New Brake Caliper needed?
 

My '86 Carrera left front tire/wheel doesn't 'spin' as freely as the right side(when up on lift). Like there's some resistance against it. My mechanic said i need "new" brake calipers.
Questions: (1) Does this 'resistance' to spinning indicate a brake caliper problem?
(2) What's involved with REBUILDING calipers, as opposed to buying new ones?
(3)What can i expect to pay for Rebuilt vs New Calipers, including labor?

Thanks
Mike

A little drag against the rotor is normal, but it's not very much drag. Mostly a noise. If you spin the wheel, it will not quickly stop, but it will not spin freely for dozens of revolutions. This is pretty normal. In actual driving, the pads move out of the way and the wheels spin freely.

Of course, new calipers are, well, NEW. Rebuilding is just a matter of getting the pistons out and replacing the ring and the dust seal with everything cleaned up.

------------------
'83 SC

Mike,

Have you checked / adjusted the wheel bearings. I had a similar problem, which was rectified with a slight adjustment to the wheel bearings.



------------------
David
86 Wide Body Cab
Sydney, Australia

how do you adjust wheel bearings?

>>how do you adjust wheel bearings?

You buy the Bentley manual and do it by the book. Simple proceedure that takes 10 minutes max.

Mike,

The owner's manual used to show how to check and adjust front wheel bearings ...

------------------
Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa
1992 Dodge Dakota 5.2 4X4 parts hauler

I want to hear from others, whether they feel my method of front wheel bearing adjustment can be improved. It's incredibly simple, but I've never seen it suggested in a manual. Here goes.

first the hard part: Dust cap removal. I use a HUGE channel-lock plier and a rag to protect. Here's the part I think is so simple: I tighten the big nut, while the wheel is turning, snugly with my fingers. This always seems to result in a very good adjustment. Comments please.

BTW, Porsche seems to suggest that lateral play of the bearing be just barely non-existant. Most mfgs seem to suggest a little play. These hugely overdesigned Porsche front wheel bearings (the front of my car weighs perhaps 900 lbs) apparently are okay if you just barely take ALL the play out. Again, comments?

------------------
'83 SC