Splitting M030 front calipers

[Mike Goebel]

I've heard a few folks tell me not to split the front calipers but none of them could tell me why. So any info is appreciated.


Thanks
Mike G.

[kdjones2000]

Why do it? It is incredibly hard to do in the first place, and for what benefit?

Clean them and replace the seals/pistons - done.

[Mike Goebel]

See!! still no one can tell me!! hahaha

I'm restoring them!! I'm going to be sandblasting them and all the hardware that holds them together will be removed. Plus they will be ultrasonically cleaning after the blasting. So if the fall apart after any of those processes I will need to put them back together. If they don't I'm fine with not splitting. However if there is a seal between the half's and they are 32 years old might not be a bad idea to replace.

Mike G.

[nize]

can you restore them without splitting them? i think the reasoning is since the brakes are a critical life and death part, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

i've also heard that as difficult as it is to split the brembo caliper halves, it's pretty much impossible to re-seal them after they're split because the repeated heat cycling creates a unique seal for each caliper. do you want to end up with leaking calipers?

i also hope you're not thinking of repainting them. read this:
https://www.brembo.com/en/company/news/5-reasons-not-to-use-repainted-brake-calipers-brembo

[Mike Goebel]

Yeah I've read that before. But again no one has any proof of why they can't be resealed. Is there a special secret o-ring? What holds them together after all the bolts have been removed? No one knows. Well I'm sure there must be someone that has done it and can actually comment on why it can or can't or should'be be done.


Mike G.

[Mike Goebel]

Ok I decided to bother my Porsche brake expert, I get one question a year. He said there is no problem with separating and reassembling the calipers, however the issue is with the square edge seal between that is no longer available!!! If that seal gets damaged you're SOL!! But he also said it can be done if you are very very careful. Since I'm more of a brute I'm not going to separate them.

YAY!!

Mike G.

P.S. I didn't ask him about painting because I don't want to hear his answer. hehe

[soxnail]

I am more of a 'Hog ass' then brute, but end results seem to be similar.
Sox

[nize]

there's so many other things on our cars that need actual fixing, i still have to ask why fix something if it ain't broke?

[Mike Goebel]

I went to check the brake fluid level and there was about 1/8" of mud mixture in the bottom of the reservoir. Pretty sure they haven't been bled in over 10 years, maybe never. When I removed the pistons from the calipers there was a lot of muck behind all of them. So I figured brakes are pretty important so I might as well rebuild them and flush out the entire system. And of course while you're in there............................................. .$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Mike G.

[zmf]

Originally Posted by Mike Goebel

I went to check the brake fluid level and there was about 1/8" of mud mixture in the bottom of the reservoir.

How much of that do you think you could remove with just air pressure during a rebuild? It's probably sufficient.

[Mike Goebel]

Originally Posted by zmf

How much of that do you think you could remove with just air pressure during a rebuild? It's probably sufficient.

I sometimes wish my mind worked that way. But it just doesn't!

Mike G.

[Mike Goebel]

Then this happens.

.

I've decided to Cerakote them in Black. It's pure fun and a learning experience.

Mike G.

[Mike Goebel]

Guess it’s not such a bad idea to look at your calipers once in a while.

Found two cracks on the front right caliper.

Mike G.

[Mike Goebel]

Abort Abort. This realization was influenced from too much drinking. All is well All is well. It's only a casting defect!!


Mike G.

[soxnail]

Well at least the cracks did not have pink elephants in it

[soxnail]

Speaking of cracks, check these out in the hose from the turbo to the inter-cooler hard pipe...
Sox

[Mike Goebel]

Still looking fresh!!

Mike G.

[soxnail]

Mike I don't understand the words that are coming out of your post..(misquoting the guy in rush hour).
Sox

[nize]

that'll buff right out.

[soxnail]

Nize you are referring to Mike's brake calipers and not my cracked turbo hose ?
Sox