Reply to "Rear Caliper Pistons"

Thanks everyone for all your inputs and advise. I think I am settling in on the SACC rear conversion kit, stock rears for parking brakes and adjustable prop valve. Just one last thing that I need to get straight in my head: I am assuming that when the original rear calipers are used as a parking brake, all you need is the cable hooked up, and the parking brake lever mechanically pushes the pistons to set the brake. So in that configuration the bore and pistons are just lubed up and the inlet port is capped. Do I have that right, or am I messed-up in the head?

As a follow-up to my original post concerning the stock caliper pistons, I found an interesting article:

http://www.peugeot505.info/ind...ear_brakes_01&lang=1

At the bottom of the first page are some clear pictures of the infamous "pistons". Other than some minor difference in the shape of the parking brake lever, the Peugeot 504/505/605 rear piston assembly looks the same to me. The caption on one of the pictures also states that the pistons can be had as OEM new, but the cost of one piston is about twice the cost of an overhauled caliper (go figure). There was an overhauled Peugeot 505 rear caliper on e-bay not long ago for about 50 bucks. So it seems that getting a good set of pistons (reasonably priced) is still possible by robbing them out of an overhauled Peugeot caliper. The lever should not be a problem. An excellent Pantera Place article on rear caliper overhaul shows that the lever can be removed by popping off the grease cap, pulling the spring clip and slid the lever out. Put the Pantera lever in and you should be back in business. Just wanted to share that, for what it's worth. Cheers everyone!!

Pete C.
(6626)