Caliper removal, and, minimal loss of brake fluid Options

[Pat Garvey]

Over 35 years of ownership of my 914, I've done just about everything (no, I will NOT touch the guts of a transmission). However, I'm getting ready to remove, for the first time, my calipers for rebuild & have one concern.

Brake fluid. I want to minimize the loss of fluid due to the hygroscopic characteristics. The calipers will be off for an extended period (weeks) & I don't want to risk accumulation of moisture in the lines. There must be some way I can open the lines & shut them off quickly, avoiding leakage.

Or, am I making too much of this?
Pat

[daveyboybadion]

In a word...Yes. You're going to have to bleed the brakes anyway so why don't you drain the system and renew the brake fluid while you have the chance. Just remember if you have a system with the proportioning valve to block the flow to the rears and bleed the fronts first and then reconnect the rears and bleed them next or you may never get all the air out of the system...daveyboy

[swl]

If you put plastic over the resevoir then put the cap back on then air can't get into the system. Sort of like putting your finger on the end of straw. It slows down the leak.

I used a some rubber caps that are sold to cap off vacuum lines. Combination of the two worked well.

[Eric_Shea]

Or, am I making too much of this?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Pat Garvey]

Or, am I making too much of this?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Yeah, guess I'm making too much of this, though I'll try the plastic wrap thing. My garage floor has way too many stains on it, so I'm just trying to minimalize the mess.

Remember when you tried something for the first time? No, not THAT!

I just don't want moisture to get inside the sytem & ruin it. This IS the most humid time of year on the East Coast - average around 70% daily. Want to keep the system sealed & WILL purge & renew it when the calipers come back.

I can make faces too! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[Eric_Shea]

humid

What's that?

[robby750]

Over 35 years of ownership of my 914, I've done just about everything (no, I will NOT touch the guts of a transmission). However, I'm getting ready to remove, for the first time, my calipers for rebuild & have one concern.

Brake fluid. I want to minimize the loss of fluid due to the hygroscopic characteristics. The calipers will be off for an extended period (weeks) & I don't want to risk accumulation of moisture in the lines. There must be some way I can open the lines & shut them off quickly, avoiding leakage.

Or, am I making too much of this?
Pat

Are you wanting to keep the original German fluid in there? What about your tires? Do they still have the original German air? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[type47]

are you taking all 4 calipers off?

this might be something that helps: when i took my front calipers off, i rigged up a couple of pieces of wood to form an adjustable length.... "thing" that i used to depress the brake pedal. i used another piece to protect the front of the seat, then the "thing" to depress the pedal and a "C" clamp to make it the right length. i think i read on some board that when you depress the pedal and move the piston inside the master cylinder, you close the holes that otherwise would allow brake fluid from the reservoir. with no gravity pressure on the fluid in the lines, a simple cap should be enough to cap the ends of the brake lines. ... or vise grips on the flexi hose (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[ejm]

The original factory method to minimize fluid loss is to "Depress brake pedal slightly with pedal retainer and lock, so that the brake fluid will not run out when the brake lines are disconnected." This closes ports inside the master cyl and does work well. Use a long screwdriver or a piece of wood between the pedal and the seat. Loosen the bleeders on the calipers your removing then push the pedal down.

or vise grips on the flexi hose

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif)

[davep]

I make caps out of old brake lines. Rubber lines I cut the ends off, burn out the rubber and weld up. Metal lines I cut the tube off flush with the hex end and weld up.

[Rusty]

Are you wanting to keep the original German fluid in there? What about your tires? Do they still have the original German air? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

[orthobiz]

How about a contest to see when Fritz is off blocks and has his paws on the ground? Pat's car's been in the garage for what, three years now? With next year's Parade coming, we'll at least have an endpoint.

C'mon, it'll be fun to guess. I'll start: April 15, 2008.

Paul

[Pat Garvey]

humid

What's that?

Damned Westies!

[Pat Garvey]

Over 35 years of ownership of my 914, I've done just about everything (no, I will NOT touch the guts of a transmission). However, I'm getting ready to remove, for the first time, my calipers for rebuild & have one concern.

Brake fluid. I want to minimize the loss of fluid due to the hygroscopic characteristics. The calipers will be off for an extended period (weeks) & I don't want to risk accumulation of moisture in the lines. There must be some way I can open the lines & shut them off quickly, avoiding leakage.

Or, am I making too much of this?
Pat

Are you wanting to keep the original German fluid in there? What about your tires? Do they still have the original German air? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Brake fluid has been purged at least 20 times. Air in the spare is original German air. Only because I put a different spare in the car in '73, when I changed the tires - didn't want that good Deutche air to go to waste in the washer bottle!

So, what's your point?
Pat

[Pat Garvey]

My thanks to Type47, ejm & the omnipresent davep for responses that I can use.

Every time I think I've "done everything" on a 914, I find something I haven't done. Don't call me Nancy, but I like having my hand held sometimes.
Thanks guys!

To all the rest of you who've had fun with this.......well, I'd have done the same thing! Dish it out, but expect to take it back! Remember that! Tag..I'm it!
Pat

[Pat Garvey]

How about a contest to see when Fritz is off blocks and has his paws on the ground? Pat's car's been in the garage for what, three years now? With next year's Parade coming, we'll at least have an endpoint.

C'mon, it'll be fun to guess. I'll start: April 15, 2008.

Paul

April 15th, huh? Tax day! A tax refund to buy those stupid tires I don't want, just because they're original? Good guess. But, I'm an accountant & no one uses my money without paying. My tax bill will be +/- $100.

Hint....why'd you think I was pulling those chrome wheels from the attic when I dislocated my thumb Saturday? I may just surprise everyone & show up at the 2008 Parade with a bogus original 914! Or...not.

My bet would be for early March. And that's only because I can't turn a wrench for about 6-8 weeks right now. Besides, I'll need plenty of time for road testing & adjustments. Yeah, I'd bet on second week of March, but that's me.

If we have enough cash bets, I'll modify the schedule to suit my winning.

Some would call me sarcastic, or caustic. Others would call me a CW dweeb. Even others would call me worse things. All would be correct. Only Krusty can top me, and that's why he's my hero!
Pat