Capri Front brake calipers

Any questions or suggestions regarding restorations
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ZA Perana
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Capri Front brake calipers

Post by ZA Perana » Sat 06 Oct 2007, 16:54

I need some assistance, could anyone post up pictures of what your front brake calipers look like, I am unsure if my Perana has std calipers or they have been upgraded.

The other problem is that I have a binding left front brake, have taken the pads out and then shoved a piece of wood to try and force the piston out, this helped but after 3 km or so it was binding again, though with the 302 you dont feel this too much one does find the wheel gets rather hot though and this brake on causes some strange handling characteristics...

Seized piston is what I suspect, anyone have any idea theories or solutions?
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72XYGT
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Re: Capri Front brake calipers

Post by 72XYGT » Sat 06 Oct 2007, 17:04

ZA,
Lets get a bit of background first!
Was anything done / or happened to the brakes recently. Has anything changed? How old is the brakefluid in the system? How recently was pads changed? Is there a possibility of air in the system? Was any adjustment made to the brake pedal freeplay or to the booster?

Daan

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ZA Perana
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Re: Capri Front brake calipers

Post by ZA Perana » Sat 06 Oct 2007, 17:08

72XYGT wrote: ZA,
Lets get a bit of background first!
Was anything done / or happened to the brakes recently. Has anything changed? How old is the brakefluid in the system? How recently was pads changed? Is there a possibility of air in the system? Was any adjustment made to the brake pedal freeplay or to the booster?

Daan


Nothing has been done for about the last two years, brake fluid was changed about 3.5 years ago when we had the back brakes done(discs) and had no problems as such, also about 2 years ago the booster was leaking and that was taken out and sorted out, HOWEVER, since the begining of the year I have noticed that the brake fluid has dropped on the front resovior, it dropped to one level and stayed there(a low level), so I filled it up and it hasnt dropped again, there dont appear to be any leaks in the system.
Alfa GTV 3.0
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72XYGT
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Re: Capri Front brake calipers

Post by 72XYGT » Sat 06 Oct 2007, 17:25

ZA,

Could be that caliper piston is slightly dirty/surface rust at this point of wear from brake pads. If you say pushing it back with a piece of wood doesnt help, that confirms it. You most probably will find the pads well worn maybe even to the level of getting it replaced. If that's the case I suggest you do clean the pistons from any dirt, grime and dust before pushing it back in the caliper. Normally the piston is protected by a dust cover but it may very well be in this case its either removed or damaged. In any event make sure the piston is clean before pushing it back as it could damage the seal. Also make sure when pushing the piston back you have something to collect any brakefluid that may push through the filler neck. Brakefluid should be replaced every two years as well.
Best of luck

Daan

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ZA Perana
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Re: Capri Front brake calipers

Post by ZA Perana » Sat 06 Oct 2007, 17:31

Thanks for the advice, interestingly I have been driving around like this and there is no wear at all on the brake pads, something tells me last time we had the brakes done race pads were fitted because 20 + laps at Killarney doesnt induce fade...

Will take it all apart again and do some good cleaning, perhaps thats why pushing it back didnt work so well last time, otherwise I have got a spare set of calipers....

Did you come right with the radiator BTW?
Alfa GTV 3.0
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Wait not for tomorrow to do what can be done today, live each day for one knows not what the next day may hold.

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72XYGT
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Re: Capri Front brake calipers

Post by 72XYGT » Sat 06 Oct 2007, 23:10

ZA,
The Perana replica is as last time. No real progress except that I ordered a set of mountings and Rassie will help me with a set of mounting brackets that bolts to the cross member. I hope to get this sometime next week. Then I can fit the engine in place and do final welding of brackets. From there it should go a bit quicker but radiater top tank still to be altered/remade. I'm still looking for a complete black interior and dash for a Capri.
I hope to have both the Capri and GT ready and finished end of this year and will take the Capri to the George show Feb 08

Daan

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redracer
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Re: Capri Front brake calipers

Post by redracer » Mon 08 Oct 2007, 14:41

ZA Perana wrote: I need some assistance, could anyone post up pictures of what your front brake calipers look like, I am unsure if my Perana has std calipers or they have been upgraded.

The other problem is that I have a binding left front brake, have taken the pads out and then shoved a piece of wood to try and force the piston out, this helped but after 3 km or so it was binding again, though with the 302 you dont feel this too much one does find the wheel gets rather hot though and this brake on causes some strange handling characteristics...

Seized piston is what I suspect, anyone have any idea theories or solutions?


Hi there,

The Capri calipers are the same as Escort units, that is if they have not been changed in any way but should be a normal 2 pot. You can aleviate the binding with some Q20 or Spark, just spray it in between the piston to help lubricate it. If that solves your problem then you may want to consider a new kit for the calipers. Are you running vented discs or still solids ? I have a spacer kit in my std calipers that allows me to run vented discs, used Cressida units with minor machining. It works a treat :P

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henryk
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Re: Capri Front brake calipers

Post by henryk » Thu 11 Oct 2007, 12:15

Hi Z A Perana

A friend experienced the exact same situation with his racing Escort 10 days ago.

Turned out the flexible hose from the inner fender to the strut was partly blocked.

A replacement (used) pipe was fitted and even braking was resored.

Good luck.
Escort's Forever !

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ZA Perana
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Re: Capri Front brake calipers

Post by ZA Perana » Fri 09 Nov 2007, 21:06

Well after much putting it off the most un mechinically minded person in CT thought that it might be time to try andf sort this problem out....spurred on by Daan his his GT rebuild I got the car out, attempted to use the old Ford jack, the operation of which made no sense to me, much cursing later got out the trolley jack, all went well: car in air, wheel off, steering turned to better access the caliper.....

Now we dont exaclty have a workshop, tools being few and far between so any job requires some improvisation....I couldnt turn the hub at all...not good start...now to remove the pads.....again much swearing and even more cursing as thanks to having to use a hammer and small metal bar I hit my hand rather badly....at this point I deciced to forget that for a while and clean everything up, this went rather better.

Eventually I had both pads out.....cleaned the pistons, they actually moved very easily, shoved in the famed wooden plank and everything was well, put the pads back in and put everything back together, wheel on and went for a drive...was ok for the first few kms but again afer about 5 km brake was binding......

Seems brake pipe is my next port of call....
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Re: Capri Front brake calipers

Post by FairmontGT » Sat 10 Nov 2007, 14:33

I hate it when you open something up, fix it and its still broken. I had that with a starter on my one Fairmont - I think I can now remove that starter blind folded in 15 seconds. I mustve removed that 10 times.

Its only later that I realised the previous guy used an automatic starter in a manual car without adding the reight spacers. I replaced nearly everything in the starter before realizing that.
Yes we did build muscle cars in RSA!!!!
http://www.africanmusclecars.com

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