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        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> Help needed: Rear caliper leaking fluid!
        
(Message started by: waynem325 on Aug 18^th, 2005, 7:17pm)

Title: Help needed: Rear caliper leaking fluid!
Post by waynem325 on Aug 18^th, 2005, 7:17pm

I've just fitted new rear pads and discs and I feel I may have gotten myself into a little trouble???

I had major snags getting the pistons to move back, and after hours of swearing and cursing I admitted defeat and trotted off to Halfords and bought a caliper piston winding tool-fantastic piece of kit, but I think that whilst winding the piston on the passenger side rear, I may have messed up?

Just read a previous thread where someone gave advice when winding the piston back in, the bleed nipple must be loosened. I never. As I started the winding there was quite a lot of resistance, then all of a sudden the pressure seemed to release and the piston wound right back in with relative ease.
I checked all around the caliper and there was nothing so I continued and thought no more about it.

After a test drive the pedal was spongy and the handbrake lever came up almost vertical and didn't hold the car at all. When removing the passenger side wheel there was a fluid leak around the back of the caliper and on the bottom of the suspension strut.
After investigation the fluid is seeping from underneath the handbrake attachment plate (Beneath the big spring on top) and the seal had been forced up. I replaced the seal with the tip of a screw driver all around its circumference, then re-pumped the brake pedal. This I repeated several times and on each occasion the seal kept popping up and allowing fluid to seep around it.

Is this seal replaceable and if so how do I do the job? After looking on the main site the handbrake plate is attached to a shaft that goes inside the caliper, but I couldn't remove it. I think I may have to remove the piston before been able to remove the plate and shaft-anybody know???????

I'm supposed to be picking my parents up from Gatwick tomorrow night so I really need to get this sorted quickly. Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Wayne

Title: Re: Help needed: Rear caliper leaking fluid!
Post by mr._floppy on Aug 19^th, 2005, 12:14am

Releasing the rear caliper bleed screw when screwing the pistons back is not really necessary and in fact can give more problems that it solves( I've done it recently with no probs ). The pressure exerted on piston seals when manually pushing the pistons in is nothing compared to the extreme pressure exerted when you put your foot on the servo assisted pedal so don't worry that you've inadvertantly caused this problem. These units are prone to leakage due to internal rust and wear, be prepared for shelling of large wad for replacement unit.

Title: Re: Help needed: Rear caliper leaking fluid!
Post by waynem325 on Aug 19^th, 2005, 8:48am

Thanks for the reply Mr F,

Quote:

The pressure exerted on piston seals when manually pushing the pistons in is nothing compared to the extreme pressure exerted when you put your foot on the servo assisted pedal

Thats pretty much what I thought, though it does baffle me as to why the seal won't go back in and stay in?

If you look at the exploded diagram in the link below, the plate I'm looking at is item 22, but there is no sight of the seal that keeps popping out

http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/adjhandbrake.htm

At the bottom of the page there is mention of 2 repair kits for groups 19 and 21 so I'm wondering if the seal I need is included in one of these kits???

Anyone have any experience with either of these kits, or the seal for item 22?
I may just buy a replacement caliper from the scrappies, or on here if anyone has got one going spare??

TIA

Title: Re: Help needed: Rear caliper leaking fluid!
Post by KEEF on Aug 19^th, 2005, 9:00am

Wayne
To wind in the back piston you will have to buy a special tool for this, has it can't be done without it. (for anybody thinking of doing their brake's) about £20 from halford's
To reduce the back pressure when pushing the piston's back when doing the brakes take the reservoir cap on the master cylinder off first. keep an eye on the top-up tank has you will find the level will go up, has you push the piston in, and brake fluid may spill over the top of the tank. specially if you have been topping it up, because of a leak.
Keith ;)

Title: Re: Help needed: Rear caliper leaking fluid!
Post by waynem325 on Aug 19^th, 2005, 11:30am

Cheers Keith,

I did eventually get the said tool from Halfords as it is pretty much impossible to do the job without. It was £20 too, all but a penny, and money well spent me thinks!

