Rebuilding LD-19 calipers. How to do it?

[ExKartracer]

Two things that I have done to get the air out and pedal firm.

Surge bleed the brakes - takes 2 people and the m/cyl(s) need to be fairly new. Open a bleeder and JAM the brake pedal to the floor. Hold the pedal down till the bleeder is tightened. Repeat as needed. Keep the m/cyl(s) full and do not use a mity vac or pressure bleeder to do this.

Caliper seals that retract the pistons too far can be "persuaded" to comply by removing the loose pads (one at a time!) and gently pushing down the brake pedal till the piston(s) move toward the rotor. You may have to gently hold the first piston from moving too far in order to get the second one to move. Reinstall the pad without moving the pistons back too far. Pad should drag on the rotor. Repeat with any loose pads.

JMR

[T644HU07]

WARNING, WARNING .... WILL ROBINSON ... WARNING

Do NOT mix up the calipers half's if you take them apart - they are machined as set - before removing them from the car/upright, stamp the tops something like "LFO/LFI" "RFI/RFO", etc. Failing to do so will require you to upgrade to new calipers ........ (I agree it is time to rebuild)

Also if Tom a/k/a "BrownsLane" will pipe in, he can recommend the paint to use from a rattle can to re-paint -- he uses it in his restoration and I used it - works great -- Also I left all the original seals/plugged the holes in-tack and with duct tape over the original seals +area I cleaned them by glass beading - and used liberal air to blowoff thereafter

I have heard the recommendation against splitting the caliper halves before but I never heard the reason why not. Other than keeping the two halves together of course. Is there any other reason? Also, do you know what kind of paint is suitable for a caliper. It would have to be a high temperature paint, right?

[SteveG]

... Also, do you know what kind of paint is suitable for a caliper. It would have to be a high temperature paint, right?

I used this https://www.summitracing.com/parts/vht-sp736 in a different color twice, the first time I didn't fully follow the instructions (cooking the calipers to cure the paint), it wasn't a very durable finish. The second time I did follow the instructions and it worked great, handled sloppy bleeding and brakekleen without any problems.

Steve

[kea]

When we rebuild LD-19 and 20 calipers, we split them, bead clean and then Zink coated. Normally gold

[jrh3]

When we rebuild LD-19 and 20 calipers, we split them, bead clean and then Zink coated. Normally gold

Do you zinc plate the bores also?

[kea]

Do you zinc plate the bores also?

No