looking for a DIY for GT caliper disassembly

[Jackismydog]

I'm thinking to send my caliper to a powdercoat paintshop. I do not know if the are able or not to disassemble the calipers for the poweder job. Can it be done by me? I'm not a mecanical guy but I can do many mecamical jobs. BTW I never tried to disassemble a break kit. I can change pads and rotors , change break oil , do oil changes, and other minors jobs. Is there an existing how to? ( sorry if I posted in wrong section )

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[nbjeeptj]

Have never taken the rear brake caliper with parking brake apart, but for the front its a simple process. Remove caliper from car and disconnect brake line and allow fluid to drain out as best as you can. Remove the pads and Place wood or something about the thickness of your rotor in the caliper without the pads in place and with wood block in there use compressed air, in an air gun with rubber tip to blow air in where the brake line hooks up. This will force the pistons out enough to get them out without shooting one across the room (without the wood block you will end up with maybe only one of the 6 pistons pushed out, and it will be all the way out, so the air trick wont push them out any further). You can then remove the outer dust shield. to get this off just pry from the outside edge with a flat blade screwdriver ( I used a screwdriver that was sharpened in a grinder like a chisle and found it worked better) then take a pair of channelock pliers (I have a pair with rubber tips but you could probably just use electrical tape on the plier jaws to prevent scratching the pistons) and twist and pull the pistons out one at a time. then the only other thing would be to use a right angle pick and remove the rubber seal from each piston hole. To put back together install new seals in grove, making sure you use brake caliper assembly lube, Install new seals on piston before installing in caliper, then push pistons in one at a time (they are tuff to get in with new seals but they will go with enough force), once the pistons are all the way set the outer ring of the seal in the groove, this does not require much more than hand force, then reinstall in the car. Here is a link to buy the new seals for brembo fronts. https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=13370225&cc=3442762&pt=1720&jsn=921

like I said before I have not done the rear calipers yet but I would think it will be similar, other than unscrewing the piston from the parking brake lever screw.

 

[Jackismydog]

nice writing !! Thanks nbjeeptj !!

 

[PaddyPrix]

This is also a nice writeup, something I did last winter when I changed and swapped out all the gaskets and seals.

https://racingbrake.com/installation-instructions/

 

[Jackismydog]

cool ! Thanks Patrick

 

[Cobra Jet]

Would the process be similar for the rear brake calipers?

Aside from not damaging the pistons upon removal or reinstallation, are there any other “do nots” when disassembling front or rear calipers for rebuild or paint/powder coating or during the reinstall process?

 

[PaddyPrix]

Would the process be similar for the rear brake calipers?

Aside from not damaging the pistons upon removal or reinstallation, are there any other “do nots” when disassembling front or rear calipers for rebuild or paint/powder coating or during the reinstall process?

Not really, they're even simpler, single piston, so not much to them and you can pretty much see what you need to do by simply taking the tire off. The big boot on them sucks and breaks into chunks all the time under excessive heat, and while you can do it without much work, perhaps it'd be best going down to your local auto part store chain and just borrow a rear caliper tool for like a 20 buck deposit. It's basically a screw and a flat plate with nubs that go into the caliper to press it back. On the rear caliper, it's just a U or C shaped bracket that holds in the pads, and like a pair of 15 or 17's that hold it to the knuckle.

Don't know the first thing about painting/powdercoating, but I'd figure you might be best by taking the piston seal, gaskets, and pistons out, and then a bunch of painters tape so that none of that finds its way into the cylinders. and I guess get some of it, perhaps some rubber plugs? Similar for the bleeder screw, banjo bolt, etc.

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