Front caliper leak /swap sides

[Splant]

Looks like the hex adjuster bolts filling with fluid and that's before they're under pressure .typically I have a spare but it's for the other side! Can they be out in the wrong side interchangeable? Looks like the handbrake will be the same just the pipes coming out different places? Or even just swap the handbrake side /half of the caliper so main hose still goes in the right side ? Cheers

[alfadave]

Caliper rebuild kits on ebay?

[Splant]

Everyone says the seals that seal the adjuster unavailable ! Seems calipers are scrap because of these seals ,these are from 2 different calipers both leaking from handbrake side adjusters , I guess they're not a round profile so normal rubber o rings might not work?

[Splant]

Bought some nitrile ones off eBay hope they're brake fluid proof,

[LooLooSud33Spider]

There a very good company called Big Redd. Based in Worcester they do full kits and offer a rebuild service aswell. I know your in a tight budget (as we all are). but Brakes aren’t really the kind of thing you want to scrimp on or take risks with inferior seals .If you don’t know if the seal is brake fluid compatible then I’d proceed with extreme caution .

[Splant]

I emailed them they said they hadn't got any and don't do them seals anymore when they recondition them ,they said they have to reuse them when they get calipers in to refurb? Yes I'll plumb it all in and check over a few days for leaks .

[alfadave]

Stick a nitrile glove in some brake fluid, and see what happens?

[Splant]

Done more googling , seems it's epdm rubber o rings needed for brake fluid so I'll try that.

[chriswilliams]

Working on the same problem.
looks like the outer just needs the correct O ring.

However I have not dared take the inner with its hand brake mechanism to pieces!

Do you have any pictures? Was it easy to dismantle and more important was it easy to re-assemble?

Did you find suitable O rings / seals?

If this can be done we ought to write it up so that others are not so intimidated in future.

Regards, Chris.

[Spacenut]

Interestingly, I have noticed that the Alfasud caliper rebuild kits from Bigg Red don't contain these O-rings, so when I rebuilt my calipers they were not replaced. Fortunately I don't seem to have had problems with leaking past the adjusters, either on the inner or outer caliper half, but I would have liked to have replaced them anyway.

However, although the Alfetta rear calipers are not interchangeable with the Alfasud fronts (because the handbrake mechanisms are different), the internals should be identical, and for some reason the Bigg Red rebuild kits for these calipers DO include the O-rings.

I can't think of any reason why Alfa/ATE would use different adjusters in brake calipers from this era, so it may be worth buying an Alfetta rebuild kit as well as an Alfasud one (just in case the piston bores are different sizes).

Lauren

[alfadave]

Sud shop have "full" caliper repair kits.

But confusingly mentions inboard rear calipers??

[alfadave]

.......or maybe www.casafreno.com may be able to help?

[Spacenut]

Sud shop have "full" caliper repair kits.

But confusingly mentions inboard rear calipers??

I checked their site and the picture does not show the O-rings, it is the same set as Bigg Red supply for the Alfasud - two piston seals, two dust covers and two retaining clips, plus the bleed nipple cover.

It just seemed odd that the Alfasud kits don't include the O-rings but the Alfetta GTV kits do...

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/euMAAOSw ... -l1600.jpg

[Splant]

I got no where with finding the correct size seals , I ended up using atf fluid instead of brake fluid just in that side calliper , seemed to do the trick.

[LooLooSud33Spider]

Hi Stephen.
Personally I don’t like the sound of that !!!! Putting anything other than brake fluid in the brake system is not usually a good idea .
I’d have a rethink if I were you .
Lou

[chriswilliams]

I can answer some of the questions above:

I bought the Alfetta kit.

The pistons are different from the sud, so those seals are no good.

The o-rings for the outer adjusters ARE the same size and I fitted them and they are working fine.

I did not dismantle the inner side, but I expect that the o-rings there would match.

An odd way to but o-rings but I can guarantee they are compatible with brake fluid!

Regards,

Chris.

[Spacenut]

I can answer some of the questions above:

I bought the Alfetta kit.

The pistons are different from the sud, so those seals are no good.

The o-rings for the outer adjusters ARE the same size and I fitted them and they are working fine.

I did not dismantle the inner side, but I expect that the o-rings there would match.

An odd way to but o-rings but I can guarantee they are compatible with brake fluid!

Regards,

Chris.

Thanks Chris - as you say, an odd way to build a complete service kit for Alfasud calipers, but good to know there is a tried and tested solution for replacing the adjuster seals!

Lauren