Date: Sun, 1 Apr 2007 08:53:11 -0700
Reply-To: Zoran Mladen <zmaninco@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Zoran Mladen <zmaninco@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Sticking front calipers
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ascii
Shawn,
You need to polish that piston. Easiest is to do it with the caliper off the Van. Before you take it off, press the piston out of the sticking caliper. This is easily done in the Van with a helper. If you have the tool to press the piston back into the caliper, use that to hold the piston in place. Back off a turn, and have a helper press the brakes - this will push the piston out to the tool. Repeat this process little by little until it comes out. But beware, when it finally does come out of the caliper, it will spray brake fluid, so have the helper slowly press the brake.
Then remove the caliper. Remove the seals from the piston. Polish the piston with with fine emery cloth. Also polish the mating surface in the caliper. When the caliper is on the bench with no fluid, you can move the piston in/out easily. Polish any rough areas until the piston moves freely. Then re-install the seals, re-install the piston. Reinstall caliper and brakes.
To bleed, again have a helper handy. Better yet, have a pressurized brake fluid tool. If using this tool, simply open the bleeder valve until all air is out.
The problem you are having is that the piston is sticking at some point, This will fix that problem.
Z
----- Original Message ----
From: Shawn Wright <vwdiesels@GMAIL.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Sunday, April 1, 2007 8:49:42 AM
Subject: Sticking front calipers
I changed my front brakes pads last fall, just before wintering the van. I
made the mistake of not putting a block into the caliper, and the pistons
came part way out of the bore when the van sat overnight with the calipers
hanging. I pressed them back in, but now I have sticking front brakes. I can
feel it while driving at low speeds, and jacking up the wheel, it requires some
force (not a huge amount) to turn the wheel.
I have ordered caliper rebuild kits, but they won't arrive before my next
1000km trip. Is there anything I can do to improve things for this trip? I
suspect once on the highway, provided I don't apply the brakes, they will
back off after a while (or wear off...), but don't wan't to overheat things
either. Rotors were turned at time of new pads, and moly grease applied to
friction points of pads to carriers.
Thx
Shawn Wright
http://members.shaw.ca/vwdiesels
'88 Westy 1.6TD 5 speed
'85 Jetta Diesel 1.6NA
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