Brake Overhaul Update

I used Simple Green on it the first time. It seemed to get the job done. I'm going to pick up my brake pads tonight and when I do I'll probably look for a product like the one you are talking about. I thought the Simple Green worked well, but it wouldn't hurt to try something else.

|QUOTE|VTHokie77Vette said: I used Simple Green on it the first time. It seemed to get the job done. I'm going to pick up my brake pads tonight and when I do I'll probably look for a product like the one you are talking about. I thought the Simple Green worked well, but it wouldn't hurt to try something else.|/QUOTE|

I think that simple green would leave a residue on the linings, and rotors. The brake dust cleaner won't leave a residue.

I think I might even try a solvent like alcohol to make sure you get everything off the rotors. It would be a shame to go through all this and find out there was still residue from whatever you used to clean them still on the rotors.

There are a number of very good Brake cleaning products out there. 2 that I have personally used with excellant results are BRAKLEEN by CRC and Berkebile 2+2 Brake cleaner.

I had a question that I wanted to ask. I havent messed with the Babies brakes yet, but I know it is coming. I see that there is a tool for the calipers. I understand this is needed due to them having more than 1 piston. Did you have to buy the tool?

|QUOTE|RXWHITE74 said: I had a question that I wanted to ask. I havent messed with the Babies brakes yet, but I know it is coming. I see that there is a tool for the calipers. I understand this is needed due to them having more than 1 piston. Did you have to buy the tool?|/QUOTE|Rick,

I don't know what tool you are talking about. My calipers came from corvette central, and there was no tool needed. It was two years ago, maybe I forgot. Gettin old!!!

No there was no special tool required to do the overhaul. You may be thinking about something to use when you are putting the pads back on. I know they do make special clips that are supposed to compress the pistons so you can easily slip the pad on. I was told that I may need one of those tools, but I made out just find with two screwdrivers. The clip/tool I'm talking about is for sale at Zip and Ecklers for about $7.00.

Now that you described it, I believe you are correct. I know that the tool wasnt very expensive. I just wondered if I should invest in one for my new garage. Never enough toys or tools.

Well, all hell broke loose last night on my vette. After work, I went and got new pads and I was happy. Went home to put them on and I checked the fluid before I got to work and the fluid was a little lower than the day before. Just a little bit. So I took off the tires and was looking for a leak. I couldn't see anything, so I took my pads off to see if I could see a leak. Still nothing!! So I pumped the brakes a little bit and still nothing. Then I noticed my rubber hoses seemed to be dry rotted and one looked to be a little torn, so I pumped the brakes a little to see if I could see some fluid come out, however I over pumped and pushed a few pistons out when the retaining ring couldn't hold them in because there were no pads on. So pretty pissed off I began to disconnect the lines... easy right?? Nope, they were so rusted together (the tin line to the rubber hose) that I couldn't get it to turn at all even after soaking it with WD40. So in time the weakened tin line snapped right off (I did use a back-up wrench, but it stripped the line like crazy). That was the more expensive side, $30 according to Zip. Then I went to the other side and once again the lines stripped like nothing I've seen before and once again snapped off, $12.50 according to Zip. So now, I have to get new hoses, two new lines, and then rebuild the calipers again. Rebuilding the calipers again isn't a big deal, but the hoses and lines are going to set me back. In the Zip catalog they have stainless steel hoses and lines. I'd like to get these. The only thing is $$$$$$$$$$. I'm probably going to get the stainless steel hoses (after seeing the rubber ones, which weren't very old fall apart to nothing), but I think I'll be sticking with the tin lines since I only need two and it would be cheaper. I'd like to get stainless lines eventually, but doesn't look good at the moment. It'll probably be a while before I get my new lines, so far it hasn't been a great summer for the vette!!

Rough luck. My brake lines were very stubborn to disassemble too. I think some Gorilla worked at chevrolet back then to assemble'em. Man, are they ever tight... Take it easy on the rest of them, or you will end up in the same boat again. Patience is the word...smile|


|QUOTE|VTHokie77Vette said: Well, all hell broke loose last night on my vette. After work, I went and got new pads and I was happy. Went home to put them on and I checked the fluid before I got to work and the fluid was a little lower than the day before. Just a little bit. So I took off the tires and was looking for a leak. I couldn't see anything, so I took my pads off to see if I could see a leak. Still nothing!! So I pumped the brakes a little bit and still nothing. Then I noticed my rubber hoses seemed to be dry rotted and one looked to be a little torn, so I pumped the brakes a little to see if I could see some fluid come out, however I over pumped and pushed a few pistons out when the retaining ring couldn't hold them in because there were no pads on. So pretty pissed off I began to disconnect the lines... easy right?? Nope, they were so rusted together (the tin line to the rubber hose) that I couldn't get it to turn at all even after soaking it with WD40. So in time the weakened tin line snapped right off (I did use a back-up wrench, but it stripped the line like crazy). That was the more expensive side, $30 according to Zip. Then I went to the other side and once again the lines stripped like nothing I've seen before and once again snapped off, $12.50 according to Zip. So now, I have to get new hoses, two new lines, and then rebuild the calipers again. Rebuilding the calipers again isn't a big deal, but the hoses and lines are going to set me back. In the Zip catalog they have stainless steel hoses and lines. I'd like to get these. The only thing is $$$$$$$$$$. I'm probably going to get the stainless steel hoses (after seeing the rubber ones, which weren't very old fall apart to nothing), but I think I'll be sticking with the tin lines since I only need two and it would be cheaper. I'd like to get stainless lines eventually, but doesn't look good at the moment. It'll probably be a while before I get my new lines, so far it hasn't been a great summer for the vette!! |/QUOTE| |