Removing Brake Calipers for mail-order caliper refurbish?

[Bellow]

Rather than have the car on 4 axle stands you could remove one caliper at a time and replace the wheel. That requires a clear reminder inside the vehicle to prevent anyone driving off in it. It has happened before.

If you do decide to remove the calipers, free every connecting union at both ends of each flexible hose (as this is a good opportunity to replace them) before completely disconnecting and the start of fluid loss. Do the same with the bleed nipples. You can revise the plan depending on what you find.
Breaking into the hydraulics is something I avoid unless absolutely necessary - for all the reasons earlier posters have mentioned. One uncooperative union and the next thing you know hard lines need replacing requiring undertrays to be dropped and time flashing by. Bleeding with ABS systems that have drained completely can be a nightmare. Clamping hoses is bad practice IMO.

Your call, but doing them in situ would be my method. Otherwise it's a lot of work that isn't risk free for little gain except for the aesthetic.

 

[CharlieRC]

Update

I've ordered the discs and pads, plus some bits like copper grease and some brake cleaner spray.

Also bought a £18 paint kit off amazon and some white ///AMG decals from ebay.

Plan is to paint them myself, half way through the disc/pad replacement.

I'm not in the mood to start messing around with brake lines, so it'll stay attached.

Next service will include full brake fluid change and bleed anyway... Just no way I can justify my garage's quote to do discs and pads.

Will do the rears myself too in a few months time, paint those too.

Thanks for the really useful advice everyone

I'll post before and after pics

 

[Bellow]

Also bought a £18 paint kit off amazon and some white ///AMG decals from ebay.

Plan is to paint them myself, half way through the disc/pad replacement.

It's good practice to open the bleed nipple when pushing the pistons in to accept new pads (to avoid pushing dirty fluid towards the ABS unit). If you do this early on you should minimise the chance of fluid spill on your fresh paint - though possibly your chosen paint is brake fluid resistant?

 

[AndrewOl]

When I did my the brakes on my 2010 A207 I chose to change the flexible hoses as the rubber on them was starting to crack. When I looked closer you could see corrosion to the steel pipe just for the last 50mm where it came out from under the protection of the wheel arch liner. Didn’t look too bad and there had been no comment on the last MOT. I bought some pipe just in case before changing the hose. Just as well I did as the pipe disintegrated when I disassembled the joint. Was a bit shocked that it was that bad. Ended up replacing the pipe section on all four corners for piece of mind but the drivers front was the only one that crumbled.