Procedure for removing Brembo callipers?
 

All,
Done the "start a job too late knowing full well you won't have time to finish it and that you WILL run into trouble, but start anyway" school boy error thing. Have a place lined up to send my callipers for a full refurb to, but realised I don't know how to get them off. Need help removing the lines......what do I remove from what? Main bolt holding hard lines to calliper....? I don't want to break anything.

I'm an idiot today....must be the heat.

Zip

Here is what Elsa says, although it doesnt read like a procedure. Hopefully someone has access to the online version which may give better instructions.

Thanks Goran+++ Interesting that it advises always replacing the calliper mounting bolts. Are they some sort of stretch bolt?? Foolishly undid one of the actual calliper bolts that hold both halves together last night in a heat-fuelled stupor...still can't for the life of me work out why. That was tight!!

Still not clear on what brake line to remove from what....looks like I need to unbolt the bracket from the calliper, and the calliper end of the brake hard line from the calliper. I'll have another look... In daylight this time!!

PS: what do people use to plug the end of the brakes lines when they're detached?

Zip

I reckon that bolt was tight mate, you did well to undo that one, inside all awkward and that. The socket allen type are the one's. Disconnect the brake line flare nut, at the caliper, M8 or 10 i think 8 i'm sure it's 8. Be careful as the flare nuts get tight and the brake pipe being copper might turn instead (sorry fronts have rubber flex). If you have a flare nut spanner can save you knuckles

If you haven't already I'd look at getting some braided flexi hoses while they're off. You can clamp the old flexi with some cardboard and mole grips to stop all the fluid escaping but you'll prob want to do a full fluid change or at least a proper front brake bleed after they're reinstalled anyway

Seen any suppliers for braided lines? Would be nice...

Those rubber pipes don't look fleixible enough for my brake pipe clamps....sure they will be.

Very jittery about undoing that flare nut...you're right: the pipe wants to turn with it. I'll soak in some WD for a while.

Thanks all,
Zip

Helps being 6'5" and far too heavy.....all muscle and no brains:-( Nicely rounded off allen head for my trouble

Z

You can get them made to spec by Motorsport places - will have a look and post a link when I find one. Earls springs to mind and Goodridge (sp?)

Those lines do look tough but they'll clamp, i used a small G-clamp :o though i don't have Brembo's. I did look at changing the flex's too but the further back the car i looked it didn't get any better, so i cracked the nut and twisted the caliper, it's really awkward but worked. I heated the flare nut with something similar to this
http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1373901638

I did end up borrowing a friends brake pipe tool to remake one of the pipes but it was a copper one not the flexi.

They're out! All quite straight forward in the end. Ended up with a couple of fingers off a silicone glove secured with a nice tight O-ring over the end of each pipe to stop weeping. I've got a Gunson Eazibleed which I have used a few times for reassembly time.

Unfortunately the end of the section of metal pipe from calliper to bracket moved slightly at the bracket end when I was removing it, and there appears to be a very small weep....hmmmm. Will have another look when I give everything a good clean later in the week.

If you're lucky, you may get a photo of the finished articles when I get them back. Got all new disc and pads all round to fit at the weekend (used Murray's Direct in Hatfield - nice bloke).

Meanwhile, spot the missing part...
Attachment 6384

I tell you what, trying to relocate a wheel and disc with no calliper in place ain't easy in this heat....:(

Thanks gents.

Zip

Whoo, well done mate and done in time for feeding time.

Missing part hmmm well........ wheel centre cap and wheel cleaner :p

Do you not have the plastic wheel centring doodar tool in the boot? makes lining up the disc / hub and getting the wheel on a breeze
http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1373905081
can be found on ebay and you can even get ally ones

Ah yes - forgot about that plastic widget. More trouble than they're worth most of the time.

Yep - managed to get them boxed and off to Nottingham for refurb next day delivery this afternoon as well. Not too much brake fluid and dust on the drive (don't tell the wife...;))

I've had 4 years of "black chrome with a healthy layer of brake dust". Thinking of going back to diamond cut with some alloygators for protection....love the original finish, but know how impractical they are.

Oh well.

Zip

Murrays are good, aren't they? I got Meyle HD rear discs and Bosch pads for mine from Murrays recently - is that what they've supplied you too?

