1979 Fiat Spider 2000 Brake Caliper Removal / Installation

[moss1972]

Hi Gang,

Once again, through another common maintenance task that there seems to be very little detail on how to properly accomplish. I received some great pointers and a place to begin on here, found the manual sorely lacking in step by step instructions for all the small parts and proper re-assembly. Of course using my old calipers as a guide was a joke because they were assembled onto the bracket improperly. So...without further ado...here's the video I WISH I had.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQIGjLUKfq8

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Awesome Steve, thank you! Only suggestion I have is to grease those little metal spacers that hold the caliper into the bracket (the metal spacers that the 4 clips go through). That allows the caliper to slide around as the pads wear. Your spacers look super clean, so probably not necessary. For those not so fortunate, it can't hurt.

-Bryan

[moss1972]

Awesome Steve, thank you! Only suggestion I have is to grease those little metal spacers that hold the caliper into the bracket (the metal spacers that the 4 clips go through). That allows the caliper to slide around as the pads wear. Your spacers look super clean, so probably not necessary. For those not so fortunate, it can't hurt.

-Bryan

Were still prepping to replace brake lines in the rear so that’s a GREAT IDEA! Any recommendations on grease other than wheel bearing or other similar?

[DieselSpider]

Only use Brake Grease and this is a Critical Step not really an optional one. The grease should be applied to all the contact points where the calipers and brake pads slide on the caliper mounts but not applied so heavily that it gets on the friction surfaces of the pads or rotors.

The caliper wedges should be kept clean, smooth and rust free which is only going to happen with proper and regular applications of caliper grease.




Video: https://youtu.be/ryG07ohauT0

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/per ... per+grease

Many if not most issues with sticking brakes could be eliminated if people followed the required 2 year brake fluid flush and caliper grease replacement schedule.

As with any grease product be sure to clean out any old grease to eliminate the risk of mixing incompatible formulations and be sure to get fresh stock since grease has a finite shelf life and will start to separate into its base components of oil/wax/soap and pressure additives after a while.

I have a can of old synthetic grease for those that don't believe grease can go bad which has separated with the pressure additives turning to a block resembling hardened epoxy. Seeing it can be a real eye opener for some who never knew grease could and would do that even new in the can.

[moss1972]

Thank you very much for that advice! I will make sure this gets done.