Stradale offside front caliper seized

[philw696]

Never had any issues when I worked for Maserati in NZ.
I reckon it's the British Climate with Wintry weather and salt on the roads.
Had all the Brembo calipers off my Boxster before doing my Summer trip to Spain and Portugal 60,000 miles done and 14 years old still as new.

 

[slay]

Apologies if this is a dumb question, so replacing all these aluminum pistons used with the stainless steel ones would therefore fix the seizure issue? Or would a repair still need to be carried out separately in addition to have the pistons repaired?

 

[Zep]

Apologies if this is a dumb question, so replacing all these aluminum pistons used with the stainless steel ones would therefore fix the seizure issue? Or would a repair still need to be carried out separately in addition to have the pistons repaired?

The short answer is yes.

The slightly longer answer is that the original pistons are made of nickel plated aluminium. The salt on our roads causes the aluminium to corrode lifting the nickel coating, making the piston slightly larger and causing it to seize in the caliper. If you replace them they should then not seize.

 

[TimR]

I’d put money on it being a lack of environment seal ( dust boots) first & foremost...
Aren’t aluminum pistons are common place, usually hard anodised I thought....

 

[Zep]

I’d put money on it being a lack of environment seal ( dust boots) first & foremost...
Aren’t aluminum pistons are common place, usually hard anodised I thought....

Absolutely. So assuming that your pistons aren’t seized and the pistons are of a suitable design you could just fit the seals. Hmmm

 

[azapa]

I wonder if CCB's might generate so much heat if raced that the seals might fail?

Or maybe aluminium pistons have better temperature coefficient at those temperatures?

Just looking here for the reason for the alternative design to regular caliper pistons and seals... What do you think?

 

[slay]

I wonder if CCB's might generate so much heat if raced that the seals might fail?

Or maybe aluminium pistons have better temperature coefficient at those temperatures?

Just looking here for the reason for the alternative design to regular caliper pistons and seals... What do you think?

That was exactly what the garage told me, that the dust seal would fail because of the temperature generated by the CCBs, well if you race the car I assume.

This means the seal included in the stainless steel pistons could withstand high temperature?

Not planning to race the car so I am sure the seal would hold?

As you said, maybe the issue is not the aluminum pistons but the lack of dust seal which would cause corrosion?

 

[slay]

I wonder if CCB's might generate so much heat if raced that the seals might fail?

Or maybe aluminium pistons have better temperature coefficient at those temperatures?

Just looking here for the reason for the alternative design to regular caliper pistons and seals... What do you think?

That was exactly what the garage told me, that the dust seal would fail because of the temperature generated by the CCBs, well if you race the car I assume.

This means the seal included in the stainless steel pistons could withstand high temperature?

Not planning to race the car so I am sure the seal would hold?

As you said, maybe the issue is not the aluminum pistons but the lack of dust seal which would cause corrosion?

 

[slay]

I wonder if CCB's might generate so much heat if raced that the seals might fail?

Or maybe aluminium pistons have better temperature coefficient at those temperatures?

Just looking here for the reason for the alternative design to regular caliper pistons and seals... What do you think?

That was exactly what the garage told me, that the dust seal would fail because of the temperature generated by the CCBs, well if you race the car I assume.

This means the seal included in the stainless steel pistons could withstand high temperature?

Not planning to race the car so I am sure the seal would hold?

As you said, maybe the issue is not the aluminum pistons but the lack of dust seal which would cause corrosion?

 

[philw696]

Not yet seen stainless steel pistons in an engine yet and I also remember the woes one member on here had with stainless steel wheel bolts.
I would be very careful of changing non OE components on the car unless they are tested and certified especially with over 400 BHP to slow down.

 

[Zep]

The pistons are sold by Hill Engineering, so they will have done some testing and they are on a lot of cars.

We know aluminium conducts heat better than SS so there is probably a disadvantage there, but a slightly inferior piston or a seized superior version I know which I would choose.

 

[TimR]

I have t seen the piston profiles but they likely need redesigning to seat a seal...?
SS has heat dissipation, differences in coefficient of expansion, and weight against it. Not to mention it doesn’t cut that nice ( why they don’t use SS bleed nipples) and is chemically unsuited for use in aluminum ( they tend to weld themselves to each other)
Why Brembo used nickel plating I have no idea...Same goes with respect the environment/ dust seal...
Poor plating may also be to blame...?
Hill may have simply applied “ belt & braces” approach as they were having to redesign the piston...?
Why don’t Hill do anodised aluminum? Same goes for nickel plating.. Hill have made the choice but there good reasons not to use SS-
The caliper might not be designed to accept a dust seal either...?
In my ideal world, I’d retrofit a dust/ environment seal( assuming it can be done properly) with original pistons. If not...you’re sh1t out of option5....

 

[Zep]

I have t seen the piston profiles but they likely need redesigning to seat a seal...?
SS has heat dissipation, differences in coefficient of expansion, and weight against it. Not to mention it doesn’t cut that nice ( why they don’t use SS bleed nipples) and is chemically unsuited for use in aluminum ( they tend to weld themselves to each other)
Why Brembo used nickel plating I have no idea...Same goes with respect the environment/ dust seal...
Poor plating may also be to blame...?
Hill may have simply applied “ belt & braces” approach as they were having to redesign the piston...?
Why don’t Hill do anodised aluminum? Anyone asked...cos manufacturing them is volume & out of house dependent I’ll wager...!?
The caliper might not be designed to accept a dust seal either...?
In my ideal world, I’d retrofit a dust/ environment seal( assuming it can be done properly) with original pistons. If not...you’re sh1t out of option5....

I’d guess you would have to ask them! But it would be interesting to look at whether the seals will fit the original pistons.

 

[StuartW]

Absolutely. So assuming that your pistons aren’t seized and the pistons are of a suitable design you could just fit the seals. Hmmm

You could, assuming that existing pistons are still in good condition which mine clearly were not. If caught in time, maybe just changing the seals could be a wise and cost effective preventive step to take