07-05-2004, 01:44 PM
As many of you know, I've recently purchased a 240SX to be built as a reliable daily driver that can be put out on track regularly and perform well. In my opinion, brakes are very important to this scenario and I have thus decided to rebuild them.
Rebuilding fronts:
When you buy your rebuild kit, you will recieve something like below, containing a new gasket and dust boot.
![[Image: wNDYyMTUwNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg]](http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wNDYyMTUwNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg)
Using air compressor, blow air through back of the caliper and the piston should shoot right out of the caliper.
The next step is to install the new parts and clean up the piston. For the piston, wiping off with a cloth should remove a lot of the crap and using an emory board will help remove any other tarnish on there.
The dust boot should be able to simply rip out and to get the seal out you can use a dental pick, or anything that will let you get into the groove and pry it out. Fingernails work, but be patient.
Here's a pic of how it looks after the piston has been pressed out and cleaned up some.
![[Image: wNDYyMTUzNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg]](http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wNDYyMTUzNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg)
As you can see, this piston is pitted and not in particularly good shape. I seem to have a parts car and just stole a good piston from that, but you may not be able to do this. In that case, I don't know what to tell you.
Now you need to put in the new boot and gasket.
![[Image: wNDYyMTUxNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg]](http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wNDYyMTUxNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg)
Lubricate both with brake fluid before putting them in. The gasket will be very easy to put in, but the dust boot is a royal PITA. There are grooves on the boot to fit into the caliper and another groove to go around the piston. You have to try to get it on both. The best way I found to do it was to put the boot on the very end of the piston, then push the piston into the caliper, hoping that it pushed the boot into the groove on the inside.
![[Image: wNDYyMTUyNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg]](http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wNDYyMTUyNnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg)
I'm not sure that I was successful in getting it into both grooves, but I guess we'll see. Simply puch the piston all the way into the caliper and the rebuild is complete.
I have been informed that many cars have a ring that snaps onto the inside of the boot to hold it into place on the caliper to ensure a good seal.
Rebuilding rears:
1)Purchase rebuild kit and find Factory Service Manual.
2)Remove caliper and prepare for rebuild.
3)Begin studying FSM and quickly realize that it is entirely too complicated and that you have no idea what you are doing. E-brakes make stuff way too complex.
4)Decide you'll just leave them like it is and keep the spare rear calipers that you happen to have laying around. Keep rebuild kit "just in case".
5)Reinstall old calipers and hope for the best. Who needs rear brakes anyways?
[/img]
Rebuilding fronts:
When you buy your rebuild kit, you will recieve something like below, containing a new gasket and dust boot.
Using air compressor, blow air through back of the caliper and the piston should shoot right out of the caliper.
The next step is to install the new parts and clean up the piston. For the piston, wiping off with a cloth should remove a lot of the crap and using an emory board will help remove any other tarnish on there.
The dust boot should be able to simply rip out and to get the seal out you can use a dental pick, or anything that will let you get into the groove and pry it out. Fingernails work, but be patient.
Here's a pic of how it looks after the piston has been pressed out and cleaned up some.
As you can see, this piston is pitted and not in particularly good shape. I seem to have a parts car and just stole a good piston from that, but you may not be able to do this. In that case, I don't know what to tell you.
Now you need to put in the new boot and gasket.
Lubricate both with brake fluid before putting them in. The gasket will be very easy to put in, but the dust boot is a royal PITA. There are grooves on the boot to fit into the caliper and another groove to go around the piston. You have to try to get it on both. The best way I found to do it was to put the boot on the very end of the piston, then push the piston into the caliper, hoping that it pushed the boot into the groove on the inside.
I'm not sure that I was successful in getting it into both grooves, but I guess we'll see. Simply puch the piston all the way into the caliper and the rebuild is complete.
I have been informed that many cars have a ring that snaps onto the inside of the boot to hold it into place on the caliper to ensure a good seal.
Rebuilding rears:
1)Purchase rebuild kit and find Factory Service Manual.
2)Remove caliper and prepare for rebuild.
3)Begin studying FSM and quickly realize that it is entirely too complicated and that you have no idea what you are doing. E-brakes make stuff way too complex.
4)Decide you'll just leave them like it is and keep the spare rear calipers that you happen to have laying around. Keep rebuild kit "just in case".
5)Reinstall old calipers and hope for the best. Who needs rear brakes anyways?
[/img]
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