piston size on girling front brakes

ButterFingers

ButterFingers

Active Member
hi there,
I am overhauling my front calipers because the braking was not very good.
The pistons were rusted in and I managed to remove the two small 40mm ones, the large one measures 57 mm but wins etc sell the large ones as 52 mm. So perhaps my caliper is not Girling ?
Where can I buy new 57 mm ones?
Peter
 
Your caliper should be a girling 17/3 caliper. You should be able to read this on the casting. As far as I know that was the only type used on the 3500, but others here will be able to comfirm this.

A good brake shop that might be able to help in Australia is Power Brakes in Gillies Plains powerbrakes.com.au.
 
Hi Peter,

The normal U.K suppliers can no doubt supply new pistons. You could also take your calipers to an Australian brake business and have them overhauled, with the pistons plated.

Ron.
 
Hi there, thanks for all the advice.
I have found a company in Victoria that sells parts for Rover P6's, British auto parts
Land Rover Parts - Search Results
unfortunately there is no brake place in Taree, Bursons Auto group, bought the local one up and then closed it down.
They now send all calipers to a place in Queensland for overhaul, they quoted about $430.00 each, so it looks like I will buy the parts and do it myself!
Peter
 
The front calipers are the almost same as a 68 Jaguar XJ. Apple Hydraulics’ (on Long Island) website says they can sleeve in brass, and overhaul for $145. You can sent up to 20 lbs in a flat rate box to Australia from NY, in a US postal service flat rate box for $60. Applehydraulicsonline.com . You might want to email them.

They just sleeved a Rover 2000 master cylinder for me, and they have done Dunlop brake pistons for me in the past. About a 1 week turn around. An option for you to consider.

If you do come across Jaguar caliper, the difference is there is a spacer that needs to be taken out. I have seen them on eBay in the past, but I cannot see any right now!
 
hi there,
Curiosity got the better of me yesterday, concerning the front caliper and I did what the workshop manual said not to do.:(
I undid the 4 bolts and split the caliper housing to see what is inside....tut tut you may say, tut tut..:eek:

Well I'm very glad that I did, one of the fluid holes between the housing was completely blocked, no fluid would be going through there in a hurry.

I carefully chipped it out and found that the passageway goes down to the cup at an angle, I pushed a probe down and a sausage of gunk came out, chipolata style..:cool:
it is now all clean and ready for the new pistons coming from Winns, so everything will sit on the bench for about 3 weeks.
I will leave it in the split condition, it will make it 100% easier to install the seals, cups and outer dust covers. Would be a difficult job if joined, maybe impossible for large hands?

It has now got me thinking about the first caliper that is cleaned and waiting too for new pistons, I did not split it, but just prepared it for the new parts.
So today I am going to split it and see if it to has a blocked oil-way....
Such is life, the joy of owning an old car, having ones bank balance diminish in a quick smart action...life was not meant to be easy
Peter
 
I remember doing that back in the late 70's when I knew no better. I rebuilt the front caliper on my TC, just took it apart, wire brushed it, painted it, then looked at the manual about how to put it back together.

:confused: D'oh!

"On no account, separate the two halves..... etc."

I did drive the car for several years afterwards, and it never leaked, so no harm done :)

Richard
 
hi there,
UPDATE:
I checked the other caliper and it too was blocked, so cleaned it out and left not-assembled, ready for new pistons and seals.
Note:-The seal kits come with 2 small rubber "O" rings for assembling the two half's together.
Peter
 
quattro said:
I remember doing that back in the late 70's when I knew no better. I rebuilt the front caliper on my TC, just took it apart, wire brushed it, painted it, then looked at the manual about how to put it back together.

:confused: D'oh!

"On no account, separate the two halves..... etc."

I did drive the car for several years afterwards, and it never leaked, so no harm done :)

Richard
Click to expand...

Would you still do the same, now much wiser, richer, more cautious, and not a risk taker?
Peter
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top