A little confused about caliper removal

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AndrewPrior

New Member
Posts
124
Location
Canadian living in Belgium
Hi,

I was trying to replace a front wheel bearing today, and got stuck embarassingly soon. I couldn't figure out which bolts I had to remove to get the damn things off! My guess was the top two bolts where the brake line is secured, the same ones buster is showing in the fourth picture here:

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f41/front-axle-removal-63803.html

When I started undoing the bolts, however, brake fluid or oil started coming out from the edges of the swivel bearing. I didn't expect this, so I tighted up the bolts again. What happened here?

Afterwards I found out from the workshop manual (which I don't have in the garage yet as it's in PDF) that the bolts I needed to remove where behind the caliper, and I ended up having the same issue as timberjock in this post:

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f7/brake-calliper-bolt-torx-size-53434.html

which seems to indicate that these are the correct bolts and I need a 12 point 13mm socket... the six sided one wasn't working.

My main concern was the fluid coming out from behind the swivel bearing. Can somebody tell me what that was and if I need to be worried?

- Andrew
 
I've done it on other cars, but a long time ago... in my defence the bolts were kind of hidden so I didn't see them, if I had I would have recognized them as the right ones. We all start somewhere, right? I'm pretty confident that I'll know if I botched it up or not (with help from these forums and the manuals). In the worst case I admit defeat, take it to a garage, and take it as a lesson learned.

I realize what happened with removing the bolts for the swivel bearings now. In preperation for changing brake pads on both sides I had jacked up both front wheels, but in the instructions it mentions just jacking up the one wheel... which I guess would make the axle oil all go to the far (lower) end. Since I didn't do that, I broke the seal and got some oil leakage. I'll monitor the axel oil level to make sure I didnt' mess anything up.

- Andrew
 
I had this happen on mine when I was checking the swivel oil level.
According to Mr Haynes it should only come up so far and not to the top caliper bolt!?
 
If you dont know how to correctly remove a brake caliper, you should question your involvement with spanners and your brake system in general.

G
isnt it a fact that everyone has to start somewere,and like my old boss said,its not what you know but were to find out,and i think thats whats going on here,the blokes tring to find out...
 
I'll check both levels... something I've wanted to get to anyway.

I got the hub assembly off in the garage this afternoon, seemed to go well... the 12 sided socket worked wonders. Tomorrow will bring it home and start the disassembly and cleaning in a nicer environment.

I'm feeling pretty confident about this now. Thank you all for your help!

- Andrew
 
I'll check both levels... something I've wanted to get to anyway.

I got the hub assembly off in the garage this afternoon, seemed to go well... the 12 sided socket worked wonders. Tomorrow will bring it home and start the disassembly and cleaning in a nicer environment.

I'm feeling pretty confident about this now. Thank you all for your help!

- Andrew

Are you a Grasham by chance. :doh::doh:
 
Hi,

I was trying to replace a front wheel bearing today, and got stuck embarassingly soon. I couldn't figure out which bolts I had to remove to get the damn things off! My guess was the top two bolts where the brake line is secured, the same ones buster is showing in the fourth picture here:

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f41/front-axle-removal-63803.html

When I started undoing the bolts, however, brake fluid or oil started coming out from the edges of the swivel bearing. I didn't expect this, so I tighted up the bolts again. What happened here?

Afterwards I found out from the workshop manual (which I don't have in the garage yet as it's in PDF) that the bolts I needed to remove where behind the caliper, and I ended up having the same issue as timberjock in this post:

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f7/brake-calliper-bolt-torx-size-53434.html

which seems to indicate that these are the correct bolts and I need a 12 point 13mm socket... the six sided one wasn't working.

My main concern was the fluid coming out from behind the swivel bearing. Can somebody tell me what that was and if I need to be worried?

- Andrew

If ye had oil coming out of the top swivel bearing then chances are that ye might have a knackered inner seal and it's letting in the oil from yer axle.
The inner seal can be found on the end of yer ball where it joins the axle casing;)
 
If ye had oil coming out of the top swivel bearing then chances are that ye might have a knackered inner seal and it's letting in the oil from yer axle.
The inner seal can be found on the end of yer ball where it joins the axle casing;)

Maybe I was unclear... I undid the bolts on the top of the caliper and the oil was coming out around the swivel bearing... on the inside of the wheel.

- Andrew
 
Maybe I was unclear... I undid the bolts on the top of the caliper and the oil was coming out around the swivel bearing... on the inside of the wheel.

- Andrew

I'm assuming that you had undone the 2 top bolts that hold the brake pipe mounting bracket & mudshield bracket? If so those bolts also hold the swivel in place and when you undo them you release the pressure on the swivel which then allows the oil to **** out. did the same on me disco when I was doing the wheels bearings.
 
I'm assuming that you had undone the 2 top bolts that hold the brake pipe mounting bracket & mudshield bracket? If so those bolts also hold the swivel in place and when you undo them you release the pressure on the swivel which then allows the oil to **** out. did the same on me disco when I was doing the wheels bearings.

Exactly. After 30ml or so of oil came out when I was loosening those bolts I tightened it up again and went back to read the manuals (and this site) to figure out what I had done wrong. This time around I left those bolts in and clamped/disconnected/plugged the brake line, which means I'll have to bleed it when I'm done... but that's OK as it's one more thing for me to learn. :)

I'm very much a "learn by doing" kind or person, I know I'll botch up now and then but (so far) I've not gotten myself into too much trouble so far.

- Andrew
 
Ice cream tub under wheel & replace bolts after you remove the calliper. repeat on reassembly and refill swivels with noo oil or better still drain oil and replace with oneshot grease (1 sachet for each swivel.) About £4 each side. and never worry about oil levels again.
 
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