Caliper Centering Problem
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Joined: Jan 2019
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Caliper Centering Problem
After rebuilding and rehanging trailing arms (66), right rear caliper is not centered over brand new rotor. It is very close to rubbing on outside (caliper appears too far inward or rotor is too far outward). Double checked that the spindle pull torque is at spec (150 ft-lb) and spindle seems seated fully against outer bearing. Doesn't seem possible that the outer race isn't seated fully in the spindle support, or else the end play would be way off (it's fine at .001). So does that mean I have a bent ear on my caliper mounting bracket? If so, is that repairable? Any other tests or things to check?
Thanks in advance for any guidance here...
Thanks in advance for any guidance here...
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: California
I float mine, don’t have to worry, but shimming one way to go. It shouldn’t be off that much thou. we don’t generally have to put shims there, so you have a problem. 
Those mounts usually get damaged in handling the spindle pressing! They tend to crack also!
Those mounts usually get damaged in handling the spindle pressing! They tend to crack also!
Last edited by TCracingCA; Nov 26, 2019 at 11:40 PM.
Safety Car
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Is this a new or rebuilt caliper, or the one that came off the car?
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...over-disc.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...over-disc.html
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Is this a new or rebuilt caliper, or the one that came off the car?
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...over-disc.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...over-disc.html
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Thanks, I've heard that. I took a close look at my bracket, and it doesn't seem bent or damaged. But I can't find any other explanation for why the caliper would be pulled in by 1/8" (except the possibility that the spindle is somehow not seated all the way).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
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St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
Do you have the right rotor? IIRC fronts will fit on the back but not center correctly in the caliper. If it is in fact a rear rotor I would swap the rear rotors side to side and see if the problem follows the rotor.
Tom
Tom
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Good idea. I measured the gap between the back of the spindle and the head of the bolt that holds in the parking brake shoe anchor (.295"). I'll take that same measurement on the other side and see what I get.
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So I swapped the rear rotors and the problem did NOT follow the rotor. It stayed on the same (right) side.
And I measured the gap between spindle and spindle support on both sides, and roughly same.
So I've concluded that it must be a bent ear on the caliper bracket. Anybody know whether those can be bent back with a press? Or should I just replace it?
Thanks, as always, for any help!
And I measured the gap between spindle and spindle support on both sides, and roughly same.
So I've concluded that it must be a bent ear on the caliper bracket. Anybody know whether those can be bent back with a press? Or should I just replace it?
Thanks, as always, for any help!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Connecticut, USA
I was going to say that it is more then likely a bent caliper bracket, typically when a spindle press is used. Unfortunately trying to bend it back is a long shot. When I take an arm apart I place the brackets on a flat surface with a large hole in it. It should lay flat, if it rocks it is bent.
To replace it means you get to setup new bearings all over again since the axle has to come out and I would not reuse the bearings once they are driven out, just not worth the cost of new bearings.
If you look down through the mounted caliper the seam of the caliper should be about in the middle of the rotor checked at the caliper mounting bolts
To replace it means you get to setup new bearings all over again since the axle has to come out and I would not reuse the bearings once they are driven out, just not worth the cost of new bearings.
If you look down through the mounted caliper the seam of the caliper should be about in the middle of the rotor checked at the caliper mounting bolts