+2 front brake overhaul

[c42]

Hi everyone

I am overhauling my +2 front brakes, they are late model 16PB(stamped on side) but the repair kit that I have been sold is a Girling SP2697. My concern is that the main seals seem to be too small; when I locate the seal in the calliper it is a very loose fit, so much so that if I were to try and push the piston in fully it would either try to force the seal down the bore or just cut it in half!

Could anyone confirm that this is the correct seal kit or not before I try to stretch the seals to make them a bit larger in diameter.

Thanks in anticipation.

Regards
John

[patrics]

Hello John,

The seal should be a tight fit in the groove, pushing the piston in to the housing shouldn't extrude the seal.

Regards
Steve

[Jason1]

Hi John

There are 2 different calipers that were fitted; either 16P or 16PB. You say you have 16PB but you may have a 16P kit.
Have a look at the SJ Sportscars site at the pics http://www.sjsportscars.co.uk/index.php?mod=10

Jason

[c42]

Hi Jason, I looked at this site last night but the seal kit looks correct although unfortunately I cannot check the diameter of the seals; the pistons I have been supplied with are certainly the OK - was the P calliper piston a smaller diameter than the PB? If so then I must have the P seal kit.

Regards
John

[Jason1]

http://www.canleyclassics.com/searchfor ... tno=SP2697

These are for the Type 14 calipers Elan not +2


Canley has them listed as:

16P = SP2501
16PB = SP2589

http://www.canleyclassics.com/?xhtml=xh ... roduct.xsl

Sorry I believe you have the wrong seals.

I believe both 16P and 16PB have 54 mm dia pistons but are different lengths and the 16PB has an improved dust shield.

Jason

[c42]

Thanks Jason, I will go up to Canley Classics as they are not too far away from me.

Regards
John

[Jason1]

Hi

I reconditioned a pair I bought on Ebay for ?30 but after buying new pistons and seals it was not really worth it as they are only ?44.55 reconditioned by Canley, that may be a better option as its going to cost ?15 per caliper for seals and piston?

Jason

http://www.canleyclassics.com/?xhtml=xh ... roduct.xsl

[c42]

Jason you are right, unfortunately I have the pistons now and have cleaned and painted the callipers - next time I will go the exchange route!

Regards
John

[Jason1]

John

That's a shame, it took me ages to clean mine and get the rubbish pistons out. I have seen reconditioned ones on ebay for double what Canley sell them for.

You live and learn.

The rear calipers are worth getting as a spare set as they are about ?150 to ?200 second hand on Ebay if you come across a pair but they must have the handbrake on them.

Jason

[c42]

Thanks for the information Jason

Regards
John