FRONT TURBO BRAKE CALIPER **FOUND** (1986 MODEL)

[Dico]

As above, the garage have just found out that the caliper is porous and leaking fluid, its my everyday transport and has been off the road for two weeks now. The mechanic is struggling to obtain this part as, apparently, its only fitted to the 86 Turbo model. Piston size 36 & 38mm. Am pretty sure its the nearside, but will update when I've found out for sure.

Alternatively, does anyone have a set of the later model front Turbo calipers as apparently these should substitute.

Thanks, Paul.

 

[sawood12]

Pourous? What does he mean by pourous? Is is a piston seal that has ruptured? surely it must be repairable. Anyway, have you tried the various breakers? also these early calipers come up on ebay fairly regularly. The calipers off a later turbo wont fit without adaptors. 964 calipers are also the same.

 

[944 man]

Cynically, I suspect that a lot of early Brembos are being sold is because they need work. When youre buying Id suggest only considering vendors who specifically mention plate lift, as in: 'virtually no plate lift'. Its not an insurmountable problem, but a decent repair couldmore than double the cost of the calipers that you buy. Ive seen a .pdf format article somewhere whichll explain plate lift to you: I will post a link if I can remember where (or perhaps someone else will). Simon

 

[944 man]

911 & Porsche World; March 2003? "Refurbishing four pot Brembos", was the article title, I think.

 

[Fen]

[link=http://fen.fotopic.net/p3775129.html]http://fen.fotopic.net/p3775129.html[/link] Are you sure about later calipers Scott? I think you might be but I wasn't confident enough to say so. Definitely Silver Rose or '89-on won't fit, but '87 and '88 220 cars?

 

[sawood12]

Well I was referring to small 220T/S2 blacks vs. medium 250T blacks. My workshop manual says there was a piston dia change in the small blacks at some stage, but externally they look the same (maybe apart from the raised Porsche lettering), but of course you need a matched axle set. Paul - If you are struggling to source a pair I have the front calipers I removed off my car when I upgraded. Mines an '87 so should be the same as the '86's. They were in perfect working order with no 'noticable' plate lift - well it wasn't advanced enough to hamper the removal of the pads at least. They could do with a cosmetic spruce up, but other than that they are good to go.

 

[944 man]

What sort of price would you have in mind there Scott?

 

[sawood12]

Haven't really got a price in mind as I wasn't necessarily planning on selling, though having said that I can't see me using them again. I'll blow the dust off them and make a proper assessment of their condition. I'm more than willing to let them go for a sensible price to someone on the forum. I'd rather see them on another 944 than a Golf. They're like vultures those VW enthusiasts when it comes to Porsche parts - hoovering them up off ebay. I even saw a MKII Golf GTi in the car park at work today with a reg plate with Porsche crests either side of the reg number.

 

[morris944s2john]

Its not possible for a calliper to go "porous" it must be seals and pistons. You need to identify which pistons/ seals in the calliper are leaking then get the kit for those from an OPC.

 

[Hilux]

Its not possible for a calliper to go "porous" it must be seals and pistons

Unless someone has split them and the seal has failed?

 

[Dico]

Thanks for the replies guys. I was away with work last night (wife posted this thread for me), so first chance I've had to read this . The owner of the Porsche specialist garage in question says its the first time he has ever seen a caliper go porous like this. Must admit, I've never heard of it myself before. The thing is the calipers were refurbed with new pistons and all plate lift sorted, it was only on test run that he wasn't happy as the car was pulling to one side under heavy breaking. On closer inspection they found this leak caused by the caliper being 'Porous'???? Anyhow, as I've said above its my everyday transport and we've been apart two weeks now and taxis are blooming expensive so I'm finding. And theres no sign of an end till I find a replacement. The garage owner has already tried various breakers etc with no luck so far. I'm about to troll ebay. Just to clarify, mine is the 220 bhp model and apparently they are specific to the 86 model. He said the later ones would fit with some fettling. So.... Scott, I will definately be interested in your calipers, assuming ebay doesn't come up trumps (I can collect from Derbyshire). Will let you know very soon, thanks. What seems a shame is that I may well be charged for the refurb of a pair of usless calipers and pads (which I supplied). Not the garages fault of course. Paul [link=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Porsche-944-Turbo-M030-Calipers-Front-Rear_W0QQitemZ190264535163QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item190264535163&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1431%7C66%3A4%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Porsche-944-Turbo-M030-Calipers-Front-Rear_W0QQitemZ190264535163QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item190264535163&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1431%7C66%3A4%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318[/link] hmm-

 

[Dico]

ORIGINAL: morris944s2john Its not possible for a calliper to go "porous" it must be seals and pistons. You need to identify which pistons/ seals in the calliper are leaking then get the kit for those from an OPC.

