need imaginative ideas to split calipers

[dickster]

i want to split some 930 calipers to rebuild them - they are not on the car, as they are replacements for my carrera calipers.

how can i get those damn tight bolts undone to separate them WITHOUT

1. airtools
2. a vice
3. putting on car
4. local wrench

i do have the correct size allen, with an 18 inch extension bar for leverage - but can't hold the caliper.

any bright ideas? i think its impossible

[Bones]

don't take the calipers apart unless you absolutely have to.......if you want to simply clean and use a caliper repair kit on the pistons you can do this without splitting the calipers........recieved opinion is that in putting split calipers back together it is very hard to get them to be leak free again

[sammyg2]

You could try using a hammer to hit hte wrench but if they are that tight you will probably just round them off.

I would bit the bullet and take them to a shop. For a few bucks they will use their air tools and get them loosened up in no time without having to drill out rounded off bolts.

[Bill Verburg]

Bite the bullit and have a pro do it. It would be a shame to see them ruined/marred through the use of improper tools.

[tryan]

i would try an hand held impact driver after a good soaking. clean the 8mm allen head holes to make sure the bit is bottomed.

[dickster]

ok, fair point. i just thought i'd take a shot in the dark.............

i must admit i had a go a while back and was worried that i would round off the allen heads. the rears were sent to vci and they split them easily....

btw - bones, the 930 calipers can be split - they're two separate units with their own brake lines. i fell into the same trap as you before i knew...........

[Doug Zielke]

Are you $hitting us, Dickster?
You mean to say you don't even have a lousy 'ol bench vice?
Start building a workshop my man, or you'll be forever at the mercy of schlocky mechanics and other assorted felons.

(In the meantime, while that de-lux workshop is a-building, just take your caliper to the UK equivalent of Midas.)

[dickster]

LOL

doug,

no i'm not!! i can just about fit the car in the garage, let alone a bench for a vice. however, up until now i have got away with it.

i have only been in the house for 3 years and had loads of other stuff to do. high on the list will be a bench (don't know how!!) and a large vice.

[Bones]

cheers Dickster that's nice to know if I upgrade to 930 calipers........

[HawgRyder]

Old trick from Harley days.....
Get a length of steel (square tube works best)....drill 2 holes in it the same distance apart as the mounting bolts for the caliper.
Now stick a couple of long/strong bolts through the holes sticking up
Place the caliper over these bolts....maybe run a nut or 2 down on them if you feel the need.
Now you have a lever to hold the caliper (on the ground)...no vise needed...
Enjoy !
Bob

[nick-moss]

Hi Dickster.

I split some 917 calipers this afternoon, the allen bolts were free enough to loosen them by holding the mountings in a vice without any damage.

Try the Harley method above.

You don't need to worry about causing leaks as the saddles do not have any fluid passing through them..

[dickster]

thanks for the tips.

[89911]

Just a tip, I spoke to Doug at VCI and he says the 930 almost never need rebuilt. Don't get hot enough.

[Superman]

The bench vise is a primary tool. As basic as the screwdriver.

[dickster]

Are you $hitting us, Dickster? You mean to say you don't even have a lousy 'ol bench vice? Start building a workshop my man, or you'll be forever at the mercy of schlocky mechanics and other assorted felons.

doug,

i was so ashamed.............



one new bench, with 5 ton vice on the right. ok it needs tidying!!

i even plumbed in the washing machine (pipes under bench).

then i had a few beers

[dickster]

another pic.........

i already used the vice when i did the plumbing, so its already paying for itself!!!!

[AirCooledExcellence]

Wow, bench building and plumbing, the skills of people on this board never cease to amaze me

Nice Job!

Cheers,

Tim.

PS: Shouldn't you have lagged those pipes??!!
____________
1983 SC Targa

[Siena911]

Another one with a small garage. It does my head in sometimes, at least this way I cannot store junk in my garage

I like the idea of a bench at the back tho, I might look at doing something like that. Nice idea.


Jakes

[beepbeep]

Do not split 930 calipers unless you absolutely have to.

That's what dealer mech said to me. Just put in some new gaskets.

[dickster]

thanks tim, jack of all trades, master of none - thats me!

jakes, i ain't moving from this house unless i find a place with a double garage!!

yeah, its pretty small in there. i made the bench high enough to clear the whale tail which will slide underneath. i have to get the car right in there to make room for a big sports bike that sits in the front!!

the bench is narrow as well - just 18 inches. but its much better having it.

on the subject of splitting the calipers. beep beep, new gaskets?? where??

i want to split the fronts to rebuild them. as far as i know theres no problem splitting them, they're made of two separate units bolted togther, with the fluid running from one to other through an external line (not through the casting).