I have a set of kits to put through my calipers before I put the 8.4's back onto my mini, however before I do that i was thinking they could do with a clean up and a paint.

What is the best method to clean em up? Good scrub in the parts washer, bead blast em???? is there anything I shouldn't do?

Never played with brakes before (other than pad change) so I don't want to stuff em up

I wire brushed mine (S brakes), washed with metho, fitted new seal kits, THEN painted them with VHT yellow caliper paint.
They look good but the paint is very thin, not much solids in it, needs lots of coats. Red or black cover much better.



Note the 2x bent bits of 1/8" welding electrode, much stronger then the POS Chinese 3mm split pins everybody sells now (see sample sitting below).
I lost a pad once because the damned pins broke/wore through.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Yep the VHT red is the plan, if i can ever find someone with it in stock..........

Being painted Yellow does the Car stop better ?

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DID I MENTION THAT I AM THE BEST SUPPLIER FOR MINI ELECTRICAL PARTS AND REPAIRS?
"Let us remove your "SHORTS"

Ask Evan, (cooper matrikon) they are on Barney.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I have yellow calipers and they give me an extra 25kw atw.

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http://www.flickr.com/by_dan
Current: 1970 Mini K 2014 Focus ST
Past: 93 Rover, 64 850, 97 Rover, 66 Deluxe, 66 Moke
81 Austin Estate, 2006 R53MCS, 66 Deluxe, 1978 Clubbie
2014 Land Rover Defender 90

ok next really dumb question about brakes. I have been looking at YouTube for vids on pulling calipers apart etc for refurb but all calipers i see are singles? (piston on one side only)

What do you call the ones we have with two pistons?

Standing by for probably an obvious answer

Cheers,

CJ

You'd never guess, but hey, they're twin-piston calipers!

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You're only supposed to blow the BLUDDY DOORS OFF!!

See i told ya I was expecting an obvious answer pity it didn't help with the YouTube search though still only finding single piston jobbies.

Can't see there could be much difference in the refurb between the two though? One way to find out

I've been told - but not done it myself......

I'm told that you should not split the callipers. The fluid flow from one half to the other is sealed by an unusual square sectioned O ring.

Scuttlebutt is that these are somewhat rare (never looked myself).

Cheers, Ian

Cooper and cooper S calipers are also sealed by a `square section O-ring'.
Only the size of it varies.
IMO only masochists would rebuild calipers without splitting them..

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

http://www.minis.com.au/minis/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=31&products_id=604

Caliper seals are available new for $5.
Worth it i'd say.

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82 BJ42 just completed resto
64 850 Modified(about to start rebuild)

Hmm well i have cleaned and repainted the calipers, next to pull the pistons out and fit the new kit. Slight problem, I can't get the pistons to budge

Looking on the web the recommendation is to apply air to blow them out, only problem is I don't have a compressor. best I could find was 50psi from a tyre inflator but it didn't budge em.

Is there another way to get them out without connecting it to the car?

Grease gun... way more pressure than an airline.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

lol, then you just have to clean the grease out