John, I've seen you post previously and you seem knowledgeable. Should I mention this to the garage, who have replaced the pistons already (and I assume, replaced the seals too). Or will I look a lemon arguing against a specialist with my limited knowledge? Ta

 

[edh]

Your garage must be trying to pull a fast one on you - it's just not logical that brake fluid could pass through solid metal....Metal that has been storing brake fluid under pressure for the last 20 years... Sounds like they made a mess of refurbing / refitting the calipers to me. At the very least you should get them to show you where the fluid leak is. That should give you a bit more information to have a sensible discussion with them. Wasn't the '86 model a bit different? was it early offset (23.3) hubs & no abs? - I believe the rear calipers are specific to that model year only.

 

[morris944s2john]

Dico quote:- " John, I've seen you post previously and you seem knowledgeable. Should I mention this to the garage, who have replaced the pistons already (and I assume, replaced the seals too). Or will I look a lemon arguing against a specialist with my limited knowledge? Ta" The 944 Porsche Brembo 4-piston callipers have a fluid pipe externally between the two halves of the calliper and one pipe going into one side of the calliper. They have a seperate bleed nipple for each half of the calliper. I have never split a 944 calliper but I believe there is no internal fluid connection between the bores in the two halves. I have , however stripped my S2 front callipers down to rectify plate lift, paint them and fit two new pistons and all new seals. I looked inside the bores and could see no internal connection between the two halves. If you did manage to split the callipers, I believe on re-assembly they should not leak. I would suspect a pipe or union needed replacement or a seal and or piston had gone to make the calliper leak, maybe they meant "porous seals"??.

 

[Diver944]

I can't comment on the porous question though I have not heard of it before. As far as replacement callipers are concerned, these are your options. 1. Try to find an identical calliper from a pre 87 Turbo which has identical 36 & 38mm pistons to match your other calliper (not many about) 2. Try to find a set of two front callipers from a post 87 220 Turbo or an S2 or a 968 (and also I think a 964) which has 36 & 40mm pistons. These are much more plentiful, will bolt straight on to your existing hub and use the same disks and pads 3. Find a set of two front callipers from a 250 Turbo with 36 & 44mm pistons. They will need an adaptor plate to fit to your hubs and you will alos need new disks and pads as your existing one's won't fit.

 

[Dico]

Paul, thats a big help, thank you. Looks like option two is the way forward as the pads and discs are brand new.

ORIGINAL: Diver944 2. Try to find a set of two front callipers from a post 87 220 Turbo or an S2 or a 968 (and also I think a 964) which has 36 & 40mm pistons. These are much more plentiful, will bolt straight on to your existing hub and use the same disks and pads

Scott, do these sound like yours? Oh, if you could confirm the piston size and price as the mechanic is asking. Cheers, Paul I'll keep you informed of progress. Anyhow, who ever said Porsche ownership was cheap?

 

[will lyons]

Anyhow, who ever said Porsche ownership was cheap?

To the contrary I dont think anyone ever said Porsche ownership was cheap, its a Porsche and with it comes all the expense it cost to create it Wil

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: morris944s2john The 944 Porsche Brembo 4-piston callipers have a fluid pipe externally between the two halves of the calliper and one pipe going into one side of the calliper. They have a seperate bleed nipple for each half of the calliper. I have never split a 944 calliper but I believe there is no internal fluid connection between the bores in the two halves.

Possibly a bit late to be of assistance, but I have split a caliper and can confirm that there is no fluid connection between the two sides apart from via the pipe, which is clearly visible and very obvious. (The Porsche manual is emphatic that calipers should NOT be split, but I never understood why. It was an easy job, as was re-attaching the two halves, and the rebuilt caliper has been working very nicely on my S2 for the subsequent two or so years.) Oli.

 

[sawood12]

ORIGINAL: Dico Paul, thats a big help, thank you. Looks like option two is the way forward as the pads and discs are brand new.

ORIGINAL: Diver944 2. Try to find a set of two front callipers from a post 87 220 Turbo or an S2 or a 968 (and also I think a 964) which has 36 & 40mm pistons. These are much more plentiful, will bolt straight on to your existing hub and use the same disks and pads

Scott, do these sound like yours? If so I will take them off your hands if possible please. It would help me out a great deal. Could you text me once you know and I'll ring you back? 07851295862 Oh, if you could confirm the piston size and price as the mechanic is asking. Cheers, Paul I'll keep you informed of progress. Anyhow, who ever said Porsche ownership was cheap?

I've been away for a few days so apols for the sluggish replay. Mine are off an Aug '87 turbo. The workshop manual says the piston sizes were 36mm/38mm until MY 87/88 after which they were 36mm/40. I'm not sure what MY 87/88 means but i'll measure them up and let you know, and check for plate lift. Like I said there was plenty of clearance against the pad edges when I removed them but i'll check.

 

[Dico]

Scott, looking at what has been said, they should fit my pads and discs, whichever of the two that they may be. I'm getting pretty desperate now, cars into its third week at its new home. I'm actualy cycling to and from work now, half hour each way (and suffering from frost bite!). I can travel past your area on Wednesday morning, and have cash waiting to be parted from my wallet. I wont have access to the internet from now as I work away. Thanks, Paul