Caliper bracket flex
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Caliper bracket flex
Like some of you mentioned I ran into caliper bracket flexing. I had to add 1 1/4 inches to my brackets to mount the calipers further out for the 14 inch rotors. I did a good job of welding the spacer in, ground it flush and then powder coated. They looked like factory stock but after mounting them in place I started to worry about flex. I know there are special brackets with ribs to prevent flex so after thinking about it/worrying about it I mounted on in the vise and using a very large adjustable started to see if I could get it to flex.
Sure enough it was no problem so out came the grinder to remove the powder coating, the 1/4 inch plate to make 2 gussets and welded them into place.
Tried it again in the vise and the flex is gone.
I don't normally show any parts in the as welded condition but I won't grind in the shop because of the rugged floors, I don't want the mess and I didn't feel like taking the portable bench and vise outside in the dark and grind in out there.
I will take it into work tomorrow and do it on my work bench. I am not as fussy there
So this is one of the gussetted brackets in the as welded condition.
The other one is mounted on the car for a test fitting. It is already finished including grinding and I didn't feel like pulling it for a picture.
Bracket with gussets
Sure enough it was no problem so out came the grinder to remove the powder coating, the 1/4 inch plate to make 2 gussets and welded them into place.
Tried it again in the vise and the flex is gone.
I don't normally show any parts in the as welded condition but I won't grind in the shop because of the rugged floors, I don't want the mess and I didn't feel like taking the portable bench and vise outside in the dark and grind in out there.
I will take it into work tomorrow and do it on my work bench. I am not as fussy there
So this is one of the gussetted brackets in the as welded condition.
The other one is mounted on the car for a test fitting. It is already finished including grinding and I didn't feel like pulling it for a picture.
Bracket with gussets
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,717
Likes: 121
From: Sulphur LA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06,'11,'13-'14,'16,'18,'19,'24, '25
That should take care of the flexing. Looks good Norval. I am glad to have concrete to work on (did have rocks). Sure would be nice to have a shop like yours one day. Fully equiped with tools and carpet.
Neal
Neal
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '03,'11
I was the one who mentioned it Norval. I wonder how they would have performed without the gussets, probably would have been ok. I like to experiment.
For racing there must be an advantage to having a stiff bracket because they came out with those J56 bolt on bracket stiffeners. The stuff redvetracer uses.
The new Z06 has 14" rotors and special calipers so there must be a good reason to have rotors that big or GM wouldn't have done it.
For racing there must be an advantage to having a stiff bracket because they came out with those J56 bolt on bracket stiffeners. The stuff redvetracer uses.
The new Z06 has 14" rotors and special calipers so there must be a good reason to have rotors that big or GM wouldn't have done it.
Last edited by turtlevette; Feb 22, 2005 at 09:55 PM.
