14 replies to this topic

[Brandon]

Do folks fill them with a cheap fluid (to prevent corrosion) & wire the piston into the caliper?

Do you seal all the bolts/bleeders with screws & some thread sealant & washers?

 

Or just fudge it all and keep them in a zipper baggie & desiccant?

 

I'm concerned with making the caliper swap quickly and with minimal chance for air to get into the system while making it easier to bleed after the swap.

 

Thoughts?

 

P.S. Finding 10x1 & 8x1 taps & bolts for the same is IMPOSSIBLE!

[Diller]

With the piston compressed, there is very little fluid in the caliper. I put some fluid in, run a spare banjo bolt in and store them in ziplock bags. 6 months of storage and I didn't see any sign of corrosion when I took them apart the next time.

[pitbull113]

I put a small piece of hose about 1/2 inch on the banjo bolt before I thread it on the caliper to cover the hole in the bolt. That'll stop anything from getting in or out of the caliper.

[surlynkid]

Those taps and bolts are not hard to find. Search Irwin or McMaster Carr

[Sphinx]

So what caliper rebuild schedule do you guys use?  Do you guys get kits from any parts store?  Or Mazdaspeed?

 

Also, dumb question, but what do you to stop the fluid from totally draining out when you take the calipers off?

[Bench Racer]

Also, dumb question, but what do you to stop the fluid from totally draining out when you take the calipers off?

Banjo bolt, a couple flat washers and a nut.

[Brandon]

I've only used the MSP kit (mainly for the caliper boot consumables - so I've got plenty of gaskets & dust boots!) so I can't comment on other vendors/products.

 

Regarding a 'rebuild schedule' - I've never rebuilt mine (had the car since 2009; raced it starting in 2010) but I imagine the front-runners are into an annual replacement cycle like a number of our other "consumable hard parts" (rear hubs/flanges, suspension bolts, tie rod ends...). 

[SaulSpeedwell]

Nearly all brake fluid is "corrosive" in the presence of oxygen (air).  If this was an heirloom bluechip collector car, I would tell you to strongly consider putting DOT 5 silicone fluid in it.  But - DOT 5 is incompatible with nearly any fluid we would run on the track.

 

You best option may be to treat your stored spare calipers like a stored car - keep it filled with fluid, minimized of "air", and assume that protocol will only be good for ~3 years of corrosion mitigation.

 

Footnote:  Denatured alcohol is the safe solvent to use for cleaning the parts and/or trying to convert fluids.

[Brandon]

My reason for keeping it filled with fluid is to minimize any air intrusion when swapping but that also begs the need for whether to fill with a cheap-o fluid (and bleed/flush the caliper fully) or fill with your usual brand and still be forced to bleed/flush the caliper.

 

Thanks for the tips/suggestions regardless...still have to finish up rebuilding them before deciding on a fill scheme (or not).

 

Nearly all brake fluid is "corrosive" in the presence of oxygen (air).  If this was an heirloom bluechip collector car, I would tell you to strongly consider putting DOT 5 silicone fluid in it.  But - DOT 5 is incompatible with nearly any fluid we would run on the track.

 

You best option may be to treat your stored spare calipers like a stored car - keep it filled with fluid, minimized of "air", and assume that protocol will only be good for ~3 years of corrosion mitigation.

 

Footnote:  Denatured alcohol is the safe solvent to use for cleaning the parts and/or trying to convert fluids.

[SaulSpeedwell]

My reason for keeping it filled with fluid is to minimize any air intrusion when swapping but that also begs the need for whether to fill with a cheap-o fluid (and bleed/flush the caliper fully) or fill with your usual brand and still be forced to bleed/flush the caliper.

 

Thanks for the tips/suggestions regardless...still have to finish up rebuilding them before deciding on a fill scheme (or not).

 

You've likely noticed that our fancy DOT 4 racing fluids have a lower "wet" boiling point than many cheaper options - that is because they "absorb" (adsorb, if you want to earn your nerd wings) water quicker than "street" fluids.  Valvoline DOT 3 and 4 synthetic (sometimes branded "SynPower", depending on the year and which marketing guy is in charge) and Castrol LMA (since renamed Castrol DOT4 Synthetic, because, apparently, a new marketing guy is in charge?) are great options, for storage, for daily use, and even for racing SMs.  And they will be compatible with your higher dollar DOT4 "racing" fluid should you choose to run that.

 

We rarely "boil" the fluid in SM - I never did, even when I was burning down front pads and turning piston boots into carbon in 2 sessions at the Alan "I can computer design the fun out of any racetrack" Wilson-designed BeaveRun/PIRC original 1.6 mile layout.  There are a lot of Runoffs podium cars running the fluids I mentioned versus something more amazing sounding and expensive.

[Jim Drago]

  Valvoline DOT 3 and 4 synthetic (sometimes branded "SynPower", depending on the year and which marketing guy is in charge) 

Been using this since 2004 with no issues. 

[davew]

Castrol LMA (Low Moisture Absorbing) is all I use in an Spec Miata. First started using it when I worked for an English car restoration shop due to the LMA principle it helped keep brake lines from rusting on cars that where stored. The current bottle says " Castrol DOT4 brake fluid"

 

IMHO, no need for any of the high dollar brake fluid. Flush regularly.

[Steve Scheifler]

Been using this since 2004 with no issues.

At least that long. Very readily available and cheap enough that frequent bleeding won't drain your wallet.

[Butters]

P.S. Finding 10x1 & 8x1 taps & bolts for the same is IMPOSSIBLE!

I just ordered a Irwin 10x1 tap on amazon and got in 2 days with my Amazon prime Sunday delivery.

[Brandon]

Amazon must have seen my multiple searches on their site for various sizes, realized there was a need, and decided to "get in the game"!

 

Thanks for the note!

I just ordered a Irwin 10x1 tap on amazon and got in 2 days with my Amazon prime Sunday delivery.