Started with the parking Brake!

[Mike Arteaga]

Decided to tackle parking brake rebuild, what a mess when I opened them up!! I found one of the calipers is leaking. Any suggestions on to send the caliper to and should I send the other rear caliper which seems to be fine? Supposedly the were redone with stainless liners! I'm thinking since I got this far and obviously the bearings were never done I may as well do them (my first time doing this job) Got the old restorer articles as a guide but is this a major project??? They talk about replacing the bearing races, I assume only if they are gouged or burned? Do I need any special tools to get the spindle out? Does the alignment have to be redone?? Really appreciate any suggestions before I dig in!! It's only January but I'd like to be ready for spring!!!!!!
Thanks Mike Arteaga #34566

[Mike Sasser]

Re: Started with the parking Brake!

If it were me, and believe me, I learned this the hard way. I would take the trailing arms down and send them off to a vender to be rebuilt. If you have to buy the tools to do this job, it probably would cost you as much for the tools alone compaired to sending them out. And then there is the task of doing the job right the first time. It only took me three times to learn to do the job and it isn't a fun job.

[Craig S.]

Re: Started with the parking Brake!

Mike - this job does require special tools to do it right, and also you need to know the details to do it right. The tools will run around $600 so unless you plan to do this several times, you are probably better off sending them to Bairs, VanSteel, etc. I have done this several times and have not had any problems, but I did buy a complete set of all the tools from International Axle....Craig

[Mike Arteaga]

Re: Started with the parking Brake!

thanks guys!! Had no idea it was this involved!! I'll check with the guys in my club to see if anyone has the tools and the know how because I sure would like to do it myself. If not out it goes to a rebuilder!! Thanks again!! Mike Arteaga

[Mike Sasser]

Re: Started with the parking Brake!

Mike, I found this link to a very good article on how Zip products rebuilds the trailing arms. This link is for part 2 but it has a link to part one at the start of the article

http://www.corvettemagazine.com/2002/april/trailingarm2/arm2-1.ASP

[Mike Arteaga]

Re: Started with the parking Brake!

Mike Thanks it is very helpful!! thanks again!!

[Verle R.]

Re: Started with the parking Brake!

If you send one caliper, yes, send them both.

If they have been done with stainless steel you could put a seal kit in yourself. If you do that, inspect the new seals carefully. A lot of the kits from "local parts dealers" are made in Mexico and the quality is not good. I had to buy two extra kits to get enough good seals for a pair of calipers. I found notches in the lip of the seals.

Verle