76 brake caliper replacement

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Dec 11, 2008 | 12:17 PM

cvttejim

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Joined: Dec 2005

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From: west end nc

76 brake caliper replacement

I have a 76 coupe with only 38k miles, gets driven very little but I am planning to drive more often. I am planning to redo the brakes/calipers. my thoughts are to replace calipers with rebuilt o-ring type. Any comments/recommendations/suggestions will be most appreciated. cvttejim

Dec 11, 2008 | 12:36 PM

20mercury

Safety Car

Joined: May 2008

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From: Lafayette Louisiana

76 Brakes

Just did mine on my 76 and replaced all four calipers, master cylinder and front rotors (back were ok). also did the parking brakes shoes (now qualified to do brain surgery by the way

)

I bought rebuilt calipers and rebuilt master cylinder from national auto chain with lifetime warranty and stainless steel liners. Pretty cheap compared to others, shop around !!! My professional mech buddy said to go with stainless steel liners for calipers and ss brake hoses too. The original calipers tend to rust in the bores unless you bleed your brake fluid frequently and stainless steel resleeve is the way to go. I think the C3 caliper design is not the best so no calipers are supposed to be a forever fix as I understand it. Brakes work great now!

Good luck!

Dec 11, 2008 | 12:36 PM

Easy Mike

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From: Southbound

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Sounds like a winner.

Dec 11, 2008 | 12:42 PM

GTR1999

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From: Connecticut, USA

If you only have 38k miles then chances are your rotors are still riveted in place and in good shape. If so check the runout and if it's under 005 then you don't need o ring calipers. Clean up the rotor surface with 100 grit D/A, install the SS lined lip seal calipers, replace the rubber hose at all 4 corners and don't forget the front copper washers, use new organic pads and DOT3 BF, use a Motive bleeder and you're done.

Dec 11, 2008 | 04:19 PM

ugadawg77

Racer

Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 350

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From: Guyton GA

newbie with a 78...

Just did the oring rebuild kit on the back as you are describing...went great...hit a small snag with a frozen brake line, but was able to get all four orings & seals replace on each side (LH & RH) without much trouble. I now have the front brakes off & ran into the same problem with the brake line. Rather than risk stripping or ripping the line to hose bracket off the wall, I just simply unscrewed the hose line from the caliper, by rotating the caliper inside the wheel well. Not very hard & plenty of room, just be careful not to kink the hose.

Now once I got it off & disassembled...that's another story..

I have had major trouble finding the rebuild kit for the front that the o-rings fit. The ones I used on the back from Advance auto (Tru-Torque), fit perfectly on the back, but are too wide & won't seat in the piston hole on top of the SS Sleeve as they should. I am looking now for another brand to try on the front ones...if you come across one that works, please let me know!

Dec 11, 2008 | 06:33 PM

Scott Marzahl

Le Mans Master

Joined: Apr 2005

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From: Seattle Area WA

I've used the O ring kits from Vette Brakes and Lonestar, both great stuff. You'll notice a big difference between the seals from these and the cheaper kits.

Dec 11, 2008 | 07:13 PM

Steve COSD

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Joined: Mar 2005

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Marzahl

I've used the O ring kits from Vette Brakes and Lonestar, both great stuff. You'll notice a big difference between the seals from these and the cheaper kits.

This is the way to go. If your car sits the seals on the piston relaxes and that's when it will leak. The O ring solves the issue.
Good Luck
Steve

Dec 14, 2008 | 12:53 PM

jb78L-82

Le Mans Master

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 7,422

Likes: 955

From: Tennessee/Rhode Island

Quote:

Originally Posted by 20mercury

Just did mine on my 76 and replaced all four calipers, master cylinder and front rotors (back were ok). also did the parking brakes shoes (now qualified to do brain surgery by the way

Good luck!

My 4 SS calipers from VBP have been on the car for 23 years with no leaks and the car is driven very little which normally is not good for the calipers. Terrfic product and design from Vette Brakes and Products!