Trials and Tribulations of Rebuilding the Fixed Caliper Kelsey-Hayes 8 piston
system on a '70 Duster,by John Weyrick. First, the problem happened. The front brakes wouldn't release, car could hardly move. Second step is to hang around the Mighty Mopar cruise and ask everybody what to do. The consensus was to use a newer disc system, as these calipers are $135 each, rebuilt from Central Auto parts, the only place in my hometown of Orlando that I found them. They said this was hard to do, and it took me a week to rebuild the one barrel Holley that they said was easy. But besides the money, I'd like to keep her original, and let me try. With a Haynes manual to follow, off come both calipers to the kitchen floor. Doing one at a time, the caliper splits in half, exposing four little pistons. Following instructions, use an air compressor, and pop out the pistons. Wrong! Use the air and one of the two pistons in each side pop out, the second won't because of the big hole where it was. OK, then just put one piston back in, and apply air again. Let me tell, you I was using 80 lbs on a little air jet, and without the ability to thread it into the hole, I wasn't strong enough to just hold it there.  continued... |
Each month My Daily Driver publishes articles regarding these old cars we drive.
| "They said this was hard to do, and it took me a week to rebuild the one barrel Holley that they said was easy." |
