upgrading brakes

[mtnbiktn]

Going to Power Slot Cyro rotors in front, and I discovered the Cyro series is actually made by Frozen Rotors http://www.powerslot.com http://www.frozenrotors.com/ which have a great reputation. Is there usually any need to replace the caliper if there are no current brake problems and if so are some calipers better than others? With drums in the rear, is there a better drum than factory? Thanks !!!

[ddog]

Flush and change all your brake fluid. Clean and lube caliper slide pins and components. Clean the crud from the caliper pistons before pushing the pistons back in so you don't damage the caliper seal. If you open the bleed screw before compressing the pistons back you can force the dirty fluid in the caliper out the bleeder instead of back up to the master cylinder This will also speed up the brake fluid flush and replacement process.

If your real adventurous, you can get caliper seal kits, pop the pistons out with air pressure, just clean everything up and put it back together if it all looks good. Calipers aren't complicated devices, most important thing is condition of the piston and the bore. Caliper slide pins might have some surface rust,wire brush or sand as appropriate, if they are real bad replace them. Large bore brush from a gun cleaning kit works for cleaning surface rust out of the hole in the caliper the pin slides into.

Rear drums I think OEM is probaly as good as it gets, more than likely they just need to be adjusted up depending on the miles. Pull them mostly to check shoe condition, wheel cylinder condition and if axle seals are leaking. If all looks good, clean it up, adjust and put back together. Use your parking brake to help keep rear brakes adjusted up.

ddog

[mtnbiktn]

Thanks ddog for the parking brake tip. The back brakes were wayyyy out of adjustment, so much as I almost had a couple of wrecks. After turning the drums and adjusting them, they are great !!!! I thought when you backed up the brakes adjusted ?? Could be an old wives tale. I very rarely use a parking brake in an automatic. Will do the flush when replacing the rotors.

[Mr_Roboto]

The self adjusters work from the brake shoes rotating when braking in reverse then forward. But if you don't hit the brakes HARD in reverse they don't rotate enough to move the adjuster cable.

And I have a theory that once the rear brakes get loose, they don't work as well and the self adjuster won't work at all since the shoes aren't grabbing hard.

I just get under and tighten the brakes up now and again.

[cdnsarguy]

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After turning the drums and adjusting them,

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Main point....... when turning any drums or rotors is to ensure they are within max/min specs stamped on the item. Too thin a rotor will warp and to big internal diameter of a drum will cause only part of the shoe to touch.