failing seal on brake cyl for 93 850

Paul93-850 · Post by **Paul93-850** » 27 Dec 2006, 15:19

Merry Christmas all!
I always do my brake pad and rotor replacements myself. My front left brack cylinder is getting harder and harder to work with. Last time I didn't notice if the seal was coming loose. This time (about 1 week ago) I took a closer look and saw this:

As you can see, the seal has come loose. I tried with zero success to push it back in. Is this even possible?

My real problem was trying to push the cylinder back in so that I could put on my new brack pads. After much fussing and c-clamping and close calls with nearly breaking the brake line, I got the cylinder to go back in. I'm thinking that this thing is going to be completely impossible to deal with for the next pad repair and that it may also be what is causing my car to pull to the left slightly since changing the break pads.

What do you all recommend? Replace the entire thing?

Thanks!

Paul
(I haven't posted in ages... but I still think that this is a tremendous website. Thanks Matthew and thanks to everyone who posts!)

Post by **billofdurham** » 27 Dec 2006, 15:38

When the seal is in this condition it is as good as useless. Even if you did get it to seat it would come off again. Obviously the damage has been done to the piston - it is rusted - hence the difficulty in pushing it back and the pulling to the left as that piston is not working as well as the other.

Replacement is the only answer, sooner rather than later before it siezes completely.

Bill.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 27 Dec 2006, 18:50

Too bad it isn't a front one...I have a spare pair of front calipers in good condition that will probably fit your car.

Paul93-850 · Post by **Paul93-850** » 04 Jan 2007, 00:57

MadeInJapan wrote:Too bad it isn't a front one...I have a spare pair of front calipers in good condition that will probably fit your car.

Actually, it is my front left caliper! And it is getting worse and worse. The drag from it is now bad enough that the car pulls to the left all the time. I'm glad I have a heater for my garage for doing this repair.

Thanks to both of you for the feedback.

I'll send an email to you about the parts...

Thanks,

Paul

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 04 Jan 2007, 07:21

I read brack cylinder and somehow thought "back."

Anyway, I would part with this pair of front calipers but it's for a '98 S70....not sure they'll fit your '93, though I know they'll fit later model 850's.

Does anyone know? My rotors are the 280mm and not the 302's.

CarVolvo · Post by **CarVolvo** » 04 Jan 2007, 10:13

93 specs are different than the 850's built after because there was supposed to be a difference in the size of the rotor. But not sure how the calipers are matched up.

Some of the online suppliers show that they sell oem for both the 850 and 70 series and they are indeed the same unit.

I agree with everyone else..get the calipers replaced because your only going to wear out your pads and more importantly your brakes will fail... resulting to damage to you or your car.

If you find that the 70's dont fit i have a pair of 93's available.

Paul93-850 · Post by **Paul93-850** » 04 Jan 2007, 15:13

CarVolvo wrote:If you find that the 70's dont fit i have a pair of 93's available.

Thanks tons for the help guys. Should I plan on replacing both the front brake hoses at the same time? fcp has some for 9 bucks ea or 20 ea for stainless steel hose. Any tricks for getting the hose off the caliper without rupturing it?

Even though I could use the 70's calipers, it probably makes alot more sense for me to go with Carvolvo's set of calipers b/c we are both in the Toronto area and I could save planty of shipping and customs duty bucks.

If that's ok, send me an email and we can take the rest of it offline.

Boy does my car need work... I have about 40 hours of repairs built up. Leaking engine oil out the top of the engine, broken AC, broken headlight lens, burned out lamps in the dashboard, and more...

A good challenge.

- Paul

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 04 Jan 2007, 15:51

Paul,
I agree about the calipers. Hadn't even thought about shipping to Canada and the possible duty- even if it was on used parts. In regards to your hoses, there is a special tool I believe that will make your job a lot easier- and plenty of PB Blaster or other solvent to help loosen them up. I'll try to research the tool and get back on here later.

Take your time and don't get in a rush with all of your repairs...just do the most obvious stuff that matters to the engine/tranny first. You'll get it done and then you'll have a fun and safe car to account for all of your work!

CarVolvo · Post by **CarVolvo** » 04 Jan 2007, 16:01

just wondering why you want to change the rubberized brake cables? do they have cuts in them or tiny "spider" cracks?

They usually come off easily from the caliper side of the system..but the other side where it connects to the metal hose uses a connector. Make sure you spray this connector well with a penetration oil.

I PMed you. The calipers i have were removed by cutting the metal part of the brake line so the rubber hoses are intact..not sure of the condition yet.

WOW i cant believe i found a Canadian Volvo Enthusiast finally online! LOL