On Fri, 8 Jul 2005 21:53:01 +0000 (UTC), wrote:

Having said all that, I wouldn't have thought that the precision necessary
just for a caliper retracter would require more than scribing the marks in
the lathe & then centre punching & drilling in the usual way?

Well, the problem came up in that I really needed all 4 pins, but only
made 2 marks initially thinking that would do, and by the time I knew I
needed 4 pins my initial 2 points were gone, so getting the angle
became...inconvenient...

My rear
calipers ( what a stupid bloody idea on a road car rear discs are by the
way!)

Why? Lots less complexity and unsprung weight than (shudder) drums...

are retracted using a nice simple 12mm Allen key, so no need to have
to make special tools.

The Saabs use a 5mm allen wrench to retract the rear pistons, or maybe a
7mm. Can never remember, but it's on the shelf of "special brake-job
tools" that I visit once a year or whatever.

My wifes' old VW Golf GTI had a a pair of
triangular recesses in the pistons - I used to use a pin spanner made by
drilling the jaws of a cheapo Chinese adjustable spanner & pressing in a
dowel of silver steel to each jaw for those - worked for 157,000 miles!!!

There ya go. I sure like being able to go downstairs into the shop, and
make something that looks reasonably professional, to take care of an
otherwise expensive or unsolvable obstacle to a project, from whatever I
happen to have on hand. Especially nice when it looks good.