Okay I finally got around to rebuilding the ATE front calipers I got from Al. The rebuild went fine, and I purchased the brass caliper bushing kit from Turner. They installed just fine, but my question is that after the circlip is installed the brass bushing has over an 1/8th of an inch of free play between the caliper and the circlip. You would think that the brass bushing would be fixed with the ridge on one end and the circlip on the other end but instead it moves that 1/8" as you move the carrier in and out. Is this normal? It seems like the bushing should be 1/8" shorter, but maybe this is how they get it to fit multiple ATE calipers. I can take some pics if needed. Also Ranger, I used your guide for installing the new boot on the piston. It worked great.
Brass Caliper Bushings???
King Tut wrote:
I think so. Mine are the same, and my pads wear more evenly now.
King Tut wrote:
[quote]
Also Ranger, I used your guide for installing the new boot on the piston. It worked great[/quote]
Good. No sense me screwing up so many things if others can’t benefit from the lessons learned.
I’ve run the brass bushing and fresh OE rubber bushings. With respect to pad wear I can’t tell any difference in how the pads wear or in braking performance. I’ve gone back to OE rubber bushings (changed every season) because the brass bushings tend to accumulate dirt and bind unless frequently cleaned and lubed.
You would think they would make a dust cover to protect them from dirt. How much lube do you guys generally put on em? A huge glob or just enough to coat the rod?
The brass bushings really improved the feel for me. Yes, the play in the bushings is normal.
I do a normal thin coating of anti-seize or grease on the sliders. You have to do this OFTEN, though. Like at least once per weekend. Not just whenever you change your pads.
My pads wear almost perfectly after installing the solid guides front and rear. I also fully rebuilt the calipers, all the parts came from BimmerWorld. Stainless pistons, seals, nipples, guides etc.
When I do my standard race-prep before a weekend, I remove all the pins one at a time, clean them with brake cleaner, spray a little in the bush and clean both with a clean rag. I then use a Loctite Silver Grade Anti-Seize stick very sparingly on the pin, before inserting it and tightening it GENTLY. I have already snapped off the tip of one pin, and don’t fancy making the same mistake again! Inspect them during the weekend, maybe on the Saturday night, and repeat the process as necessary.
These sticks are great, another one to have in the tool box is a stick of thread locking compound. Available from bearing and tool shops, or so I’m lead to believe.
djs325 wrote:
[quote]My pads wear almost perfectly after installing the solid guides front and rear. I also fully rebuilt the calipers, all the parts came from BimmerWorld. Stainless pistons, seals, nipples, guides etc.
When I do my standard race-prep before a weekend, I remove all the pins one at a time, clean them with brake cleaner, spray a little in the bush and clean both with a clean rag. I then use a Loctite Silver Grade Anti-Seize stick very sparingly on the pin, before inserting it and tightening it GENTLY. I have already snapped off the tip of one pin, and don’t fancy making the same mistake again! Inspect them during the weekend, maybe on the Saturday night, and repeat the process as necessary.
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This is good to read. Folks here think I’m an obsessive nutjob. But I read stuff like this and I think to myself, “hell, I can hide behind this Aussie and no one will think twice about my quirks.”
Kidding around aside, “GENTLY” sounds a little spooky. I certainly don’t tighten mine “GENTLY”. I use a 7" socket wrench and give it a good snugging. What is that bolt, 8-10mm? It should take a lot more then a 7" snug before it snaps.
My motto: Do a job properly once, rather than half-arsed continually!
I’m a stickler for perfect preparation - the extra finicking and fiddling more often than not yields more time on track due to less time in the pits! There’s normally plenty of time between sessions on the track, why not make good use of them and make sure you’ll finish your next session?
I certainly tighten them snug, but I do it gently, not wrenching the crap out of them.