Problem: Remanufactured Rear Brake Calipers w/ Piston Actuator / Parking Mechanism (Page 1/2)
Vintage-Nut JUL 15, 12:57 PM
I read many threads about PFF members getting remanufactured rear calipers which won't self-adjust the internal parking mechanism from 'local' auto stores.

I'm an original '88 GT owner and my passengers’ rear inner brake pad was thinner than the outer pad so I knew the caliper needed ‘help'. I thought my best option was to send mine to ‘Calipers Online’ to get them rebuild and I paid $25 extra per caliper for their ‘R&R Service’ to rebuild my original calipers.

Now, my rear calipers are NOT working the same, ugh!

When Moving the Parking Brake Lever Back and Forth on the Bench

On the drivers’ rear caliper: the piston will move out to the rotor (park on) and will move back into the caliper (park off) constantly at the SAME TRAVEL. (I believe this is correct)

On the passengers’ rear caliper: the piston WON'T go back into the caliper (only out/forward to the rotor) and will push the piston out of the seal. (See Photo Below)


‘Calipers Online’ Response:
“There is nothing wrong with it. If you are working it in your hand it will look like there is a problem, but on the car it will work. You will have to turn the piston to get it to go back in.”

FYI: ‘Calipers Online’ is only the ‘middleman’ and subcontracts the work.

To me, this means it will not self-adjust the internal parking mechanism and the ball bearings and/or thrust washers aren't working correctly.

‘88 Rear Brake Caliper Piston Actuator

I know that new ‘88 rear piston assemblies are no longer available. The only option is to pry the ‘cover’ of the back; remove the ‘guts’; inspect the thrust washers and ball bearings, then replace the inner seal.

Mark (Calipers Online) wants to trade it for another caliper, and I believe their rebuilder didn’t open my original piston assemblies.

To me, I feel that I’m wasting my time; cut my losses and send them to ‘Phoenix Caliper’ in Illinois. Thanasi (‘Phoenix Caliper’) says their cost to fix the issue is $125 plus shipping from California and back.

SO, does anyone have a ‘better’ shop to send them or ‘Phoenix Caliper’ is the best option?
shemdogg JUL 15, 05:21 PM
Well that sucks, I thought calipers online was the only option. Didnt know they subbed the work out. Id want to send mine directly to the guy whos going to be fixing it. Ive an 88 too so I know ill be in this boat eventually. Did a quick search for "caliper rebuild service", and lotsa stuff comes up. Some sites dont even list a price so those are prolly subbed out too. There were a few that looked to be in biz for a while. Some are for rebuilding racing calipers but might work on ours
https://hayworthracingbrake..._Rebuild_Service.php
https://www.essexparts.com/...iper-recertification
https://pmbperformance.com/...ntage-brake-calipers

Good luck!

shem
Vintage-Nut JUL 15, 08:15 PM
Yeah, this 'sucks' big time and I thought ‘Calipers Online’ was a professional service too!


quote
by Calipers Online:
Our calipers are remanufactured by a large Midwestern rebuilder that has been in the caliper business since 1976.
Every used caliper core is disassembled, and inspected for defects. They are stripped to bare metal, dipped in a corrosion inhibitor, and painted with a stainless steel impregnated paint. Calipers are then reassembled to meet or exceed OEM specifications, any worn components are replaced. All finished calipers are pressure tested to assure quality.



Plus I didn't know that Mark uses a third-party either......

Clearly, I’m not pleased with my 'Calipers Online' experience, and I'll share more details later about 'this rebuilder' in another post.

Thanks shemdogg for the links; I'll connect with 'PMB Performance' to see if they work on Fiero brake calipers.
jelly2m8 JUL 15, 10:32 PM
No the piston shouldn't really return in the same amount that moving the lever will jack it out. That's not how the piston Ebrake mechanism works.

I don't know why one would do that to an unloaded caliper, at least mount a rotor in a vice or so and install the pads into the caliper THEN test it before mounting on the car.

Sitting there jacking the piston out with nothing to counteract the action is just creating a problem that doesn't exist.

[This message has been edited by jelly2m8 (edited 07-15-2023).]

Vintage-Nut JUL 16, 10:30 AM
The passengers’ rear inner brake pad was thinner than the outer pad before rebuilding, so I knew this piston needed service.

Now after the service:

quote
When Moving the Parking Brake Lever Back and Forth on the Bench

On the drivers’ rear caliper: the piston will move out to the rotor (park on) and will move back into the caliper (park off) constantly at the SAME TRAVEL. (I believe this is correct)

On the passengers’ rear caliper: the piston WON'T go back into the caliper (only out/forward to the rotor) and will push the piston out of the seal




quote
by jelly2m8:
That's not how the piston Ebrake mechanism works



So, you believe moving the parking brake lever back and forth has no relation on the bench?

I'll follow your suggestion:

*I'll put the piston back into the caliper
*Mount a rotor in a vice
*Mount the loaded caliper on the rotor
*Test the parking lever to see if it will release the inner pad or not....
V8Steve JUL 16, 12:55 PM
I sent my old ones as "cores" to Fiero Store and bought rebuilt replacements with zero issues. After two years of low miles stop and go driving, still no issues.

Would do it again the same way.

------------------
88GT 355 CI, AED HO 750 Double Pumper, AFR milled 180, Dyno'd at 427 HP, 360 WHP, F40 6-Spd
anderson@gdsconsulting.com

Vintage-Nut JUL 16, 04:20 PM
NEWS FLASH

I didn't notice on the boxes on my remanufactured brake calipers:

Cambro Products Inc. - Property of Calipers Online

I bet you can skip the 'middleman' and go directly!
https://www.cambroproducts.com/about/about.htm
Vintage-Nut JUL 16, 10:15 PM

quote
by jelly2m8:
Sitting there jacking the piston out with nothing to counteract the action is just creating a problem that doesn't exist.



Obviously, I was ignorant on my first encounter with the rear brake caliper and piston actuator....

Thank-you very much jelly2m8 by kicking me in the head and your 'suggestion':

*Using the J-36621 piston rotator tool, and
bottoming the piston assembly in the caliper bore, and then
rotating it more to align the piston holes,
I understand that the outer piston and the inner piston are rotating independently.

*With a rotor in a vice and mounting the loaded caliper on the rotor,
YES, the parking lever will self-adjust the internal parking mechanism will release the inner pad!

The Ogre's Fiero Cave on the Rear Caliper Construction page helped allot too....

Yes, I was just creating a problem that doesn't exist, thank-you again!
Mickey_Moose JUL 17, 02:02 PM

quote
Originally posted by Vintage-Nut:

When Moving the Parking Brake Lever Back and Forth on the Bench

On the drivers’ rear caliper: the piston will move out to the rotor (park on) and will move back into the caliper (park off) constantly at the SAME TRAVEL. (I believe this is correct)

On the passengers’ rear caliper: the piston WON'T go back into the caliper (only out/forward to the rotor) and will push the piston out of the seal.




Passenger side is working correctly, driver's side is not.

The act off moving the parking brake lever "self adjusts" the piston length for the correct gap when pads and rotors are installed. Since the driver's keeps retracting without any of the other hardware installed, the adjustment mechanical is not working as it should.
olejoedad JUL 17, 04:22 PM
If the pads are thinner on one side than the other, it's not a caliper piston problem.

All you needed to do was remove the slide pins and regrease them.

The slide pins were stuck, not allowing the caliper to recenter......