Oh the Defender - a Brake problem

Hi all,

Well decided to fit new my new Stainless steel hoses today - did first one
(Drivers side) and decided to do the pads at the same time. Guess what -
couldn't get the pistons to go back on the caliper on one side. So after 2
hours of trying I have ordered a new Caliper. Do they normally sieze? Is
there a way of unsiezing them?

Is it as easy as the manual says to remove the caliper? Any hints or tips
for fitting - refitting?

Yours

Andy

Defender 110 CSW 2.5TDI
1991
12 seater

"Andrew Renshaw" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all,
>
> Well decided to fit new my new Stainless steel hoses today - did first one
> (Drivers side) and decided to do the pads at the same time. Guess what -
> couldn't get the pistons to go back on the caliper on one side. So after 2
> hours of trying I have ordered a new Caliper. Do they normally sieze? Is
> there a way of unsiezing them?
>
> Is it as easy as the manual says to remove the caliper? Any hints or tips
> for fitting - refitting?
>
> Yours
>
> Andy
>
> Defender 110 CSW 2.5TDI
> 1991
> 12 seater

Yes it's easy, but pray your bolt doesn't snap leaving any in the mount. I
had lots of fun with this but I'm led to believe I was very very unlucky.

I was going to suggest pipe clamps but as your swapping the pipes anyway
then it'll be of no use. What may help is removing the fluid cap, place a
carrier bag over the hole, reapply fluid cap. Stops or at least slows the
seapeage of brake fluid out of the master cylinder when you remove your
lines for replacement. I also tend to bleed the caliper through the pipe
unions on first application to get most air out the do the nipples last.
i.e. pipe slack, pedal down, tighten unions once fluid emerges. Don't forget
to take the carrier bag off.

Lee D
--
www.lrproject.com

Andrew Renshaw wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> Well decided to fit new my new Stainless steel hoses today - did first one
> (Drivers side) and decided to do the pads at the same time. Guess what -
> couldn't get the pistons to go back on the caliper on one side. So after 2
> hours of trying I have ordered a new Caliper. Do they normally sieze? Is
> there a way of unsiezing them?

Yes, it's normal for half of them to be seized on a vehicle of your
age. To unseize them you get them out by fair means or foul then put
in new pistons and seals - once the chrome plating goes you have
problems.

> Is it as easy as the manual says to remove the caliper? Any hints or tips
> for fitting - refitting?

It's probably a splined head on the bolt that holds them on yours,
clean the head as much as possible and use a 12 point socket to remove,
one that fits really closely, 1/2" or 13mm. They're on pretty tight
and you really don't want to round the head on it. Use locktite when
you put the bolts back in, and if they're not in good condition then
don't think twice about getting new ones, they're pretty high tensile
but not that expensive from LR dealers.

Regards

William MacLeod

Oh well tried my hardest to get the caliper off and couldn't. So in the end
I took the discs, calipers and pads to my local land Rover Dealer - asked if
I could watch while he did one side and then I persuaded him to do the
other.

The seals had gone and I was glad they were being replaced.

So now one happy Land Rover with new brakes.

I was panicing about the bill - total cost for 2 and a half hours work -
£25.

Now just got to fit the other two hoses - surely that should be a doddle!!!!

Andy




"Andrew Renshaw" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all,
>
> Well decided to fit new my new Stainless steel hoses today - did first one
> (Drivers side) and decided to do the pads at the same time. Guess what -
> couldn't get the pistons to go back on the caliper on one side. So after 2
> hours of trying I have ordered a new Caliper. Do they normally sieze? Is
> there a way of unsiezing them?
>
> Is it as easy as the manual says to remove the caliper? Any hints or tips
> for fitting - refitting?
>
> Yours
>
> Andy
>
> Defender 110 CSW 2.5TDI
> 1991
> 12 seater
>
>
>

Andrew Renshaw wrote:
> Oh well tried my hardest to get the caliper off and couldn't. So in the end
> I took the discs, calipers and pads to my local land Rover Dealer - asked if
> I could watch while he did one side and then I persuaded him to do the
> other.
>
> The seals had gone and I was glad they were being replaced.
>
> So now one happy Land Rover with new brakes.
>
> I was panicing about the bill - total cost for 2 and a half hours work -
> £25.

Poor bloody mechanic. My life is worth about 25 quid a minute if the
customer is leaning over my shoulder watching my every move and driving
me ever closer to sudden, severe SOH failure.

--
EMB

I know - but this guy was a good mechanic )))

A

"EMB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Andrew Renshaw wrote:
>> Oh well tried my hardest to get the caliper off and couldn't. So in the
>> end I took the discs, calipers and pads to my local land Rover Dealer -
>> asked if I could watch while he did one side and then I persuaded him to
>> do the other.
>>
>> The seals had gone and I was glad they were being replaced.
>>
>> So now one happy Land Rover with new brakes.
>>
>> I was panicing about the bill - total cost for 2 and a half hours work -
>> £25.
>
> Poor bloody mechanic. My life is worth about 25 quid a minute if the
> customer is leaning over my shoulder watching my every move and driving me
> ever closer to sudden, severe SOH failure.
>
> --
> EMB