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Heli coiling brake calipers
- Thread starter Tj 0785
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I have had this done before and I have to say I was delighted despite some people (mechanics) saying it should not be done on brakes. I certainly got someone who had done it before (a mechanic) and he was confident it would be safe and in my ownership of the car, it never gave me any problems.
This I should say was on a 2002 8l which decided after 20,000 miles, first brake pad change, to strip three guide pin threads on the front calipers. There was nothing much about second hand so we were looking at new Audi parts, which was expensive as you probably can guess.
This I should say was on a 2002 8l which decided after 20,000 miles, first brake pad change, to strip three guide pin threads on the front calipers. There was nothing much about second hand so we were looking at new Audi parts, which was expensive as you probably can guess.
I've not bought them yet was not sure if it's was safe to heli coil calipers. He wants £250 for them like that but I can get a non broken pair for £300 so unless he drops the price I don't think I will bother with them
Yep, I think you are right, no harm telling the £300 guy there's a set for sale for £250, wouldn't mention the Heli coils though, he won't need to know that 
SamHendry
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The cheaper set might end up costing the same as the other calipers by the time you bought helicoils/ stud extractors and on top the hassle of doing it and assuming the repair actually works, personally I would lean towards the more 'expensive' ones.
Helicoiling them is easy. I did it on my Brembo calipers when the aluminium thread stripped on the bleed nipple. Just drill VERY slowly. Apply some grease to the drill bit and put a bit of tissue down into the "V" seating area at the bottom so that swarf cannot get inside the caliper.
Only drill until you get to the bottom of the threads, do not go past this point, otherwise you will damage the seating / sealing surface at the bottom and it will never be fluid tight ever again.
Once drilled, run the tap down, cut the helicoil to size and thread it in. Remove the "tang" of the coil with needle nose pliers. Job done!!
There is no reason not to do it, despite what some mechanics say. The threads do not form any part of the sealing surface. All the sealing is done by the cone "V" shaped part at the bottom which you do not want to touch.
All the threads do is hold the nipple in place and the new stainless steel threads of the helicoil were certainly far, far stronger than the aluminium ones on my Brembo Calipers.
However if you can pay £300 for a good set then why bother paying £250 for a set that needs work? Helicoil kit alone costs circa £35 - £40!
Only drill until you get to the bottom of the threads, do not go past this point, otherwise you will damage the seating / sealing surface at the bottom and it will never be fluid tight ever again.
Once drilled, run the tap down, cut the helicoil to size and thread it in. Remove the "tang" of the coil with needle nose pliers. Job done!!
There is no reason not to do it, despite what some mechanics say. The threads do not form any part of the sealing surface. All the sealing is done by the cone "V" shaped part at the bottom which you do not want to touch.
All the threads do is hold the nipple in place and the new stainless steel threads of the helicoil were certainly far, far stronger than the aluminium ones on my Brembo Calipers.
However if you can pay £300 for a good set then why bother paying £250 for a set that needs work? Helicoil kit alone costs circa £35 - £40!
I'd grab the pair for £300 if they look OK. I had my Brembos repaired with Timeserts last year - look to have done a good job (haven't fitted them yet)
As above, i think you'll find the cost of getting that pair up to a reasonable condition will push you past your £300 option
As above, i think you'll find the cost of getting that pair up to a reasonable condition will push you past your £300 option
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Just buy a whole CUPRA £1600 - that's got brembo's or maybe just stickers on
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEAT-LEON-20V-1-8-TURBO-CUPRA/272825261333
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEAT-LEON-20V-1-8-TURBO-CUPRA/272825261333
I bought some Brembo LCR calipers for my TT. They looked pretty good on the EBAY auction pictures and had actually been rebuilt with new seals and hardware recently. However the nipples hadn't and I snapped one off.
Fortunately it was the inboard one and you can bleed the caliper with just the outboard nipple by holding it upside down to allow the air to move to the outboard part of the caliper.
Worked for me on the one caliper, pedal is nice and firm with no issues.
Better off spending a bit more money on a good set than hoping to fix a rubbish set. The pair I bought cost £300 with virtually new MTEC discs.
Fortunately it was the inboard one and you can bleed the caliper with just the outboard nipple by holding it upside down to allow the air to move to the outboard part of the caliper.
Worked for me on the one caliper, pedal is nice and firm with no issues.
Better off spending a bit more money on a good set than hoping to fix a rubbish set. The pair I bought cost £300 with virtually new MTEC discs.
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I'll see your Cupra with a S3 maybe even cheaper with Brembo's also...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-s3-8l-/202040189304?hash=item2f0a88a178:g:BuUAAOSwutFZfDb5
