Question on installing the S12+8 Toyota 4-piston caliper front brake upgrade

[oldsteel]

Looking for suggestions... I just tried installing the Motorsport Auto 4-piston brake upgrade kit (Toyota s12+8 calipers for solid rotors) and ran into trouble getting a reliable seal that doesn't leak brake fluid. I bought this kit (calipers, pads and brake lines) over a year ago and finally found time to install it during a front end rebuild. Since I can't return the kit, since I purchased it a while ago and also painted the calipers, I need to figure out a way to install the kit without spend more bucks.

Here's the problem... This kit came with the banjo bolt stainless steel brake lines - even though it is evident that these calipers were not designed for this type of connection. These calipers do not have a machined flange (or even a smooth flange) where the brake line banjo bolt fitting attaches. Even worse, one of the calipers had a small casting imperfection in the caliper next to the machined bolt hole where the banjo bolt attaches. I tried filing flat the raised flange around the machine bolt hole until it was completely flat around the hole. In the process, I ended up shaving about an eighth of a inch off the flange. Now it seems that the banjo bolt is bottoming out in the caliper casting before it can be completely tightened (I used first aluminum and then brass crush washers to attempt to seal the connection). I even tried to place an additional crush washer on the fitting to see if it would seal--Not. So what do you think? Is a new caliper in order? Do you think new brake lines without banjo fittings might work? Anyone else have a similar experience?

[=Enigma=]

Sounds like you got the wrong SS lines. A banjo fitting is definitely not the right fitting for the fronts. Here's a pic of an adapter and the Goodrich SS lines I got from Ross @ www.modern-motorsports.com on my S12W vented calipers. I believe the fitting on the caliper is the same but I wouldn't swear by it.

Fits like a glooooove!

[oldsteel]

Thanks Adam. Hopefully I can work out a deal with Motorsport Auto on another set of SS brake lines without the banjo fitting 9 I'm waiting for their customer service rep to return my call. If they cannot make things right, I'll definitely purchase the Goodrich SS lines you recommended from Modern Motorsports, Ltd. From the pictures the Goodrich lines and the adapter fitting look pretty robust. The adapter fitting looks like it keeps the brake line further away from the wheel which is an added plus.

[Oiluj]

I got the same banjo style lines with my mororsport kit.

[=Enigma=]

You know what, I think I have an new set of SS lines for the front and rear for a stock setup. I'm not sure if the front has banjo fitings or not. I bought them from BlackDragon before I decided to do the brake upgrade. I'll check the stash tomorrow to see what I have, get some pics and put them up in the classified section.

[Jeff G 78]

On that note, I am looking for one MSA (Earl's) S30 SS braided hose. I had one fail (my fault) and I had to buy a complete new set. Now, I need a set for a second car and would rather buy one than a set of four.