Volvo 480 Club Europe

Does anyone have experience with caliper repair kits?

My rear left is leaking, seizing and is generally shit! I'm sure a bit of tlc would sort it out. I know it is possible to just replace the whole caliper also, but they are usually just re-furbished anyway... If it's easy which i suspect it is then maybe i'll try it?

pol

I have always said it and I say it again. Don't save money on safety - mostly on brakes. Get new calibers instead of fixing the old ones.

repairing old ones can be done. rehoning and replacing the cups is what you do when you buy a refurbishing set.
If the caliper needs a new bore and oversized pistons, the buying new calipers is the sensible thing to do.

Need to replace rear right caliper on mine in order to pass MOT. Does anyone know are these specific to 480 or 400 series Volvos or should i be able to pick one up easy enough?
The re-test is Sunday so any help would be great!

by the time you have paid out for a full kit it comes to £2 less than an exchange part from ECP.

As with everyone else don't skimp on safety

David wrote:Need to replace rear right caliper on mine in order to pass MOT. Does anyone know are these specific to 480 or 400 series Volvos or should i be able to pick one up easy enough?
The re-test is Sunday so any help would be great!

Rear drivers side caliper, in 'near new' condition:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0286018117

Not my auction, but I spotted it on there, and it doesn't look like it sold.

Ben.

partsforvolvosonline.co.uk do replacement recon calipers for £75 each side or repair kits for £15 each side to replace the rubber components.

If you need some, i have a nigh on "new" pair (were £70 a side) can always make me an offer

I bust the nipple off and mangled the thread in my old caliper. I got a second hand unit after cutting it off a car at a scrap yard (there were no ebay gems available at the time).

As long as the brake fluid has been changed regularly, there should be no corrosion in the brake caliper bore and on the piston. If you remove the piston from the bore, and it is anything other than in spanking, shiney condition, don't repair it. It will continue to leak and risk your safety.

If it IS shiney and new in the bore/piston, the kit from partsforvolvos is fine. After cleaning the caliper up with a wire brush (before removing the piston) it becomes quickly apparent where all the rubber bits go once assembled. The only difficult bit is getting the piston out in the first place. When undoing the adjuster in the back of the caliper, the piston needs to be twisted whilst pulling it out. Three things at once, so secure the caliper body in a vice.

Also, get new nipples.

If you are in unfamiliar with the workings of the rear caliper internals, or are concerned about fitting and bleeding properly, get the second-hand £10 caliper and pay a garage to fit. Better safe than sorry.