Symptom = leaking from rear caliper - HELP

[Peter B.]

I just started the 71vette after about 9 months of work on the interior and vac lines. I backed it up in the garage and once back in the garage, I stepped on the brakes and they were mushy. Come to find a small puddle of oil (probably brake fluid) where the rear driver wheel is.

These calipers were fairly new when I purchased the car 6 years ago and I did not drive the car all that much.

What do you think? Replace the seals from the leaking caliper or from all of them? It this a do-able thing?

[Joe C.]

Re: Symptom = leaking from rear caliper - HELP

If one is leaking, then I wouldn't trust the other three. Are you sure they were new 6 years ago, or more likely rebuilt.

If your bores are not pitted, then you can do it yourself. You MUST replace the aluminum pistons along with the seals and "o" rings. The aluminum oxidizes in the seal lands. If your calipers were never rebuilt, then the bores will almost certainly have to be sleeved. Some folks like stainless, and others like bronze.

Remove the leaking caliper, split it open, remove the outer dust seals, thepistons will be pushed out with the springs. Let us nkow what you see on the bores.

Joe

[Joe R.]

Re: Symptom = leaking from rear caliper - HELP

Peter,

If you have stainless steel sleeved calipers, there is nothing wrong with replacing the seals and dust covers. Time will take it's toll on the rubber seals and covers. If they are not stainless steel sleeved calipers, just order you a new set and use the old ones as cores. Replace the rubber flex lines and pads and fill with new brake fluid. You'll have a great breaking system for years to come.

Regards,

JR

[Patrick H.]

Re: Symptom = leaking from rear caliper - HELP

Peter,

They key is that they were "hardly used" for 6 years. When Corvette calipers sit unused, stainless or not, the seals dry up and will leak. The folks at Vette Brakes told me that most of the calipers they receive back as cores (pre-sleeved) need only new seals to be roadworthy.

One of the advantages of converting to O-rings is that you will avoid this problem. Consider it if you need to replace seals anyway. Vette Brakes sells a kit to do so.

Patrick