Beta HPE Front Caliper Refurb Help

[Matt D]

Hello, I have made the hilarious mistake of thinking that Lancia Beta HPE front brakes are the same as every other car. After my dad and I managed to blow the piston out of the housing with a foot pump we realised very quickly that the piston would not clear the brake pad mounts. I have read a few things on this forum and elsewhere on the internet about there being some dowel pins which prevent the brake pad mounts from sliding away from the aluminium piston housing.

However, my caliper does not seem to have any of these dowels (see below images) and trying to seperate the two in a vice seems like a task I am not prepared to risk attempting without knowing exactly what im doing - a position I should have taken previously. I have attempted to drive a nail into the hole in the first photo however nothing freed off or even remotely moved, resulting in a blunt and bent nail. If anyone is aware of any guide, tips and tricks, or just a photo of where these dowl pins/retaining pins are located it would be of great help to me.

Thanks,

Matt

https://ibb.co/dzdkZS
https://ibb.co/jWbHg7

[rossocorsa]

If I recall correctly the  pin is in the hole you can see on one side, the caliper is very fiddly to do. There is a second piston behind the first which is (again if I recall correctly) held in place by an internal spring clip. Have a look at the link below, hope it helps

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KFexqPv3YQNEFtGP7

[peteracs]

Hi

I drilled out the pin and replaced with new one on assembly.

There are two pistons etc as per drawing.

The mount can take some patience to remove and will need some careful use of a hammer etc to slide it off the piston housing. It will come off eventually.

The other item which takes real patience is the retaing ring for the second piston from memory which I struggled with and needs great care not to scratch the bore.

All in all not a 5 minute job.

Peter

[betabuoy]

Matt
Finally, and I know it’s a bit defeatist, if you get really fed up with it Biggred did a splendid job on mine while I concentrated on some easier jobs. They weren’t that expensive either.
Chris

[rossocorsa]

I think I recall that some items can be reached through the bleed screw hole, use of a small piece of copper sheet or similar as a shield will avoid scratching the bore. It is very very awkward though someone else with more experience (ex lancia dealer mechanic) ended up finishing mine

[peteracs]

I think I recall that some items can be reached through the bleed screw hole, use of a small piece of copper sheet or similar as a shield will avoid scratching the bore. It is very very awkward though someone else with more experience (ex lancia dealer mechanic) ended up finishing mine

That sounds about right. The retaining ring is a bugger to get out and to avoid scratching the bore I use a bit of old rear plastic window from the Spyder. As you say there is a small hole which I used a thin round 'poker' to allow me to get a grip on the ring with some small pliers. Easy after the first time which took me ages to do, the second one was oh so much quicker. Remember to check that you have got all the bits out of the front calliper, check with the parts explosion as it was more complicated than I first thought.

Peter

[fred2660]

Hello, I have made the hilarious mistake of thinking that Lancia Beta HPE front brakes are the same as every other car. After my dad and I managed to blow the piston out of the housing with a foot pump we realised very quickly that the piston would not clear the brake pad mounts. I have read a few things on this forum and elsewhere on the internet about there being some dowel pins which prevent the brake pad mounts from sliding away from the aluminium piston housing.

However, my caliper does not seem to have any of these dowels (see below images) and trying to seperate the two in a vice seems like a task I am not prepared to risk attempting without knowing exactly what im doing - a position I should have taken previously. I have attempted to drive a nail into the hole in the first photo however nothing freed off or even remotely moved, resulting in a blunt and bent nail. If anyone is aware of any guide, tips and tricks, or just a photo of where these dowl pins/retaining pins are located it would be of great help to me.

Thanks,

Matt

https://ibb.co/dzdkZS
https://ibb.co/jWbHg7

look at these pictures

IMG_3811 by frederikleyers, on Flickr

IMG_3812 by frederikleyers, on Flickr

IMG_3813 by frederikleyers, on Flickr


after some time, even if this pin is not longer there, the piston holder and the iron pad case can be realy stuck together and you realy have to hit it to get it removed.

I cleaned the piston holder inside

IMG_3814 by frederikleyers, on Flickr

IMG_3815 by frederikleyers, on Flickr


this is the retaining ring we all talk about

IMG_3817 by frederikleyers, on Flickr


grts