Brake refresh

[VGB]

So looking at refreshing my brakes. Thinking of painting the calipers and changing hoses and new fluid. What's the best way to go about it? Should I do one at a time or pairs at a time. I've got axel stands so can take two wheels off at a time but not all four. If so am I best of doing front or rear first or does it not matter? I'm thinking along the lines of bleeding the old fluid out?

[SonicSW20]

It's worth rebuilding them with new pistons, seals, etc if they've not been done in your ownership. You can get a kit from Big Red to do this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FRONT-Brake-C ... 1654254659

The workshop manuals have a step by step guide on how to do this. Alternatively Big Red do exchange units for £99 each.

I would also recommend replacing the slider pins while you're there, and getting some Toyota rubber grease:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOYOTA-MR2-SW ... 1491990909

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Toyot ... 1784252750

[VGB]

They've not been rebuilt since I've had the car but there's been no issues with them. That said it's been off road for two years. So the best option is rebuilding them you'd say? How often do people rebuild their brakes? Or do they only bother if there is a problem with them? I do see the sense in doing it if I'm taking them off as a preventative measure.

[SonicSW20]

Seizing calipers is a common issue, and being sat for 2 years won't have helped. IMO it makes sense to do it once, do it right. Last thing you want to do is take the whole lot off 6 months down the line because they've started to seize. When it's done properly they'll be good for years. More cost now to save you hassle down the line.

[Nic]

I've got axel stands so can take two wheels off at a time but not all four. If so am I best of doing front or rear first or does it not matter? I'm thinking along the lines of bleeding the old fluid out?

Jack up the front remove the calipers then fit the wheels back on, then do the same on the rear, whilst stood put in gear and chock the wheels as the handbrake operates the rear calipers.

[Nic]

They've not been rebuilt since I've had the car but there's been no issues with them. That said it's been off road for two years. So the best option is rebuilding them you'd say? How often do people rebuild their brakes? Or do they only bother if there is a problem with them? I do see the sense in doing it if I'm taking them off as a preventative measure.

As said, best to strip them down and completely rebuild them with new seals, I overhauled mine around 4 years ago and they still look great and are working perfectly.

It's not a difficult job once you know what you're doing, the majority of the time is spent stripping back the paint, rust and gunge from the calipers, once stripped and painted reassembly is quite quick, although you do need a special tool to fit the pistons back into the rears.

When you total up the time and money spent doing it yourself the rebuild/exchange services the likes of http://www.biggred.co.uk/ offer is quite reasonable.

[VGB]

Maybe I'll just take them off and send them to big red then. Now to decide on a colour?

[Nic]

Maybe I'll just take them off and send them to big red then. Now to decide on a colour?

There are some photos of refurbished callipers by Biggred in this thread

http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic. ... sc&start=0