How do you rebuild a rear caliper????

wun911 · Postby **wun911** » Sun May 10, 2009 11:07 pm

I attempted to rebuild a rear caliper and replace to replace some leaky seals but I failed...
I was trying to follow these instructions:
http://www.miata.net/garage/ebrake/index.html

I tried to push the pistion out of the caliper by turing the alan key to foce the pison out (where you adjust for hand break)

The caliper pistion didn not come out no matter how often we turned it.

Does the bracket that holds the hand-break-line have to come off the caliper??

Do you put it into a vice and yank the piston out??

Woo · Postby **Woo** » Sun May 10, 2009 11:12 pm

Wu, PM me your email address and I'll send you the relevent section from the workshop manual

Bazz

Wuey · Postby **Wuey** » Mon May 11, 2009 8:32 pm

I think the allen nut is there for you to retract and not to push the caliper, although you still need to use you thumbs to push it in after you've turned the allen nut counter clockwise several times. I guess the easiest way to push the piston out is to get someone to VERY GENTLY push the brake pedal while you try to catch it at the caliper end. Be very gentle on the pedal or you might get brake fluid squirted into your eyes.

Today I went to a Mazda dealer to order the slider pins for the rear calipers. They were just over $11 each. My old slider pin hex heads were rounded off and they are also pitted. I also bought a six-point socket from Burson to remove those rounded pins. All my front and rear caliper rubber boots are also in tatter so I need to replace them as well. The dealer quoted me a complete rebuild kit for well over $200 for the front and rear calipers so I'm going to a brake specialist to see if they just sell the boots alone.

kazjim · Postby **kazjim** » Mon May 11, 2009 9:56 pm

If the caliper is already off, the easiest way is to block the inlet pipe, and blow compressed air into the bleed hole ....

pistons should just pop out

Good luck
J

fattima · Postby **fattima** » Mon May 11, 2009 10:16 pm

kazjim wrote:If the caliper is already off, the easiest way is to block the inlet pipe, and blow compressed air into the bleed hole ....

pistons should just pop out

Good luck
J

Compressed air is the go, but get a bit of wood or rag so the piston does not fly out and get damaged.

wun911 · Postby **wun911** » Mon May 11, 2009 10:18 pm

I know you can use compressed air for the front calipers to pop the pison out. Same rule applies for the rear???

Anyway will have another go and take pics etc etc...

Wuey · Postby **Wuey** » Mon May 11, 2009 11:15 pm

If you don't have compressed air and if the piston isn't too far recessed into the caliper, you might try wrapping the piston with a thick layer of old rag and use a pair of multi-grip pliers to ease it out. I know it's a crude method but it should work in a pinch if you're careful enough not to nick the piston. Old t-shirt and multi-grip pliers have saved my bacon on many occasions. :lol: