DIY Front Brake Caliper Rebuild C4 Corvette (Everything you need to know)

[@colt5189]

I ended up spending half a day cleaning the caliper. As brake cleaner did nothing and I sprayed and scrubbed with a toothbrush, etc. Which would cause the brake dust to get all in the bores. Then I set it aside for a few hours and came back and all that brake dust in the bores had cemented already itself to the caliper when I tried blasting it with brake cleaner. So I ended up spending half a day blasting it with brake cleaner and scrubbing it. Used a qtip to clean out the two groves for a couple of hours, but that only cleaned 50% of it. Then got toothpicks to clean the rest. Really wish I had a pressure washer which I could have probably cleaned all the old brake dust off in 10 minutes. My goal was to remove the thick build up so no crud got in the bore when reinstalling the pistons.

[@metalhalide4043]

DO NOT use brake fluid for caliper assembly, you risk damaging the piston, bore, seals when you realize you cannot get piston in bore by hand then make the mistake of using C-Clamp to force piston into bore, especially with phenolic pistons. The piston and seal will also not break-in properly without assembly lube leading to premature wear or failure.

[@colt5189]

What 'assembly lube" do you recommend? Any good websites showing proper way to rebuild C4 brake calipers? Thanks.

[@colt5189]

When you put the seal in. Is it best to first coat the seal with assembly lube and then install it. Or best to install it dry, then coat the inside of the seal and bore with assembly lube? I know I've found seals generally have sealed better when installed dry compared to them having fluid on them.

[@metalhalide4043]

@@colt5189 Centric Brake Assembly Lube (KZbin does not allow posting of links anymore) is best but has got real expensive at $40 bottle, second best is the RED Rubber Grease, third best is SIL-Glyde Silicone Based Brake Assembly Lubricant, I used this one cuz I already had a tube, it states its perfect for the "entire brake assembly" and compatible with plastic and rubber (EPDM & Nitrile). Never use brake fluid, you will damage everything and its nasty to handle.

[@metalhalide4043]

@@colt5189 The piston seal will install easier and keep moisture out when coated with silicone grease / assembly lube. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5zQkop3ibqAlcU

[@liquidchicken7280]

@@colt5189 did you do it? if so what worked for you?