Hello everyone, got a question about calipers.
I dismantled them a few weeks ago and had the pistons pushed out. It turned out my pistons are heavily rusted but my bores seems to be ok...
The people at the shop told me I could just sand paper the bores and get new pistons.
How about machining them out of mild steel? I have access to a lathe and since it's a really simple design, what could be wrong in doing it? Should I have them corrosion protected? Can I do it out of a dowel rod or should I do a bore like the stock ones (hope someone understands me on that)?
Thanks for your help

Marc

What kind of vehicle are these calipers from? I ask because new or refurbished calipers might actually be less costly and certainly a lot less work than trying to machine your own. I have machined my own parts in the past but I never trusted my own skills enough to try anything involving brakes.

Russ

It's a kesley hayes 4pistons fixed caliper setup.
Well, about the machining skills needed, the pistons are just about 8pieces of round metal... so I guess it wouldn't be too much work.

The caliper pistons are chrome plated for corrosion and wear resistance. The part of the piston that stick past the caliper seal is pretty much open to the environment save for the dust boot. When I rebuilt the KH calipers in my wife's '72 Duster about 7 years ago I had to buy 5 pistons.

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Joshua

Since Stainless Steel Brake Corporation reproduces basically the Kelsey-Hayes 4 piston discs, you might want to call them and see if they can get you just the pistons.

http://www.stainlesssteelbrakes.com/contact/

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'68 Dodge Dart 4dr Sedan

Rockauto shows the pistons at $12.26 each or the whole loaded rebuilt caliper for $87, including pistons and pads. Only thing to swap over would be the crossover line.

For the price of a rebuild kit and 4 pistons and pads, you may as well get a whole rebuilt caliper, thats what I did when moving from 9" drums to KH discs.

Phord used the same basic calipers on the Mustang in the late 60s; many of those parts will interchange and there should be a good supply.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

By the way, I just got my caliper sanded but they also sanded the bores. Well in fact it was light sanding (I don't have the word, with the small beads of glass). But is it a problem? Do I have to protect them from corrosion with some kind of POR-15? Do I have to paper sand them too?
Since the bore has a seal, I'm thinking the caliper isn't in contact with the bore at any time and all of these doesn't matter but am I wrong?
Thanks for your help

Marc

The bore should be clean and free of burrs but the sealing ring is captured in a groove and the piston moves back and forth so the condition of the bore is less critical. Pistons must be smooth and free of pits, cracks, and gouges or they will leak.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

I got on today specifically with the intent of posting info about a caliper rebuilder taht i recently discovered. Give me a few minutes , Ill do it as a new topic for all to see.

FYI, RockAuto has listed the calipers for years, but they've told me (on a couple of occasions) that they no longer carry the calipers or the rotors. I first tried to get them in April '04.

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vm

[ FYI, Rock has listed the calipers for years, but they've told me (on a couple of occasions) that they no longer carry the calipers or the rotors. I first tried to get them in April '04.[/quote]

I bought 2 sets of the KH calipers this past spring and was told that was the last 2 sets they had. I did have to send them cores after I received my rebuilt sets.