'78 El Dorado rear caliper with e-brake, who has rebuilt them?

[RockinChevy]

Had to replace a leaking caliper, leak is seeping from the plug on the piston so I went out to buy the caliper rather than rebuild one due to a time restraint on that Saturday.

First caliper blew a seal during bleed, replaced it with another one from O'Reilly's under warranty, then the banjo bolt doesn't get sufficient thread engagement. I gave up.

Sent it back then got a rebuild kit instead for the original caliper. Figured I would get instructions on how to take out the e-brake then pop the piston out. Found no instructions online....

So... Anybody got some step by step procedures to get me going? I don't want to ruin anything as I've never done a caliper with e-brake in them, only the fronts.

 

[RockinChevy]

What I'm trying to understand is how do you take the e-brake out of the caliper? The lever is already off but not sure what to do from there. I swear I would ruin it if I did it my way with a BFH and some compressed air.

 

[Teck]

Never had one apart but was told by a friend that the e brake part twists in and out. It works like a screw. This is why must have problems with them not holding, if you don't use them regularly they will not stay adjusted properly. Not sure if that helps but hopefully it will keep you from messing them up.

 

[jms]

..
So... Anybody got some step by step procedures to get me going? I don't want to ruin anything as I've never done a caliper with e-brake in them, only the fronts.

http://classicbroncos.com/reardiscs.shtml

 

[RockinChevy]

hmm... didn't know the e-brake screws in and out. And thanks Michael for the link, I'll print it out and have a go at it in the garage.

 

[4X4HIGH]

I've rebuilt a pair many many moons ago. Just have the caliper removed from the vehicle and the pads removed then use the e-lever by moving it back and forth and this will make the piston come out of the bore (the pistons are "threaded" onto the shaft as was already said). It's been so many years ago that I couldn't even begin to remember beyond that without taking another one apart. I do remember though that there were two "shims" with a torrington bearing in between them and one of the shims was cracked in half and those WERE NOT available at the time I was trying to rebuild them so I had to machine a new one.

 

[RockinChevy]

Another question, is vacuum bleeding effective? Reason for asking is I live too far to ask for help to bleed the brakes and there aren't any speed bleeder valves available for the el dorado calipers in the local auto parts stores.

Not sure but from what was explained is that it draws enough vacuum to pull the fluid (like sucking soda pop through a straw) and burps the air out the bleeder screws...

Never heard of such thing so I thought I'd check in with you guys first. If it's that effective then I'll dart over to the store and grab a kit and go at it in the morning.

 

[dremu]

Another question, is vacuum bleeding effective? Reason for asking is I live too far to ask for help to bleed the brakes and there aren't any speed bleeder valves available for the el dorado calipers in the local auto parts stores.

Not sure but from what was explained is that it draws enough vacuum to pull the fluid (like sucking soda pop through a straw) and burps the air out the bleeder screws...

Never heard of such thing so I thought I'd check in with you guys first. If it's that effective then I'll dart over to the store and grab a kit and go at it in the morning.

Google you the garden sprayer pressure bleeder. In my experience it is the end-all to bleeding, hands down.

-- A

 

[RockinChevy]

thanks I'm glad I asked!