RE: 1980 SC Caliper Rebuild Advice
 

I am rebuilding the the front and rear calipers on my 80 SC and noticed the original pistons are pitted which seems like normal wear....should I replace them with stainless pistons and if so, which ones? Any other recommendations for the job?
Thanks

I'd send them to Eric Shea at PMB and be done with it... Much better than just a rebuild.

JR

Unless you're rebuilding them for fun, go with PMB. Excellent work over there. They send you a restored set right away, and then refund you the core charge when you ship your old calipers to them.

To quote Eric: "Stainless pistons are available at $39.00 but I feel that, unless you really need them, there is no advantage in getting them. We vibratory polish all of the pistons and re-coat them with a factory grey heat coating."

2nd & 3rd PMB
 

2nd & 3rd PMB

Go with Eric at PMB and save yourself a lot of grief and $$ in the long run. He also has the nice brake pads to go with your fresh calipers too. My PMBs & Pads "ROCK" ! :cool:

A lot of grief? I just rebuilt my front caliper. It cost $5 for the rebuild kit. It took a while to get one of the pistons out (seized), but then I polished them and slapped them together in 30 minutes. Not too bad for $5.

If one is stuck, put a big C clamp on the good one so it wont move a connect the hydraulics to it and have someone gently step on the brakes. Hydraulic pressure will do the hard work. Clean the seal groove really well , bent dentists pick -and only used new fluid to lubricate the seal, a ATE break grease on the piston and backside of the dust cover and your go to go

The safest way I found to remove a stuck piston is with a grease gun and a zert for the bleeders. Hopefully, you don't need it but that was the only way I could safely remove one of mine.

You can clean it up with a little rubbing alcohol, Q-tips and a Handyvac helps to suck the alcohol back through the bleeders.