Maintaining Ruby

[Tuga2112]

.... the only time I've met a calliper that was beyond repair was one that had a cross-threaded (or incorrect thread) bleed nipple rusted solid - otherwise, they rarely get 'too' bad to refurb.

I've found the same in a Fiat Seicento... that caliper is still working in the car.
It has been re-threaded with a helicoil and correct nipple fitted. (threadlock between caliper and helicoil to avoid fluid from slipping through the cracks) Its not leaked in 3 years. but i never attempted to remove that nipple since them, so i cannot 100% guarantee the repair

i can only imagine a caliper to not be reusable after a serious collision to be honest. (but now that ive put that to writing, im bound to be proven wrong in a rather expensive manner.)

[Paul Alexander]

well, thanks for the advice folks, i have now finally finished refurbing the caliper (it's amazing how little time i get nowadays to work on the car).
the caliper was fine, cleaned it up, the piston was cleaned using a sponge dish cleaner. the mark on the piston was just that, a mark and not a worn indentation. So i fitted new sliders and seals (silicon greased the sliders and the spaces where they fit).

Fitted a new piston seal, lubed piston and seal with brake fluid and refitted. fitted new piston outer seal. reassembled caliper with new pads and retaining springs and refitted whole thing to car Thursday night.

Managed to fit banjo with new copper washers today and bled the brakes, then took her for a spin. perfect - no brake squeal and i seem to have cured the "tramlining" (wonder if the seizing piston caused this?)

will do the drivers side next, during the week.

[Paul Alexander]

well, over the last two night i have finally refurbed the drivers side front caliper, with new parts and pads etc.

However, a point to note, i fitted two new caliper fixing bolts from SJ Sportscars, and torqued them to 100 nm. the caliper was seized solid - it would not slide, so i re-fitted the original bolts and torques to 100 nm, and they were ok. just something to check if anyone else has the SJ bolts - unles it's just mine that were the problem.

on another point can anyone help or recommend where to get hold of a new bonett heat shield?, as mine is coming away and is mis-shapen.

cheers.

[Tuga2112]

if you search using the word bonnet.

second page.near the bottom

viewtopic.php?f=30&t=28017&p=370095&hilit=bonnet#p370095

I bought that lining. not fitted yet, was planning on doing it today, but the flu got hold of me early this week and all the plans for the elan were postponed by 5 days.