z32 calipers 2 piece?

[FRpilot]

i have some z32 iron 30mm calipers and after removing the pistons i noticed there were a few more bolts on the caliper. i tried taking thse bolts off but couldn't. upon examining the calipers, i didn't notice a 2 piece design like stock 240 calipers but there is a very faint line in the middle, but it looks too tight for the caliper to be able to come apart. are z32 calipers actually 2 piece or just 1 piece and thsoe bolts are for looks (kinda weird if they were for looks and the came like that oem)

[s13srmadness]

yeah, they're 2 piece.
i took mine apart when i was rebuilding/refinishing them.
after i did it i realized there is no need to take them apart.

[FRpilot]

they seem sealed pretty tight. why would one take them apart? is it recommended to take them apart to powdercoat?

[kuruptR]

i want to powder coat them too... i just dont know what to do to them? how do i prep them, iv never played with the Z brakes before...

[Heartwork]

Originally posted by FRpilot
they seem sealed pretty tight. why would one take them apart? is it recommended to take them apart to powdercoat?

people take them apart to rebuild the calipers....
i did it myself and was pretty simple...
before when pulling the actual piston out because they can just fly right and and literally impale you...

i've also heard stories where people had their fingers cut off by brake pistons

a cheaper alternative to powdercoating would just to get engine enamel.... i didnt have to do much prepping other than carb/brake/oven cleaner....i used about 4 coats of flat black and is still stuck on the calipers, doesnt ever have the dirty look cause of the imperfections on the caliper's surface etc...

[FRpilot]

oh. tahts all the 2 piece design is for? i already sucessfully taken out all the pistons with the air compressor method on twinturbo.net

i guess i'll jus leave them as 1 big piece and get it powdercoated. might take it apart to clean the inside of the caliper though. how many pounds to retorque them?

[BlackS14]

I have taken my 26mm callipers apart in order to powdercoat them. Only reason is because between the two halves is a little rubber O-ring for the fluid cross-over journal that I wasn't sure of it's capabilities to withstand the oven temps when baking the powder on them. In the end I don't think you have to do this. IF you do.....DON'T lose those O-rings. They are not a Nissan part # and cannot be ordered (just a heads up).

In the end I think a nice gloss black paint would look good, but powdercoating just looks so much better IMO.

-Bill

[Heartwork]

since its apart, just go ahead and rebuild them...the rebuild kit is cheap and isnt too hard to do...

there are no specific torque specs to torque down the caliper halves because it was never in teh Z32 service manual....i think i retorqued mine to 60lbs....wasnt too sure and didnt want to overtorque cause mine are aluminum...

[FRpilot]

i jus took mine apart to clean them today. rebuilt as in rebuilding all the rubber seals? gotcha.. i thought you could do it when the two pieces are together but i guess its easier this way too.

when you powdercoat, should the piston cylinders be taped up as well as the ports where the oil goes? i think im going to have them powdercoat them as 4 pieces total.

[BlackS14]

YES!!!.....find somewhere to get some hightemp tape and tape off all areas where sand could possibly enter. Usually when powdercoating stuff they beforehand, get sandblasted. The sand they use is VERY fine and can get into the smallest of areas.

I taped off the entire inner portion of all the halves and stuffed kleenex (or some other type of tissue) into the bolt holes and whatnot to protect the threads from getting coating into them...

-Bill

[sykikchimp]

Nissan says there is no reason to ever spilt the calipers. That's why they don't supply torque specs.

[allmotorKA]

In fact, Nissan clearly states that you should NOT take them apart. Not sure why.

[FRpilot]

Originally posted by allmotorKA
In fact, Nissan clearly states that you should NOT take them apart. Not sure why.

DOH!! :bash: :hammer: :doh:

[BlackS14]

Originally posted by allmotorKA
In fact, Nissan clearly states that you should NOT take them apart. Not sure why.

That being said, plenty of folks have done it with no issues whatsoever so it's your call in the end.

-Bill

[Heartwork]

but then again, Nissan SELLS a REBUILD kit for the calipers....
you HAVE to split the calipers apart to rebuild....

[THX1138]

You do NOT have to split the calipers to rebuild them. I know, because I did mine while they were still bolted together.

The rebuild kit is just for the dust boots and seals on and around the pistons. Those rubber bits wear because they're exposed to moving parts and the elements; the o-rings between the caliper halves only ever see brake fluid so they should never really wear.

Just look at the rebuild writeup on www.twinturbo.net and follow along. If you've got a compressed air source and some wood blocks, you're good to go.

That said, I still wonder if there is an equivalent to the internal o-ring available anywhere, 'cause I want to keep the bolt heads clean and shiny when I pull my calipers to paint them black. It'd be much easier and give better results to remove the bolts than to try to mask and paint around them, and if I've got the seal exposed I may as well replace it.