Ferrari Mailing List: Re: leaking caliper

[Adam Green (FlatCrank]

I work on Porsche, not Ferrari, but the first step is to buy a new bleeder nipple -- get a proper tool ("brake bleeder wrench" aka "ring spanner" aka "box wrench" ... any enclosed tool, not an open-ended tool that fits all sides of the fitting, not just two) to remove the old nipple and insert a new one.  First clean the area of the caliper with brake cleaner (which will harm paint, fyi) then, once you've removed the old nipple, there will be some initial wastage, which should be captured in a clear, clean container and inspected for debris, but you have a choice: insert the new nipple, or try to inspect the caliper for debris blocking the seat.  The root of the problem is probably flakes of corrosion from the hard lines or decomposed rubber from the soft lines, but it might be as simple as excessive torque damaging the bleeder or the threads or the sealing "seat" where the nipple closes inside the caliper.  Corrosion comes from air carrying moisture into the brake fluid.  After a decade or three, things will have deteriorated inside the system, even though it's closed.  If the brake system hasn't been overhauled in the last ten years or hasn't been flushed in the last two or so years, then you might consider budgeting on having it fully overhauled -- new soft lines, seals and cleaning the hard lines and calipers.  On an old Porsche, this is not particularly expensive, but it's time-consuming.  There's always the temptation to fix only the corner with the problem, but all four corners should be done at the same time, all the way back to and including the master and reservoir.

Adam

On Sat, May 21, 2011 at 8:50 PM, Robert W. Garven Jr. <rgarven [at] gmail.com> wrote:

Can you post a picture?  Could it be the bleeder screw?  It has a rubber cap on it in the top right of this pic

Robert W. Garven Jr.

rgarven [at] gmail.com

 "The Ferrari is a dream - people dream of owning this special vehicle and for most people it will remain a dream apart from for those lucky few". Enzo Ferrari

On May 21, 2011, at 5:34 PM, Michel Savard wrote:

1981 308 GTSi: My left rear caliper is leaking a little bit through the outer screw. The one covered by a plastic cap. I only drive it on weekends, so it accumulates quite easily after 6-7 days. I only have to put a rag inside the wheel and it's alright. Braking is no different. It was doing that last year. I had noticed when I put the wheels back on in spring and never did anything. Sort of forgot about it, and it stopped by itself I guess.

Anyway, I noticed the same thing this year when I put the wheels on. I took the wheel off last weekend because there was a big mess on the floor, and noticed the 13 mm screw was VERY loose. I screwed it in a little bit. But I didn't want to screw it in too much because my notes (about last time I changed the pads) say, screw in = piston retract. I didn't really touch the 4mm allan key screw.

Right away I noticed it stopped I waited a few seconds and nothing happened.

Today, I took the car out after 6 days and the rag was very wet with braking liquid. Drove the car and braking is no problem. I want to stop the leaking before something bad happens.

 

Any thoughts ?

 

Michael Savard

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