Any luck with braided hoses?

Yep - same stuff as you from Murrays, and Bosch front pads as well. Got brembo pads at the moment.
Nice bloke. Was pleased to hear I was running a "proper engine" and not one of these "sooty monstrosities"...

Haven't pursued braided hoses yet...not had a chance.

Z

I picked up a set of braided hoses from Earls.
Seemed good quality and had plenty of different finishes but stupidly never got round to fitting them and sold them on to someone on here.

Will now have to buy some more when I finally get the front brakes changed.

Seen this place recommended on AudiSRS site which might be worth a look

http://www.hosetechnik.com/index.asp

If you want brakes that look to have stainless steel hoses they offer a clear PVC cover option, or you can go for whatever colour you like :)

They list early S8 but for a late one with Brembos will probably need some measurements from your existing pipes

Pretty. huh?
 

They've stuck one of the brembo decals on a bit wonky, but not sure it'll notice once it's on.

Downside is I'll have to wait a couple of weeks before fitting them.

Mmmmm shiny.

What was the cost for the refurb? Did they change the pistons,seals and that funky little plate that is screwed on(the one from my recollection fu*** everything thing up due to corrotion from road salt and so on)

:)

There are options, but I went for the whole lot:

strip, clean, regrease, remove corrosion, reassemble: £144
all new seals, rubbers, blead nipple etc: £39
paint (with 2 year warranty): £115
Brembo decals (high temp vinyl): £15

5 year warranty on caliper function apparently - pretty good.
Not cheap overall, but a helluva lot cheaper than 2 new calipers, and look prettier (IMHO).

They removed the 4 plates you mention (with heat), then grinded out the corrosion so that they lat flat again, painted, straightened the plates, and re fixed. Didn't need new plates (they're stainless).

I'll post photos (fitted) later...car feels great

Sounds like a really good option, good price, something to keep in mind for the future.

Pretty pictures...
Attachment 6578
Attachment 6579

Zip

For a pair? Or each caliper?

The pair.

Regards,
Zip

Brilliant! But I can't get them to answer the phone or email.

Have you filled in their template quote thingy? You'll get a quicker reply then. The guys answering the phone are wandering in and out of the workshop...keep trying!

Zip

Yes, I did the on-line quote yesterday. But now got a reply and a quote (very slightly different to yours!) so have arranged for A4 Audi to send them the calipers.

Thanks loads for the help with this - much appreciated!

Did you have to pay VAT on top of that?

No

Zip

Just checked - they went VAT registered on 1 September - b****r!

b****r indeed.....!!:(

Zip

You had these back yet? Good job?

Zip

NO! Not got them back yet. :mad:

They've been messing around with:
a) broken nipple
b) waiting for parts
c) waiting for paint to dry

They'll have had them 2 weeks on Friday!

Promised me they'd be in the overnight delivery to A4 Audi tomorrow, so I could get the car back on Friday. Two weeks of a 65 mile plus round trip every day in a Toyota Aygo is no joke! :(

I'll tell them to stop holding on to them now, we all just thought it would be amusing to see his Lairdship in an Aygo for a while :D :p

They call it an Aygo, because that's what you keep shouting at it when you press the throttle :)

Sorry to hear that mate. They were a bit slower than originally promised for me, cos they said their blasting machine was playing up. Hmmm...
Good luck for tomorrow...

Using a 12 yr old Civic alternating with an 11 yr old Volvo S60 sure made me appreciate mine once I got it back on the road. What was actually wrong with your calipers?

Zip

Not sure what was wrong with the calipers, but there was a lot of pedal travel which disappeared when the front calipers were clamped off.

As for the Aygo - FFS why does anyone buy something like that? For the same money you could have something decent a year old. It screams "cheap" from every component (but you can't hear it for the road noise). I've done more damage to my ears in the last 2 weeks than all the concerts in the sixties and seventies did!

lol love it haha +++

I can see the Laird now Neil at one of those concerts smacked off his face smoking herring's

Herring's what?

But, yes, I met a guy a few months ago who'd been to the same festival as me way back when, and he asked what I thought of a particular band's performance.

How the heck would I know? All I remember is that I was there! :D