pm

Right - Noticed last week that one of the rear brake pads was worn down badly. So I ordered new pads - not them no problem.

Started fitting them today at about 11am. I have just packed in because both myself and my father are literately banging our heads against the wall.

The outer piston was seized up and would not go back. Following the pelican parts article on the subject, we soon sorted that out, but in the process, the inner piston decided to shift. Now this one was not a problem before, but since shifting, it has become a serious problem.

Basically we have wound the adjuster out completely and the piston is moving freely, but it is locking itself in a out position and will not return so we can fit the new pad.

We have basically tried everything bar stripping the caliper down.
It looks like the inner self adjuster is refusing to adjust, even though we are doing everything correctly.

So, first question is - is there a trick to this? According to the pelican article, the piston should just return to its position without problem.

If we are not doing anything wrong, does anyone have a drivers side (LHD) rear brake caliper which works and I can buy pretty quickly?

If not, does anyone know of any specialist who may have a remanufactured caliper or someone who could remanufactuer the caliper?

Any help is really appreciated.

Thanks

abm914 · Post by **abm914** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 9:24 pm

Chris - I had a nightmare with my rear brakes last year, couldn't get the handbrake to work properly and then I couldn't adjust one side as I think I wound the ratchet mechanism too far (for the handbrake). Gave up in the end a bought a new pair from Mittelmotor in Germany.
Classicar Automotive can re-condition calipers in the uk, their number is 01625 860910 (based in Chesire). I have a few spare rear calipers but don't think any of them are any good. Whereabouts are you based?

Adam

porker914 · Post by **porker914** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:37 pm

chris,
Having stripped down a couple of sets of the rear brake calipers now for re-build i think what has happened is that the threaded adjuster gone off the end of the piston. You may find that if you "help" the piston back in as you wind the adjuster back the other way the threads will pick up again and then retrack ok. You could use a screw driver gently between the existing pad and disc just to put pressure back on the piston. The calipers are actually very very basic once you have fully stripped them so very little to actually go wrong.

These calipers are very easy to re-build once off the car.

david

boomy · Post by **boomy** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 5:42 pm

ditto below

abm914 wrote:Chris - I had a nightmare with my rear brakes last year, couldn't get the handbrake to work properly and then I couldn't adjust one side as I think I wound the ratchet mechanism too far (for the handbrake). Gave up in the end a bought a new pair from Mittelmotor in Germany.

Adam

MdR · Post by **MdR** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 2:28 pm

porker914 wrote:i think what has happened is that the threaded adjuster gone off the end of the piston. You may find that if you "help" the piston back in as you wind the adjuster back the other way the threads will pick up again and then retrack ok.

These calipers are very easy to re-build once off the car.

I agree with David. 914/4 rear calipers are not scarey once you've had one apart & seen how it works.