88 Carrera calipers sticking

porschzilla · porschzilla's Garage

I was told that I can spray PB blaster or WD 40 into the brake caliper under the rubber on the ride rod and it will free up my sticking caliper.
Has anyone here done that? If so does it work?

Thanks
Jack
1988 Carrera

rick-l · 02-14-2009, 05:11 PM

My front brakes used to groan when I pulled away from a stop light. New hoses (4) and a clean out (rebuild) seem to take care of it.

The front ones are super easy to rebuild.

The back ones will take some patience and ingenuity to get the dust cover on.

rick-l · 05:21 PM

Hey does your new 88 have a rebuilt alternator?

I suspect that will be your next question.

Edit: or high beam switch? If so that will be the extent of my knowledge based on personal experience.

Edit again: I guess I did CV joint boots and a couple of valve adjustments also in the cars history.

old man neri · 02-14-2009, 05:34 PM

If your calipers are sticking rebuild them. If you are somewhat mechanically inclined and brave it's not that hard. I've done it. Once you take them apart you will know if you need any new pistons or calipers.

Even if spraying WD40 works it will only work for a short time. You life depends on these, rebuild them.

-matt
Feel free to PM me.

runfaster · 02-14-2009, 07:12 PM

I just rebuilt my front and back calipers. Real easy. The hardest part is bleeding the brakes after everything is back on... Point being, it is an easy task to complete.

Later,
Craig

Now get that car up on jack stands and rebuild those calipers.

tonythetarga · 02-15-2009, 04:18 AM

If you'd rather not rebuild them, check with your local Autozone or Advanced Auto as they will likely carry rebuilt calipers and want yours in exchange. They run about 70 or 80 bucks each and you just connect the brake line, put it over the rotor and install the pads. Bleed them a couple times and drive.
Buying rebuild kits are about $15 for the fronts plus your time. Read the tech article on aligning the piston with the 20 degree tool you'll need to make. The rebuild process is a 2 or 3 out of 10 difficulty.

porschzilla · porschzilla's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonythetarga

If you'd rather not rebuild them, check with your local Autozone or Advanced Auto as they will likely carry rebuilt calipers and want yours in exchange. They run about 70 or 80 bucks each and you just connect the brake line, put it over the rotor and install the pads. Bleed them a couple times and drive.
Buying rebuild kits are about $15 for the fronts plus your time. Read the tech article on aligning the piston with the 20 degree tool you'll need to make. The rebuild process is a 2 or 3 out of 10 difficulty.

Thanks!

I am going to order the kits tomorrow and I already have 4 new rubber brake lines.
I read the post about rebuilding the calipers and it seems easy enough, old Jaguars are harder.
Please explain the 20 degree tool thing...............thanks again-everyone.
I want to start using this car now. It has been too long. I have owned it since new in 1988 and it only has 14,900 miles on it now.
I didn't like the looks that I got when it was new so I rarely used it.

Jack
1988 Carrera

rick-l · 02-15-2009, 07:26 AM

The 20 degree req is explained in all the tutorials.

To get the rear dust boot on clamp half of it in the groove with c clamp and a block of wood and press the other side in with a flat screwdriver.

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by porschzilla

Thanks!

I am going to order the kits tomorrow and I already have 4 new rubber brake lines.
I read the post about rebuilding the calipers and it seems easy enough, old Jaguars are harder.
Please explain the 20 degree tool thing...............thanks again-everyone.
I want to start using this car now. It has been too long. I have owned it since new in 1988 and it only has 14,900 miles on it now.
I didn't like the looks that I got when it was new so I rarely used it.

Jack
1988 Carrera

Only reason why piston will stick is because of RUST. You can clean the bore with a little CROCUS paper, do not use sand paper or emery paper, CROCUS paper. As for the piston they may have a little pitting on them because of the rust, I just replace my pistons on my 82 SC with stainless steel pistons.

tonythetarga · 02-15-2009, 08:17 AM

http://www.pelicanparts.com/911/911tech_articles.htm

This is a link to the Tech Atricles. Scroll down to the brake section and see the brake caliper rebuild article by Bob Tindel. It is a good step by step guide and also gives you a close up of the tool. You just make it from a piece of cereal box cardboard.

old man neri · 02-15-2009, 09:23 AM

If you are ordering rebuild kits I strongly recommend you also order the power bleeder as well.

runfaster · 02-15-2009, 09:32 AM

When you have everything replaced and everything cleaned up, you need to place the pistons back into the caliper bore in the correct orientation.

When you take the calipers off the car take a second or two and take some notes of how they go back onto the car and which is right,left,up,down,front and back.

When it comes time to place the piston back into the caliper at the specified 20 degree angle, it is easy to get the 20 degree angle correct, but in the wrong direction of the wheel rotation. Before you pop the pistons out of the caliper take your 20 degree angle template understand how the piston is orientated to everything.

As for the 20 degree template:

Go buy a protractor and some thin cardboard to trace out a 20 degree angle template. you can also go online and google protractor which will allow you to print out a 20 degree angle and then you just trace that out onto your cardboard.

Read the tech articles and any past posts here on the website to get a game plan together. Other than that it is a basic job, but you do need to have an air compressor to blow out the pistons out of the caliper.

Careful of your fingers and the brake fluid getting on the paint of your car.

Later,
Craig