New pistons and seals into Girling 3 pot calipers

[Martec]

For a few years now I have suffered from a pulsing feel to the brake pedal and the car also moved in the same fashion as it slowed down.

I assumed it was warped discs, but all attempts to find run-out with a dial test indicator failed, the discs seemed to be perfect, no more than 2 thou run-out on any of them.

At my local classic friendly MOT station I told the tester of the problem and he noted that there seemed to be a minor problem with both front discs. Removing the pads one at a time and carefully pumping the pistons almost fully out I could see corrosion damage to the pistons (this was not allowing the pistons to fully retrack and so the pad was heating and distorting the disc whilst running.

£220 later with cleaned up calipers 6 new pistons and seal kit the braking is back to its proper smoothness. It also gave me a chance to practise my skills of lacing wire to secure the caliper bolts.

I can blame no one else but myself as I had not changed the brake fluid at the 2 yearly intervals recommended to remove the water absorbed by the hydroscopic DOT4 brake fluid.

Brian

[smiffy]

Hi Brian
I can sympathise - I have just renewed the clutch master and slave cylinder seals, as the slave was weeping fluid. Quite a mess inside both cylinders, especially the slave, and the liquid that came out did not look like hydraulic fluid at all. I've had the car 18 months now, and have been meaning to change these seals for about a year - they had been sat in my garage waiting. From the paperwork that came with the car, it looks like the same fluid has been in the system for 23 years!
Best wishes, Dave