One of my Gsl-se calipers seized on to the slide pin. I saw that Napa had rebuilt calipers with hanger for ~$80 with core. Sounded easier than fixing the slide pin, so OK send me one. Put the thing on, bled it and parking brake does not engage. WTF. Is there an adjustment I am missing or is this just the typical POS rebuilt junk that they all try to pass as a quality rebuilt component that is worth buying?

 

On my 85' GSL there is an adjustment on the parking brake handle itself. Remove the cover and there is a screw on the inside that needs to be adjusted.

 

Thanks.
I'm not talking about cable adjustment. I think the parking brake actuation mechanism inside the caliper is not right. The old caliper and the other side engage the brake with something like 30 degrees of cable cam movement. The rebuilt unit goes 60 degrees and still does not engage.

 

Did you bleed that brake?

 

Yes, I pedaled through a bunch of fluid and finished with vacuum bleeder until no more bubbles in the fluid. Think there is a chance of a hidden pocket of air? Got any special tricks?

 

Yes.... I always have horrible luck with vacuum bleeders.... but I would bleed the whole system just to make sure all the air is out... I always forget the proper technique... which wheel to start on... anyhow, I would re-bleed with someone pumping and holding the brake pedal while you bleed. Repeat as needed. Also there are two points of adjustment for the e-brake... at the caliper where you attached the cable and at the handle. When I changed my gsl-se rear caliper I did have to adjust the slack out of the cable at the caliper.

 

Rule of thumb when bleeding brakes....always start at the brake farthest away (passenger rear) and work to the closest (driver front)....

 

I'm not sold on giving my caliper up as a core yet. I'm gonna try to unfreeze my caliper tonight. Mine is so much nicer than the rebuild unit except for the fact it is stuck to the slide pin on the hanger bracket. I have the stuck portion of the caliper submerged in a mix of left over PB blaster and wd40. I have this bucket placed in a hot water bath in my ultrasonic cleaner. Wish me luck...

 

Caliper is now off the hanger. The slide pin grease seal swole up and needs to be replaced, but that, some more clean up and possibly some reaming and it's all good. I'm amost ready to return Napa's piece of rebuilt crap.

Anyone know where to get the slide pin boot?

 

Off the Napa piece of crap caliper, lol :-)

 

Ha ha. My first thought too. Wonder if they would even notice. I'm going to the junkyard to look for stuff this weekend. I'll see if I can use a boot from a second gen.

 

I can check when I get back to Minnesota this evening. I might have some I can send you.

 

Wow, thanks. Hopefully my visit to the junkyard will be one-stop shopping, but you never know.

 

Found a slide pin grease seal at the junk yard today. They had no RX7s, but had an impresa with rear calipers that looked about the same and someone had already done the work to remove the caliper for me. Just got it home and it fits perfectly.

 

Got to like that. :-)