Triumph Spitfire front brake calipers.

[Nigel Riches]

Good day to the learned bretheren of 7 ownership.

 

My question here is about the Girling Type 14 calipers fitted to the earlier Caterham 7's, (mine being a 1982 vintage car) ie later Spitfire original equipment.

 

The time has come to splash some wonga over the old nail, and some of that will be directed at refurbishining the brake calipers, new seals and such like, however, (that's no more than a posh "but" with one "t") I intend to seperate the two parts and give the internals a good clean out.

 

The question of torque loading for the bolts which hold it all together, in more ways than one, seems to be never dismantle the calipers to this level, lest the end of the world will begin, rubbish, they were assembled somewhere in Girling land, some where there is a figure for these caliper through bolts.

 

This is the figure I seek, and having trawled through endless pages of drivel elsewhere on 'tinternet I seek advice from the wise people of Blat Chat.

 

Thank you for your time in reading, and replying.

 

Regards Nigel.

[Terry Field]

Hi Nigel

 

I probably have a similar set up to you - brass trunnions etc (albeit 1996 vintage). The only reading I have is for the calliper to the stub axle which is 48nm (35ft lb) plus the use of Loctite or similar. Sorry, but I have never dismantled the calliper beyond that. Maybe an e-mail to Caterham at Dartford would provide the answer.

 

Terry

[6speedmanual]

JFDI. It's not that big a deal.

Each fluid passage will have a seal ring, probably an o-ring, at the interface.

What size bolts are they?

A m.o.r torque setting for the bolt dimension will serve to hold them together.

They are not very high tech or delicate.

Before pulling apart I would check availability of the seals or you may experience extended downtime.

 

Peter

[abbot]

You could try measuring the torque as described here

[myothercarsa2cv]

When I got my car the calipers leaked, just nipped them up until they stopped. Didn't need anything bigger than your standard socket wrench. I also had no luck finding a figure back then.

[Nigel Riches]

Thank you gentlemen for your replies. I have, however, found the torque loading in the Caterham build manual, it is 30 ft/lbs.

 

I shall use this figure, particularly as Girling have not responded to my request for this information.

 

Regards Nigel.

[ECR]

Are you sure it's the right figure ? I'm surprised that Caterham would include this sort of info in a build manual when the calipers arrive ready assembled ...

Your not seeing caliper to upright torque are you ?

[CharlesElliott]

Does here help? It talks about splitting the caliper (or a similar caliper).

[Nigel Riches]

Charles thanks for the link, I had found that previously, and it is helpful in some respects, however the bolts mentioned here are considerably larger than those in my Type 14 calipers, but good information generally, particularly about the small seal between the halves, not included with most caliper replacement seal kits.

 

ECR, yes indeed the figures are for the bolts holding the two parts together.

Quote from

Assembly of front Uprights

Section 4. 4.5. Final Assembly. d) last para states. ït is very important that you check that the four bolts holding the two halves of the calliper itself together are correctly tightened to 30lb/ft.

 

This taken from my copy dated November 1996

 

The bolts in my calipers are 0.25 inch cap heads, so probably high tensile.

 

Regards Nigel.