I"m helping a friend with his
Cayman S
later this week. We are going to rebuild the front and rear calipers. I've not done this for many years and there is one thing I dont remember...
How do you stop the brake fluid from draining out of the brake line once the caliper is removed?
The only thing that I know to do is put a piece of saran wrap over the MC and screw the lid back on the so the vent is blocked. That way you get a "suction" that prevents the fluid running out completely. It does not work 100%.
I have often though some one should make caps for the different brake lines. Never looked may they do?
I think if you used needle nose vice grips to "pinch" the brake line it might damage it.
Check
Amazon
their are clamps made for this specific purpose.
Don't try to stop it from running out. If you are rebuilding the calipers, you should almost certainly be flushing the brake fluid. Brake fluid absorbs water over time. This causes corrosion. Old brake fluid is 9 times out of 10 the reason the calipers failed.
I always like to start my comments with the disclaimer "I'm no expert", and I've never pulled the calipers off my 987, but I've done numerous other cars over the last few decades. Here are my comments:
1) saran wrap would probably work, but I always slightly depress the brake pedal. You want to get the
master cylinder
piston past the port to the reservoir, but before you've pressurized the system. Maybe saran wrap is easier. This will not entirely stop the dribble, but will definitely slow it down. Maybe some kind of rubber plug could be used, but never tried it - just put up with the dribbling. Suspend the open line as high as you can to reduce dribble.
2) I really can't imagine clamping a brake hose without damaging it. I've never seen it done and would be leery until an acknowledged expert told me it was OK, but really, #1 works fine.
3) Of course you will also flush the brake fluid, but the less fluid you lose, the easier it will be to get all the air bubbles out, so minimize fluid loss as much as possible per #1.
I just stick a rubber vacuum cap on the hard line. Keeps it from leaking and making a mess.
The vacuum caps are ideal but if you don't have any handy, cut a couple of fingers off of a pair of nitrile/thin rubber work gloves, (supposing you have them for working on motors) pop them over and up the the pipe end like a condom, stretch them a tad to help seal the end, then a small cable tie keeps them there until you're ready. Works with condoms too come to think on it!!
Doubling them up can help for those occasions when you forget about the open ends and accidentally press the brake pedal, stretchy. Not that I've ever forgot ;-)
