VB&P caliper choice
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 46
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From: Connecticut
VB&P caliper choice
I am looking to purchase a set of o ring ss calipers from VBandP.I am looking through their catalog and am trying to figure out the difference between the first and second design (delco moraine castings). Whats the difference? 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,317
Likes: 289
From: Ocala FL
The calipers for 1965 to 1982 have two basic designs, even though they are interchangeable on the cars and look pretty much the same.
First design calipers use a complicated piston design. There is an inner and outer bore to the hole for the piston to use a center stem. This creates a bit more stable piston design, in some people's opinion. However, it was more complicated and expensive to make.
The piston also used a Bakelite-like insulator that is held with a screw to the face of the piston to insulate the piston (and thus fluid) from the brake pad and heat.
The second design uses a simply single hole in the caliper, and the piston is a simple slug that fits the hole basically. There was no insulator on the piston except in J56 heavy duty brakes.
In the rush to make stainless steel sleeved calipers to fight leaks long ago, the easiest way was to bore the hole out, insert a sleeve, and install second design pistons.
However, some people really want the first design to keep their '65s and '66s correct.
First design calipers use a complicated piston design. There is an inner and outer bore to the hole for the piston to use a center stem. This creates a bit more stable piston design, in some people's opinion. However, it was more complicated and expensive to make.
The piston also used a Bakelite-like insulator that is held with a screw to the face of the piston to insulate the piston (and thus fluid) from the brake pad and heat.
The second design uses a simply single hole in the caliper, and the piston is a simple slug that fits the hole basically. There was no insulator on the piston except in J56 heavy duty brakes.
In the rush to make stainless steel sleeved calipers to fight leaks long ago, the easiest way was to bore the hole out, insert a sleeve, and install second design pistons.
However, some people really want the first design to keep their '65s and '66s correct.
