Disc Caliper Metal Retaining Rings

[I Love My Landy!]

Good evening all,

I recently put new seals through the RHS disc caliper (AP Lockheed) on my '84 110. The job was straightforward until I had to put the new seal retaining rings in - they were certainly a test of my patience! I found that i had to reuse two of the old ones (still in good nick) as they were a smidgen narrower than the new ones.

I'm wondering if it is even necessary to replace the retaining rings? Can i simply leave them in place and slip the new seals in behind, then push the greased caliper piston in?

Thank you,

Edward :)

[86mud]

The metal ring holds the outer rubber dust seal.

I found that you need to make sure that the groove in the caliper is super clean so focus on this before trying to fit the metal ring. Use a blade of a small screwdriver to carefully clean out the groove.

The metal ring needs to be pushed in with your fingers first, then gently tapped in. I often use the handle of a shifting spanner.

I never split the caliper when changing seals

Good luck

[I Love My Landy!]

Thanks Andrew. You make it sound so easy, but for some reason mine were anything but! I wonder if my new rings were very slightly oversize? I believe they were a good brand (it said genuine OE on the box, made in the UK by Liberty). Like i said, i had to reuse two of the old ones, which pushed in a lot better.

Edward :)

[I Love My Landy!]

This is the brand of my kit (image from Google).

[BigJon]

I have come across those rings falling out of rebuilt calipers, twice in a row, two different rebuilders. My advice would be to leave them in place and slip the seals past them.

[350RRC]

I had problems with this when I did up my callipers years ago. Needed to re-use some of the older retainers.

There are threads on this site with info if you have a look such as this one:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/projects-and-tutorials/80224-servicing-brake-calipers-how.html?80224=#post998910

DL