Brake Caliper Repaired

Tom Blankinship2010 Beck-Dearborn, MI

Sunday before last, I noticed a small drip inboard of the LR wheel and confirmed it was brake fluid. Small leak and full brake reservoir. I was hoping it was a loose brake line or bleeder valve.

Alas, it appeared to be a leaking caliper. I ordered a rebuild kit and then the following Saturday drove it to Buckwheat's assuming that 1) the kit would be wrong and 2) it wouldn't matter anyway because the caliper would be too far gone....I was right on both counts. I left my car in Grosse Pointe and ordered a new caliper

Caliper arrived on Thursday and I took a half day vacation day yesterday to finish the job.

Life is good again and many thanks to Buckwheat. I don't know what I would do without him.

Here is a shot of the caliper piston and Natalie and fellow Detroit Beck Speedster owner Seabrook who also gets support from Buckwheat. He got both of our cars back in action in short order.

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6/14/143:38 AM

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Original Post

Gordon NicholsMassachusetts 1993 CMC Supporting Member

I think the last time I successfully used a rebuild kit on a brake caliper was on my old '70 Ford Torino (the wife's tank, back then) sometime around 1980 on a Bendix caliper. Never had good luck with caliper rebuild kits, I think because the stresses on the piston (sideways shear force against a sliding cylinder in a polished bore) almost insure that the bore will become worn over time so a rebuild kit alone, without straightening and honing the bore, doesn't work.

The Ghia (Varga made by TRW?) calipers we all seem to use are so cheap it's easier to just swap the whole deal, as you did. It would cost more for the corrective machining than to just buy a new unit.

6/14/145:39 AM

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