caliper gone?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 572
Likes: 61
caliper gone?
I pulled off the last caliper today and took it apart to evaluate it. I noticed a small hole where the bolt that holds the two halves together bottoms out. Is this caliper junk? It looks like the threads go pretty deep into the caliper. Does this small hole compromise the strength of the caliper and could it crack and come apart?
Thanks
Thanks
Last edited by teamo; Sep 21, 2018 at 07:20 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,196
Likes: 58
From: Denton, Texas
If you don't feel it is safe, go with your gut feeling and replace them. I wouldn't risk it, but it is your decision. They are easy to remove and install, they are easily obtainable for a little money. So if you feel it would be fine to drive around town every now and then and don't plan to lock the brakes up….then you might be fine. I would replace them not just to know the caliper won't come apart, but to ensure stronger braking action. Just my .02.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 4
From: Celeste Texas
Heres what gonna happen. If you leave it alone you will be there working one day and that little hole will have opened up more and a sharp edge will cut your hand. Its just gonna be a little cut but you can't stop it from bleeding. Cold beer wont stop the blood so she's gonna have to put a band aid on it for you. You're gonna cuss and bleed all over your garage floor and your wifes clean kitchen. Shes gonna get mad and you wont ever hear the end of how you messed up her floor that day. Doesn't matter that the blood is already gone. Wanna know why I know that ask my wife.
Best thing to do with that spot is take a small file and round it out slightly so you have clean smooth metal and not the sharp rusty flashing left. You will end up with a smooth metal hole that only exposes the back side of the caliper bolt. Its really not a big deal. When you paint that caliper before you put it back on it will look better and the thin edge of that metal wont ever cause a problem. No cussing no nagging no blood on the kitchen floor and you get to have your beer in peace and show off how pretty your brakes are.
Bill
Best thing to do with that spot is take a small file and round it out slightly so you have clean smooth metal and not the sharp rusty flashing left. You will end up with a smooth metal hole that only exposes the back side of the caliper bolt. Its really not a big deal. When you paint that caliper before you put it back on it will look better and the thin edge of that metal wont ever cause a problem. No cussing no nagging no blood on the kitchen floor and you get to have your beer in peace and show off how pretty your brakes are.
Bill
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 572
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Heres what gonna happen. If you leave it alone you will be there working one day and that little hole will have opened up more and a sharp edge will cut your hand. Its just gonna be a little cut but you can't stop it from bleeding. Cold beer wont stop the blood so she's gonna have to put a band aid on it for you. You're gonna cuss and bleed all over your garage floor and your wifes clean kitchen. Shes gonna get mad and you wont ever hear the end of how you messed up her floor that day. Doesn't matter that the blood is already gone. Wanna know why I know that ask my wife.
I think I would like to avoid that. I will get out the file.
I think I would like to avoid that. I will get out the file.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 572
Likes: 61
I would use never-seize on the bolt. Lou.
You won't have to tell me that twice. I couldn't even break them free with my air impact gun. I had to use a long bar and some serious straining to get them loose.
You won't have to tell me that twice. I couldn't even break them free with my air impact gun. I had to use a long bar and some serious straining to get them loose.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2013
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The good news is I didn't cut my hand on the caliper. The bad news is I cut it on the exhaust. I should have stayed in tonight and called it a day but I have to get that old exhaust off of there and it was gnawing at me. I was cutting it off with a recip saw with a metal cutting blade. The muffler came down and smashed the top of my hand. Not the worst cut I've ever had but these old cars sure can beat up on you.