What to do about ancient brake calipers?

martinclan · Post by **martinclan** » Tue Mar 28, 2023 9:43 am

I need to overhaul or replace my brake calipers. I think there are 3 options.

1. Overhaul them myself. On previous cars this has been the preffered choice as original is nearly always best. But the fact that the car hasn't moved for 30+ years could mean they are corroded beyond repair? There was certainly no brake fluid left in the system...
2. Get them overhauled by Big Red. The most expensive option.
3. Replace then with type 14 callipers as used on the Spitfire. I realise the brake line connection is in a different place but as i am replacing all the brake lines that probably doesn't matter. There are plenty of sellers of these callipers but I guess none of them are original Girling and may be of suspect quallity?

Thoughts anyone? Cheers, Robin

Post by **balmy** » Tue Mar 28, 2023 10:01 am

I’ve rebuilt calipers that have sat for 25 years plus easily. I’d take the pistons out and assess them first.

Or I’ve used these ones in the past.

https://www.morrisminorspares.com/brakes-c42

Post by **MarinaCoupe** » Tue Mar 28, 2023 11:28 am

I would try first myself. I know that Martin Wallis was rebuilding calipers on exchange and they worked out cheaper than BiggRed.

SLOW ITAL · Post by **SLOW ITAL** » Tue Mar 28, 2023 1:12 pm

I rebuilt the callipers first time on Gabby [ marina] but went the spitfire way 4 years later when they needed doing again.
bought new from david manners b'ham , only slight adjustment to brake pipes & much cheaper than Big Red.
very satisfied.
Gil.

martinclan · Post by **martinclan** » Mon Apr 03, 2023 10:29 am

Following everyones advice I have succesfully disasembled the calipers and they are in suprisingly good condition considering they are 50 years old and have not been used for the last 30 years.
Only one of the pistons was stuck and I extracted that by filling the caliper with water, then blocking off the bleed and brake line holes with old bleed nipples and used a G clamp to push the non sticking piston back in which obligingly pushed the sticking piston out!
I have bought some rebuild kits from Bigg Red.

stripped calipers by Robin Martin, on Flickr

PS - I know the manual says not to split the calipers but its the only way to properly clean and inspect them and the Bigg Red kit includes the one O-ring that is required on re-assembly.

Post by **MarinaCoupe** » Mon Apr 03, 2023 2:27 pm

Don’t stress about splitting them - everyone else does. Try to save the rubber sealing rings between the calipers as not all seal kits contain this seal.

Gee tc · Post by **Gee tc** » Fri Apr 28, 2023 2:10 pm

Do Spitfire caliper make any difference to braking performance? Or is it just an availability thing?
T

Post by **MarinaCoupe** » Fri Apr 28, 2023 5:17 pm

Gee tc wrote: ↑Fri Apr 28, 2023 2:10 pm Do Spitfire caliper make any difference to braking performance? Or is it just an availability thing?
T

Purely availability Tony. It’s exactly the same caliper as the Marina, just the brake fluid entry point is in a different place.

Post by **balmy** » Fri Apr 28, 2023 7:18 pm

Gee tc wrote:Do Spitfire caliper make any difference to braking performance? Or is it just an availability thing?
T

Yes they Triumph above the Marina ones

IVOR DENNEY · Post by **IVOR DENNEY** » Sat Apr 29, 2023 12:42 pm

Last year I replaced the callipers on my TC with Dolomite sprint ones they are the same as Marina ones ,I bought them from a shop in TELFORD called TD FITCHET they were £ 125 the pair on an exchange basis the phone number is 01952 / 6IO519 I think he does mail order Regards IVOR,

martinclan · Post by **martinclan** » Tue May 02, 2023 9:37 am

I have successfully rebuilt my callipers. I'll post some pictures later. It turned out to be pretty easy, the most difficult part being cleaning off the years of rust and crud. The kits from Bigg Red seemed to be of good quality. The only problem I had is that the supplied bleed nipples were too short. But they quickly replaced those.
Good for anothe 30 years :-)

www.fastmarinamagazine.com