As title, I have a set of rear Octavia vRS calipers but can't figure out how to remove the handbrake lever from the caliper to have it powder coated.

The rest has been stripped with no hassle, pistons and bleed nipples out and the brake lines disconnected but I can't seem to get the handbrake lever/bracket/whatever it's called off and the powder coater needs it to be done.

Anyone able to help me out?

Edited 6 February, 201412 yr by Kevin_Mc

Thought lever on them just unbolted and came off I don't think u can remove the rest unless it has to be pressed out

I'll go out and have another look at them this afternoon and see how I get on

Here's a pic of the backside of the right side rear caliper I took off my Octy Mk1 1.8T 4x4. Sorry about the fuzzy 'phone quality. The lever is retained by a 13mm nut, and there is a Torx headed (sorry, can't find size at present) bolt securing the bracket into which the outer cable fits. Can't say whether yours is similar, but hope it might help you.

Meant to update this earlier - that's the same as mine's, yeah. I got them off this afternoon, I had already taken the 13mm nut and torx bolt off but the bracket(s) needed a bit of gentle (read brute force and ignorance) persuasion with a mallet.

The only problem is that when I took the calipers to the powder coaters today he said he can't do the rears as the threaded rod that the piston mounts to was still in place. The oven would melt the seal and knacker it. Is there any way of removing and re-sealing this part?

Should be, but haven't done it on this type of caliper myself. Will be other threads on the forum which go into that, but my Haynes says "Remove the piston from the caliper bore by rotating it in an anti-clockwise direction. This can be achieved using a suitable pair of circlip pliers engaged in the caliper pistons slots. Once the piston turns freely but does not come out any further the piston can be withdrawn by hand." It will need to be screwed back in the other way, but this usually requires a piston retraction tool rather than just a pair of pliers.

 

Good luck.

It's not the piston I need out, that's out already. It's the actuator and I've read here that it's held in place by a circlip of sorts.

I'm going to get the rear calipers back tomorrow and see if I can remove them. I'd really like them coated the same as the fronts and not have to paint them

Edited 6 February, 201412 yr by Kevin_Mc

Sorry I misunderstood, but you're beyond my experience now. From the Golf thread it looks a bit of a s*d.

Aye it does, I'm going to try it today and see how I get on

Paint it!

With all the hassle to remove that and then get it refitted buddy i would just paint them. You may end up with a poor seal.