Leaking caliper

[RazzyRascal]

Some time back I had a leak from one of my rear calipers.

Since then my cars been off the road undergoing extensive maintenance, repairs and upgrades.

I'm basically finished now and I've just been refurbing my calipers. However, I'm worried.

My OS rear caliper was leaking before refurbishment and I've since dismantled it, cleaned it and replaced the seals, boots, bleed, slider and banjo.

However I havnt done anything to the handbrake cable linking point (where the spring pivots an arm on the caliper). Could this point possibly have been the source of my leak? I'm unsure of the nechanics involved as I was reluctant to try and remove the spring as it's under a lot if pressure and I WILL f*ck it up lol.

It looks fairly clean and the arm moves well when pulled.

I'm not asking if this IS the source of my leak (obviously), more so is it possible to leak from here?

Please don't comment with general opinion unless your familiar with this first hand. after all I want to avoid any complications when driving lol.

Cheers

[Draven]

NO i wouldn't have thought so.. normally calipers leak from seals.. and as you've said you replaced them then i'd say they are fine. Unless you' installed the seals incorrectly.

I had a leak on my NSF caliper. I refurbed all 4 calipers with new seals. I didn't replace the piston just rubbed them down.

Once i'd replaced the seals' the calipers didn't leak anymore.

[RazzyRascal]

Splendid.

As I did replace them there is indeed a distinct possibility that could be the case lol.

Thank god it's one of those few jobs that can be mostly done sitting down with a cold beer or cup of tea

In all seriousness I'm fairly confident they've been done correctly, just wondering about that handbrake issue.

Thanks for the advice Draven!

[Draven]

Splendid.

As I did replace them there is indeed a distinct possibility that could be the case lol.

Thank god it's one of those few jobs that can be mostly done sitting down with a cold beer or cup of tea

In all seriousness I'm fairly confident they've been done correctly, just wondering about that handbrake issue.

Thanks for the advice Draven!

No worries..

[RazzyRascal]

Just reviving this post as despite replacing all the boots and seals on my calipers I'm still getting a leak from my OSR.

Below is a picture of where the fluid is collecting and dripping from...



It's literally collecting on the spring and dripping off. The photo is after a wipe down.

I've checked the bleed nipple and lines and it's definitely not coming from either. I've also had a look at the piston which is fine. I'm stumped.

This is literally the only thing stopping me from driving my car after 8months off the road. Any ideas anyone?

[fingers99]

I'd just get a recon caliper.

Google for "brake parts" should throw a few up.

[MartinF]

Check for cracks around the bleed nipple area of the calliper.

[RazzyRascal]

I'll have a look Martin, I wasn't aware they could crack around that area.

A recon would be a last resort really. I've thrown so much money at getting things up to scratch I'm a bit reluctant to spend another £100+ .

I'm wondering wether an internal seal has failed around the handbrake mechanism and the fluid is finding it's way back out through the boot where the spring meets the caliper :/

[wilkie senior]

I suppose to try to find the source of the leak, have someone press brake pedal while underneath.to see if anything is apparent.


Remove brake pads see if there's fluid around the piston area.

I've had one weep, (on a ford' but same principle) where I just nipped the seal, I stripped calliper and replaced the seal it was fine after that.

Perhaps check further along the flexi, to make sure fluid is not coming from a union etc elsewhere along the brake line.

As before a really close inspection for any cracks, unions done up correctly etc.

I'm sure you've done most of that, it's just trying to eliminate, even the unlikely.

Hope you get sorted

[fingers99]

I

A recon would be a last resort really. I've thrown so much money at getting things up to scratch I'm a bit reluctant to spend another £100+ .

Never had one apart, so not a clue what can be causing it.

Depending on model, TCB have them at well under £100 exchange, brakeparts.co.uk for around £100 after surcharge for return.

[wilkie senior]

Worth a try with your local motor factors, got mine for £90 exchange and didn't have to worry about postage

[Draven]

The units are basically solid apart from the hole for the fluid and then the bleed nipple spurs off this.

I can't imagine them leaking from anywhere other than the main piston seal, bleed nipple or the actual brake line itself.

Did you replace the bleed nipple when you refurbed.

[MartinF]

I'll have a look Martin, I wasn't aware they could crack around that area.

They can crack due to overtightening of the bleed nipple.

As Wilkie says it may be a good idea to look at the caliper as somebody pumps the brake.

[stuMR2lee]

There is a seal for the handbrake mechanism so I assume it's a possible leak source. I've rebuilt a few of these with no issues. This guide is very good:

http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=33557

The Toyota special tool is around £5.

Edit: you have to be a member of the MR2ROC to view. It's for a MK3 but the calipers are pretty much the same.

Same guide here: http://mr2.org.nz/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=8790

[wilkie senior]

Stuart good link there

one of the refurbed caliper we got, the handbrake never worked properly turned out (once it had gone back) the actuating rod, with the spiral thread had worn and wasn't working correctly, i think thats the failure point on the rears

[stuMR2lee]

Funny you should say that Brian. The factory calipers had needle roller bearings for the handbrake pin. When I stripped down one of these 'refurbished' ones that had subsequently failed after a year or so I found that they had replaced the rollers with a nylon bush. I don't know the source of the refurbished caliper. Interesting that those cheap eBay ones are no longer about.

[wilkie senior]

Progress my friend progress, and cheaper to make

The clutch master cylinder on my Company chariot completely disintegrated a couple of weeks ago, that was all plastic, in a car 3 years old.

Mr Rascal (Matt), have you made any progress locating the source of the leak, or have you gone for a replacement, it would be interesting to know where the leak came from

regards brian

[abovetherim]

To the op
Where did you get the new seals from??
Reason I ask is I got a kit from biggred and the oring for the piston was a shade too big. I just flipped my old one and rang biggred to inform them. They offered to send me the correct one but the job was done so I declined. This was for a rev1 so I assume some numpty had put the seal for a rev 2+ in there.