Honing brake cylinders

[Devin]

What would be the purpose behind honing brake cylinders? What does the inside of the cylinder do besides hold the brake? I'm fixing up my calipers so I was wondering about that.

Also, what is involved with a caliper rebuild? Is it easy to diy?

 

[Electricat]

Honing is done to smooth the surface the piston rides on. If it is scratched, pitted, rusted, etc., it can cause the piston to not move freely, or fluid to leak from around it.

A caliper rebuild generally means removing the piston, honing the cylinder, and replacing all seals and other "wear" parts. With how cheap remanufactured calipers are these days, rebuilding them yourself is largely a thing of the past: it's easier to just buy a guaranteed-to-work drop-in unit and be done with it.

Just FYI, in drum brakes, there is more to do: besides honing the wheel cylinder, there are lots o' little springs, rods, adjusters, pins, etc. to replace (or send flying across the shop when trying to reinstall them).

 

[Frank]

If I'm not mistaken, there's a seal that installs in the bore and rides on the piston. In other words, the surface of the bore can be rough, but the piston is the surface that needs to be smooth. So, no need to hone the bore. Replace the piston if it's not smooth.

Frank Whittle
'95 ATX

 

[mwt]

With how cheap remanufactured calipers are these days, rebuilding them yourself is largely a thing of the past: it's easier to just buy a guaranteed-to-work drop-in unit and be done with it.

gotta love 9 year old chinese girls

 

[38SHO]

Just FYI, in drum brakes, there is more to do: besides honing the wheel cylinder, there are lots o' little springs, rods, adjusters, pins, etc. to replace (or send flying across the shop when trying to reinstall them).

HA, I had some springs go flying on me about 30 feet and took me and about 2 other people 45 minutes to find........ I hate drum brakes

 

[AREA 91]

My 67 Impala has 4 wheel drum brakes! Now that's fun!