The problem I have is (possibly???) a resultant of using the said tool. I did remove the cap from the reservoir but didn't loosen the bleed nipple, but like Mr Floppy says above-the force produced by the tool when winding back the piston should be no where as great as when the brake pedal is used under hard braking!

I really need to know if the seal that keeps popping out below the handbrake plate on the caliper can be replaced/fixed or if it is a non replaceable item and would require the whole caliper to be replaced.
I haven't yet been able to take a caliper apart so am unable to investigate further.

I phone call to my local friendly Ford dealer is in order.....though I have a bad feeling :-/

Title: Re: Help needed: Rear caliper leaking fluid!
Post by waynem325 on Aug 19^th, 2005, 12:25pm

After quite a lengthy chat to Ford it appears that the service kits mentioned on this site are no longer available and the only way to replace any item within the caliper is to buy a new one! At £101.09 + VAT it could become quite expensive, certainly if its only a seal that needs replacing!

Ebay here we come!!!

Title: Re: Help needed: Rear caliper leaking fluid!
Post by mr._floppy on Aug 19^th, 2005, 4:34pm

If E-Bay is unsuccessful try these nation-wide used car parts websites, type in what you need and scrappies up and down the land will phone or E-mail you with offers of sale of the parts you need and you just choose the cheapest or the nearest, most offer next-day delivery.

Title: Re: Help needed: Rear caliper leaking fluid!
Post by waynem325 on Aug 20^th, 2005, 4:43am

Success!!!
There were a few Scorps been broken on Ebay but only 2 people replied when I asked questions.
Luckily I found a pair for £25 froma guy called "madmadscorpioman" who has the Ebay shop "SCORPIO ULTIMA BITS AND BOBS". I've heard the name mentioned on a few threads on here with mixed views but I have to admit hes a brilliant guy and would highly recommend him to anyone.
I picked them up earlier, and I reckon with a good stiff brushing and a lick of paint they'll be as good as new!!!

Now then.....how do I go about changing the calipers? Is it a total fluid drain, or can I clamp the hoses and do a simple bleed process on re-fitting??? :D

Title: Re: Help needed: Rear caliper leaking fluid!
Post by Snoopy on Aug 20^th, 2005, 8:00am

You can clamp the hoses and refit and bleed, but would recommend a full refill if its never been done just takes a little longer and a bit more fluid

Title: Re: Help needed: Rear caliper leaking fluid!
Post by mr._floppy on Aug 20^th, 2005, 10:57am

Give the entire system a bleed if you suspect it hasn't been done in a while, and watch those wee bleed screws on the calipers, some people tighten them as if they were holding on aircraft tyres or something, if you chew them up or "round" 'em then they are a complete b****r to remove.

Title: Re: Help needed: Rear caliper leaking fluid!
Post by waynem325 on Aug 20^th, 2005, 12:48pm

Just had a flick thru the site and see that I can remove and bleed each caliper at a time until all the fluid in the tank has passed thru the lines.
Where is the best place to clamp the hoses? I had a go near the actual caliper and it seems the hose doesn't want to be clamped, and if I used any more force than the amount I used to clamp it halfway it feels like it will damage the hose???
:D

Title: Re: Help needed: Rear caliper leaking fluid!
Post by Snoopy on Aug 20^th, 2005, 7:41pm

The hoses are very thick and become brittle with age. Ther is no real need to clamp but if you do do it about half way along the flexible hose NOT where it is cripmped onto the screw threaded part.

Personally I do NOT clamp the hose and just bled the system afterwards that way the fluid gets changed at the same time . Which I do every 12 months any way.

Title: Re: Help needed: Rear caliper leaking fluid!
Post by waynem325 on Aug 21^st, 2005, 5:03pm

Cheers Snoopy,

I won't bother with the clamp then. ;) plus I'd like to get new fluid through the system anyway!