Well, I have the calipers and disks on now... But one side is sticking again! Grrrr! It requires a little bit more debugging, but stay tuned folks!

Right,

So I've changed the calipers and hoses and now have a little problem...The brakes won't release after being applied! I've bled the front two brakes. Do I need to do the backs as well? I'm pretty sure that there's not air in the system, as the pedal feels firm....

I've not run up the engine yet since the new calipers are on... Would that affect anything?

Please someone offer some advice as to what could be causing this! It's behaving similar to how it did before the RX-7 Calipers went on...which makes me think it's a fault somewhere else in the system, rather than the caliper. The calipers are good, and been reconned. Grrrr!

I'll get some photos up later/tomorrow!

get someone to apply light pressure on the pedal and crack off the pipes on the master cylinder until you see fluid then retighten. There is a chance the master cylinder wont keep up with those calipers.
Adam

cool mate, will give this a go tomorrow.

What's the effect of doing this? Bleeding the master cylinder?

A few pics before my next question









I removed the calipers today to check that the pistons weren't stuck... How much resistance should there be in the pistons? Most of them, I could push back by hand. One pair required the use of a g-clamp. (but still moved FAIRLY easily..)

I think I might need to do a piston removal/cleaning....But not 100% sure....

If it's the opinion of the formum that the pistons aren't too sticky, then I'll refit, rebleed the WHOLE system. (Fronts, rears and Master Cylinder) and see where I stand then.....
Previously, I'd only bled the fronts...But thought there was no air in the system, as the pedal action was sound.

Sorry there's no pics of the calipers in place, I only thought to take photos once they were removed!

What are the brake hoses from you are using? As japenese calipers tend to require a double flare to join up? Make sure that if that hose is from a 300 that the conical shape inside the end of it (caliper end) Is the opposite of what is in the caliper.
Also what metal has been removed from the caliper? Is that to clear the bell of the disk? If so make sure you havent gone through anywhere. The Mazda caliper i first had i removed the mazda txt and casting block to find i had ground through!!!
Are the calipers seeming to bleed correctly?
Adam

300 calipers normally require a g clamp to put back, I wouldn't stress about that dude, just make sure that they run smoothly.

Hugely impressed with the progress, I know you've still got a bit of work but keep at it bud!

Hey adam,

It's a standard 300 hose, seems to work ok, the connection on the caliper is similar enough to that on the 300 caliper. They seem to be bleeding correctly....
I've ground the caliper just to clear where it was just fouling on the disk, but it's not gone through anywhere.

Are you still having the same problems with this?
Adam

After re-bleeding, removing the caliper and moving the pistons a bit, it no longer seems to be sticking to much. I think the caliper had just seized due to not having been used in so long. I' have to take it apart to fix a wheel stud, but the brakes SHOULD be ready for testing today.

Everything's running sweetly now. Except the car, as I'd left the ignition on for 3 months. When the chuckle brothers retire/die, I'd like to audition for the replacement.



Caliper and Disk On the strut



Close Up of the caliper with the pad/disk alignment shown



A bad angle of the caliper to adapter mounting. This was taken blindly, as I just stuck the camera under the wheel arch. I really need to work on my photography skills!



Everything on, under the wheels.



My work space. Not much room for manoeuvre on the left

The pedal FEELS ok at the moment. Going to have to wait a little while for the battery to recharge to test it on the roads. Feeling optimistic at the moment!

I've been testing this a little bit. The brakes work well. I'd been having ongoing problems with the brakes sticking, (before and since the caliper change) and I've finally discovered what's been causing it! Something to do with the servo....

Went for a drive today. Got back, and the brakes were binding. Removed the vacuum hose from the servo, and it instantly released the binding on the brakes. So it's either the servo, the valves or the flexible hose that's failed. I'm swapping the hoses and valves from my donor today in the hope that it'll fix it..... Glad I've finally pinpointed (I REALLY HOPE!) what's been causing the problems!

Wheeeeeeey it's fixed!

Turns out that swapping the Servo and master cylinder did the trick....
I THINK it was the push rod thing in the servo that actuates the master cylinder being adjusted wrongly. Used a different servo though rather than just adjusting the original. It works now.
The brakes are good. Now to get some photos and swap the engine finally!