Cajun99

Eckler's is selling SS calipers with a new o-ring seal design on the pistons as an option instead of the typical double lip seals. They claim these are better for infrequently driven or "hard" driven Corvettes. Supposedly they last longer and are less prone to leak. All the other regular vendors seem to be only selling the original double lip seal calipers.

I only drive mine when the weather is nice and don't use it as a regular driver. I'm about to replace all my calipers, pads and brake lines etc and was wondering if this was a truly better design for the long run or just some sales hype.

Does anyone know any pros/cons regarding this o-ring design or used these calipers???? They cost $10 more per caliper.
Thanks!!! :yesnod:

Chuck Gongloff

The O ring calipers are designed to prevent air pumping back into the system. If/when you replace your rotors, most do not or cannot "true" the rotors to the front hubs or rear spindles like the factory did. This causes runout...which causes air pumping back into the brake lines, causing loss of pedal. This is OFTEN discussed on this forum. I had the problem with my 69, and tried all the tricks. Rebuilt my calipers with the O ring kits on all 4 corners and have had no loss of pedal for over a year. They're well worth the few extra bucks. Chuck

Ken73

I'll second that - I rebuilt my calipers with the O-ring kits. Not a problem since! If you have ANY leaking issue and you've got the extra money.. DO IT.

Ken

johnnyc

I went for the O-ringed calipers from Vette Brakes and love 'em. Had them on my car 2 years. No leaks or air pumping. I drive it only about 2000 miles a year so I went with DOT 5 also....

Cajun99

Thanks for the feedback guys!!:cheers:

I definitely think I'll go with VBP package with O-rings.

GORDO77

I also went with VBP o-ring ,4000 mi this summer and no problems :seeya

Tom454

This is just a heads up.... not a flame...

In some instances, the "zero tolerance" setup can have a problem. If your rotors do, in fact, have excessive runout, the o-ring setup apparently works so well that you keep driving the car until the repeated bashing of the piston/o-ring against the caliper bore (due to runout) causes the bore to "egg-shape". I would suggest that if you have runout, correct it- regardless of whether you use the o-ring setup or not. Using the o-ring setup to cure -excessive- runout is like treating the symptom, not the cause. It's much less expensive to fix runout than it is to replace all four calipers.

marky mark

I'm having a similar problem with air getting in the lines. We replaced the right rear caliper, which had a leak, with a new O-ring style from Ecklers. Had a good pedal for a day and now it's back down to the floor. No apparent loss of fluid from master cylinder. Next I thought about replacing the master cylinder (not power brakes), just to be sure it wasn't that.

MY QUESTION IS: What is meant by the term "Run-Out", and how do you correct the condition? Also, I've heard that the master cylinder must be bleed (sp)off after the 4 calipers are done. If that wasn't done would you notice the same problem?
Regards, mark :flag :chevy


[Modified by marky mark, 2:33 PM 10/19/2001]

Steve Grodin

If you are installing a new master cylinder you need to bleed it before bleeding the calipers. If you don't you will just be putting air into the system and you will never get a hard pedal.

mrvette

I honestly don't recall what it said in the Vette Brakes instructions...but when doing any caliper 'ohaul.....toss the springs, not needed, no egg shape problems, no nothing....like any other brake any runout just pushed the pistons back into the calipers, and loostens up the pads for near zero drag...temps down mileage up...and pedal is only marginally softer....no loss....bad initial design....no reason to repeat previous mistakes....I have done this with the original type pistons/lip seal, and the O ring style also...no problems in over 5 years of performance street driving, including stops from over 130 mph, many of them....

GENE

BB68Vett

I agree that runout needs to be corrected by the o-rings are superior to the lip seals.