Hello

My offside rear caliper is seizing and attempts to free it seem to be intermittent and only work for a short time so I have bought a second hand caliper.

Questions....

1. Best way to clean the new caliper, can I submerge it in something to get it clean or is it just elbow grease and a wire brush??
2. I know I need to bleed the brakes....can I use the gravity method or will I need to pump the pedal because removing the existing caliper to swap it let air in?
3. How much brake fluid will I need to completely bleed all 4 sides??

Thanks

 

1 I use a can of brake cleaner and a wire brush. Then finish with the obligatory red hammerite paint. (Adds. 10 bhp )
2 either way but if there'd a spare pair of hands I would pump the pedal
3 unsure depends on how much you waste. I normally just have a spare 1 litre bottle

 

If you swap it quickly and not let the brake line open for too long it won't need much bleeding or fluid adding to it.

 

Use a plastic brake line clamp. about £5, it will save a lot of mess. Gravity bleed takes a bit of time but is very effective. If you use blue fluid this time and brown next time you will know the whole system is flushed, do your clutch at the same time!
Loads of brake info on this forum if you can find it.

 

I use Red rubber grease on the sliders and seals it does not glue up like coppaslip.

 

Cheers everyone, I think I may get a one man bleeding kit and cable tie the hose on so it doesn't pop off and then start pumping the pedal.

Think I will get the blue brake fluid so I know when the system is fully flushed.

Thanks

 

When I had a sticking caliper on the rear this is what I did.

Clamped line
Removed caliper
Installed new caliper
unclaped line and bled pumping the brakes and a mate tightening the nipple.

Took me less than 15 mins to fix.

 

Sounds good, what did you clamp the line with?

Cheers

 

I've got a clamp like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Laser-Tool...-/190762401710 - there are different types if you search for "brake pipe clamps" on eBay you'll get the gist.

I flushed my brakes using a one-way bleed pipe like this there should be a white plastic "lock" on the end that goes over the pipe when it's on the nipple (save having to use a cable tie each go) Then pump the pedal down and release slowly back up - easy job !

 

I'd be a bit worried about clamping a brake pipe. It can't do it any good.

Just tie it to the suspension arm pointing upwards so that you don't lose too much fluid.