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Front Brake Caliper Seal

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Old Nov 14th, 2018, 16:29   #1
MWMan
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Default Front Brake Caliper Seal

It had to happen I guess. !45,000 miles and the front NS caliper seized on me.

I have stripped the caliper (some corrosion on the piston, and the seal obviously damaged). I bought a new seal and piston kit from Bigg Red, and it looks to be an exact match for the Volvo parts I'm taking off. However............ having cleaned everything up really well, and applying plenty of rubber grease, I am really struggling to get the outer seal in place. I have searched the internet and there are quite a few videos on refitting the seals, but they are all different to ours. The V70 outer seal fits over the piston housing, and the seal had a reinforced outer edge to fit onto the housing. Because its reinforced, its not very stretchy, and I am really struggling to get it pull over and fit onto the sealing ring. My worry is I will rip the rubber seal.

Has anyone on the forum done this before? Is there an easy (easier) way to get the seal into place. Its probably just a case of using carefully controlled brute force, but I thought I would ask, before I wreck the seal.

Thanks

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Old Nov 14th, 2018, 22:49   #2
cheshired5
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Basic I know but I'm just wondering if warming the seal with a hairdryer would soften it up enough to make it easier to work with?

That's what I'd try initially.
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Old Nov 14th, 2018, 23:03   #3
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Also, if you look at this video from 11 minutes in where he fits the seal before fitting the piston then lines up the piston and uses a foot pump/compressed air to blow the seal sides back over the piston.
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Old Nov 14th, 2018, 23:43   #4
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It's probably just my experience, but I first used a Big Red kit on a non- Volvo about 10 years ago, and everything was fine.
I then 'attempted' to use another one of their kits about 5 years ago, and found that the 'dust cover' was made from what looked and felt more like plastic than the normal pliable rubber - just cheap and nasty looking and feeling.
Ended up buying reconditioned calipers.
Have things changed again, or was I just unlucky at that time?
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Old Nov 15th, 2018, 06:16   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cheshired5 View Post
Basic I know but I'm just wondering if warming the seal with a hairdryer would soften it up enough to make it easier to work with?


That's what I'd try initially.
Good point, I will try that today. It only needs a little bit of movement and I'm sure it will pop on - and stay on hopefully!

Quote:
Originally Posted by cheshired5 View Post
Also, if you look at this video from 11 minutes in where he fits the seal before fitting the piston then lines up the piston and uses a foot pump/compressed air to blow the seal sides back over the piston.
This is a very good video and the one I had been using as a guide. When it comes to fitting the outer seal however, the caliper he is overhauling has two sealing slots inside the caliper. One for the inner sealing ring (like ours) and one for the outer seal (not like ours). Our caliper outer seal just slips over the sealing ring. Its tight to get on obviously, but tightness looks like its the only thing that keeps it in place once its there. I'm now worried about the grease I have put on to help get it on - it might help it come off again!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Austin160 View Post
It's probably just my experience, but I first used a Big Red kit on a non- Volvo about 10 years ago, and everything was fine.
I then 'attempted' to use another one of their kits about 5 years ago, and found that the 'dust cover' was made from what looked and felt more like plastic than the normal pliable rubber - just cheap and nasty looking and feeling.
Ended up buying reconditioned calipers.
Have things changed again, or was I just unlucky at that time?
I did a bit of research before buying them and Bigg Red seemed to get good feedback from users. The guy in the video Simon attached, is also using Bigg Red parts. The seal quality looks good, but I was concerned about the machining of the cylinders. However, having checked them with my digital calipers, they are as near as dammit exactly the same diameter.

Thanks both for the feedback - I'll try again today and report back
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Old Nov 15th, 2018, 17:05   #6
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You know what, give in and just buy a reconditioned caliper. There's only so much of a fight that you can put up against a world that is determined to make everything around us completely disposable.
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Old Nov 16th, 2018, 07:14   #7
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Originally Posted by pierremcalpine View Post
You know what, give in and just buy a reconditioned caliper. There's only so much of a fight that you can put up against a world that is determined to make everything around us completely disposable.
Well you hit the nail on the head there. I went back into the garage yesterday and gave it another good go. After 1/2 an hour of trying everything I could, I went onto the computer and ordered two new front calipers. I hate giving in on things like this, but there is obliviously a special tool needed to get these seals on and to stay on. I went for new, as I'm keeping the car into the long term, and they are not that expensive.
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