truckin-on Posted October 17, 2022 Share Posted October 17, 2022 (edited) My '89 S3 Caterham DiDion has dragging rear brakes. It's not the handbrake, so I suspect the calipers are a bit crusty inside. They don't look as though they have been off the car since '89. Are there any US sources for rebuild kits or replacement calipers, or do I have to go UK? I did a search for this, but haven't come across any relevant posts (yet). The calipers are Ford, with 0659/7 and 0658/4 stamped on them. Could they be the same as a Merkur XR4Ti? Thanks! Edited October 17, 2022 by truckin-on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferrino Posted October 17, 2022 Share Posted October 17, 2022 I am restoring an imperial Caterham and had no Sierra rear calipers to start with. I bought a new set for 210 GBP, including shipping to US. They came from Bigg Red: https://www.biggred.co.uk/ Note: these are not made by Ford, but they reassured me that they had no issues with them at all (based on many sales) and were happy with the quality. Bigg Red has a good reputation. If I were you, I'd drop them an e-mail and see if they can supply a rebuild kit for your originals. Alternatively, slap your OEM units in the mail and have them refurn them - either with zinc plating or powder coating etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnifeySpoony Posted October 17, 2022 Share Posted October 17, 2022 My understanding is the xr4 was a ford sierra in the uk, and our rear calipers are indeed sierra calipers. However i think they are modified slightly to clear the radius arm or something else if I'm not mistaken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truckin-on Posted October 17, 2022 Author Share Posted October 17, 2022 2 hours ago, Ferrino said: I am restoring an imperial Caterham and had no Sierra rear calipers to start with. I bought a new set for 210 GBP, including shipping to US. They came from Bigg Red: https://www.biggred.co.uk/ Note: these are not made by Ford, but they reassured me that they had no issues with them at all (based on many sales) and were happy with the quality. Bigg Red has a good reputation. If I were you, I'd drop them an e-mail and see if they can supply a rebuild kit for your originals. Alternatively, slap your OEM units in the mail and have them refurn them - either with zinc plating or powder coating etc. Thanks for the link - I'll contact them Monday and see what they have! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truckin-on Posted October 17, 2022 Author Share Posted October 17, 2022 Thanks Ferrino! Tony @ Biggred was very responsive and got right back to me. Link to kit and calipers: Seals and Pistons Link to calipers: Calipers I've enquired about a kit for the front calipers - Spitfire I believe - and will order a set for both axles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dallasdude Posted October 17, 2022 Share Posted October 17, 2022 4 hours ago, truckin-on said: Thanks Ferrino! Tony @ Biggred was very responsive and got right back to me. Link to kit and calipers: Seals and Pistons Link to calipers: Calipers I've enquired about a kit for the front calipers - Spitfire I believe - and will order a set for both axles. Moss Motors or Pegasus Racing can fix you up on the front kits. Much easier to deal wit than the rears. There is one trick on the rear calipers.....you have to screw the pistons back in after they adjust out. I use the same tool I use to change out disks on my 5 inch angle grinder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7Westfield Posted October 18, 2022 Share Posted October 18, 2022 If you do the Spitfire calipers, be sure to order the seal that goes between the caliper halves. It's not included in the rebuild kits. Some places will tell you not to split the calipers, but I've never had an issue, and it does make it easier. DO NOT REUSE THE OLD SEAL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truckin-on Posted October 18, 2022 Author Share Posted October 18, 2022 8 hours ago, 7Westfield said: If you do the Spitfire calipers, be sure to order the seal that goes between the caliper halves. It's not included in the rebuild kits. Some places will tell you not to split the calipers, but I've never had an issue, and it does make it easier. DO NOT REUSE THE OLD SEAL Thanks - I knew about this seal, but had not picked-up on it not being in the kits. Biggred said they would include them if I asked - nice of them! Here's the link to the Front (Spitfire) caliper kits: S3 (Spitfire) front caliper kit Order placed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truckin-on Posted January 2, 2023 Author Share Posted January 2, 2023 (edited) In the middle of rebuilding my calipers, and had not previously run into rear calipers with hand brake mechanisms like the Ford Sierra ones on the S3. A bit of poking around and found this Ford shop manual that covers the rear calipers on the Caterham (at least mine) quite well. Pages 77 to 83 in the PDF - for future reference - may save someone from the search in the future: https://www.dropbox.com/s/6tbdi6wmpewlloi/80-Ford-Sierra-RS-Cosworth-Factory-Service-Manual.pdf?dl=0 Edited January 2, 2023 by truckin-on 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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