RE: 105 brake calliper rebuild

["Brian Shorey" <bshorey@xxxxxxxxx>]

> I have ATE callipers on all four corners of my '73 105 GTV.  
> Or rather, not on each corner, but in a box on my bench, 
> having spent anywhere up to the last 12 years in a box in the 
> trunk.  I've as yet had no luck removing the pistons -- they 
> seem pretty seized.  The visible surface of the pistons -- 
> the part that contacts the pads -- has some surface rust.  
>  
> Am I going to do any damage if I split the callipers?  
> Searching the interweb, many people seem to think that the 
> world will end if ATE callipers are split -- but I think 
> they've all been talking about functional callipers.  My 
> workshop manual hasn't arrived yet, and besides, if it's 
> anything like the 116 workshop manual, it will give details 
> about how to replace seals, but nothing more.  I think I need 
> to split them, clean them out, and have a specialist shop 
> re-sleeve the piston bores, and fit new pistons.  

In my experience, the problem with splitting calipers is that it won't
make it any easier to get the pistons out.  The best solution for that,
I've found, is to soak them in brake fluid, stick a small piece of wood
in between the pistons, and then apply compressed air.

After that, yes, I'd split the calipers and do a proper rebuild.  Clean
everything well with brake fluid, replace all the o-rings, and you
should be fine.  I've never had one leak on me.

HTH,

bs
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