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Post by busaddict on Aug 23, 2015 21:13:24 GMT -8
Still on my to do list, front brakes on the '73 bus. I believe I can get a set of rebuilt calipers for as little as $110 each. However, I see caliper rebuild kits on CIP1 for 30 bucks. I know I'd probably be creating work for myself, but has anyone rebuilt theirs before, if so, what was the experience? The professional mechanic who worked on my '73 after it had sat for 12 years in one spot said he was able to "save" the calipers, which I took to mean a rebuild. If so, they have lasted 5 years of occasional driving.
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Post by Volktales on Aug 24, 2015 7:13:43 GMT -8
I have done the "save" many times. Will explain more about this later...
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Post by PICTUP on Aug 24, 2015 10:44:53 GMT -8
be creating work for myself We do this just by driving old VWs  |
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Post by busaddict on Aug 24, 2015 19:53:58 GMT -8
Here are a couple of great how to videos from "Busaru" on Youtube. He's an expert on installing a Subaru engine in a baywindow bus.
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Post by PICTUP on Aug 24, 2015 20:28:16 GMT -8
Here are a couple of great how to videos from "Busaru" on Youtube. He's an expert on installing a Subaru engine in a baywindow bus. Should have called himself UraBuS as it is <=> SuBarU  Subaru into a Bus…sacrilege  |
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Post by Volktales on Aug 24, 2015 21:21:23 GMT -8
Caliper problems on this design are limited to seizure or leakage. Most of the time it is seizure, and what happens is the edge of the piston nearest the dust seal, rusts to the caliper bore outside of the internal square cut o-ring. This generally only happens on vehicles that sit around for some time. What will make a caliper unviable to recondition at home is if the surface of the piston has pitted due to rust. On this design the critical surface is the piston, Not the caliper body. Because of this, it is NOT necessary to "split" the caliper when rebuilding. The sealing O-rings found between the caliper halves are NOT supplied in the rebuild kits as well... The tricky part of rebuilding a caliper is removing the pistons in the first place. If they are lightly seized, compressed air can be used to blow the piston out, but this requires some thought to avoid damage. The easiest way is to remove the brake pads while still attached to the bus, and have someone carefully step on the brake. You can watch the piston slowly come out under hydraulic pressure. What you do is remove the dust boots and spray your favourite penetrating oil around the piston edge. Once the piston moves out somewhat, carefully push it back in with a pry bar. Keep repeating the pushing out with the brake pedal, and back in with the pry bar until one of the pistons moves freely. Then put the brake pad back in for that piston, and repeat for the other piston. Once they are both reasonably freely moving, then remove caliper and use compressed air to blow out one piston. Use a piece of wood to lessen the blow, because they will pop out with some force. Once one is out, remove rust from the edge of the bore with sandpaper. Inspect the piston carefully. Light rust staining isn't an issue, heavy pitting is. If the pits are located outside of where the square cut o-ring rides, then it can be reused. A few tiny pits that are not concentrated near eachother will likely be OK to use too. If the the piston is good to go again, then instill a new o-ring and lubricate the piston with some brake fluid. I like to use a bit of brake grease as well and try to pack it under the dust shield. Once the one piston has been reinstalled, retain it with some big pliers and again apply compressed air to the caliper. The other piston should blow out and repeat the earlier procedure.
If you need some new calipers, inspect them very carefully. I once bought a rebuilt one for my '72 bus because one of my pistons was damaged. The "new" caliper was completely unusable. Whoever rebuilt it, combined different parts from different years, resulting in two different sized pistons! And one side was cracked too! I ended up swiping a good piston from it and sent it back! Anyway the actual procedure for rebuilding is easier then it sounds, and is worth having a go...
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Post by busaddict on Aug 24, 2015 22:59:10 GMT -8
Thank you for the serious detail and valuable tips from your personal experience, things that don't always appear in the books.  |
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Subaru into a Bus…sacrilege 
