How to Disassemble Calipers

Typical caliper mounted on a brake rotor.

Years of service have a toll on your vehicle brake calipers. They may freeze, leak or wear too much that rebuilding is necessary. These steps will help you disassemble and reassemble the brake calipers with new parts. Before starting the rebuilding process, though, make sure you can have all the replacement components for your particular vehicle model and necessary tools.

Things You'll Need

• Wheel lug wrench Floor jack and jack stand Wrench set Torx set Clean shop rags Small drain pan Screwdriver Hook tool Brake fluid Cylinder honer New brake hose brass washers

Instructions

1. Park your car in a safe place on a level surface.

2. Loosen the wheel lugs and lift the side of your car where the caliper you are rebuilding is located. Use a floor jack and safely support the vehicle on a jack stand.

3. Remove the tire and remove the brake caliper mounting bolts from behind the unit. Use a wrench, ratchet and socket or torx bit, depending on the type of bolts used on your particular vehicle. Lift the caliper off the brake rotor and remove the brake pads.

4. Secure the caliper with a wire; do not let it hang loose. Place a rag or piece of wood across the caliper piston---where the brake pad mounts---and apply the brakes to push the caliper piston out of its cylinder.

5. Place a small drain pan underneath the caliper, disconnect the brake hose from the caliper and discard the brass washers from the brake hose. Let the brake hose drip onto the drain pan, lift the caliper off the wheel assembly and place it on the clean surface of a workbench.

6. Remove the piston and the cylinder boot out of the caliper using a screwdriver; then remove the piston seal off the caliper cylinder using a pointed or hook-type tool.

7. Hone the caliper cylinder if you see small marks on the walls using a hone tool and a drill. Lubricate the cylinder with brake fluid, install a new piston (if necessary), seal and boot. Make sure no dust or other foreign particles get between the assembled parts to avoid premature failure of caliper components.

8. Install the brake hose to the caliper using new brass washers and install the brake pads on the caliper. Set the caliper on the brake rotor and install the caliper mounting bolts.

9. Install the tire and wheel lugs, lower the vehicle and finish tightening the wheel lugs.

Tips & Warnings

• It might be a good idea to replace calipers as pairs. If you are rebuilding the front, right-hand side caliper, replace the front left-hand side as well, since that caliper is just as worn and may fail at any time.