Calipers
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
NO, I see no silver end to the bore edge, and the pitting/rust on the sides say NO also....
you can get stock caliper replacements locally, but I recommend O ring installs, VBP is one source....but shipping calipers is almost as much as the kits alone...
you can get stock caliper replacements locally, but I recommend O ring installs, VBP is one source....but shipping calipers is almost as much as the kits alone...
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
I agree, hard too see, but no sign of a sleeve.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 3
From: Charlotte North Carolina 704-394-5150
That is a touchy question with me. I personally do not like the O-ring seals because they were not use from the factory. They are used to compensate (as I understand it) for other issues that MAY be out of tolerance in bearings and rotors.
Remember I do this for a living...repair and restore Corvettes. I can not change a part of the brake system unless I have documentation that shows that the O ring designed calipers are as equal to the original lip design seals. AS of yet, I have not seen any information on this. Regardless if they have been out for a long time and many people swear by them and NEVER had a problem with them....I just can't do it. Liability reasons...if you can understand that.
You can make your own decision, but if you are going to use the lip design seals be careful not to tear it while installing it because there is a special compressing tool that makes the installation easier. I have them but oddly enough , I don't use them anymore. It is more expensive for me to rebuild calipers for my customers than it is for me to buy rebuilt ones. MY labor and the cost of the kit makes it not an option. Not saying that I can't rebuild them, just not cost effective.
"DUB"
Remember I do this for a living...repair and restore Corvettes. I can not change a part of the brake system unless I have documentation that shows that the O ring designed calipers are as equal to the original lip design seals. AS of yet, I have not seen any information on this. Regardless if they have been out for a long time and many people swear by them and NEVER had a problem with them....I just can't do it. Liability reasons...if you can understand that.
You can make your own decision, but if you are going to use the lip design seals be careful not to tear it while installing it because there is a special compressing tool that makes the installation easier. I have them but oddly enough , I don't use them anymore. It is more expensive for me to rebuild calipers for my customers than it is for me to buy rebuilt ones. MY labor and the cost of the kit makes it not an option. Not saying that I can't rebuild them, just not cost effective.
"DUB"
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Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 3
From: Charlotte North Carolina 704-394-5150
Top Gunn,
Yes, I see that alot. From what I have found is that is caused by several factors due to the crappy design GM created for a brake system. I wrote crappy only because I am comparing it to the later design brake system which is better.
Ususally caused by cars sitting for long periods of time and not being driven or not having the brake pedal pressed on a frequent basis.
Dirty fluid, in conjunction with bearing play and rotor run-out not within specs.
These brake systems are TOUCHY when it comes to working without problems. But they work great if within design parameters. And they do require regular servicing and inspection. It is the nature of the "beast".
Top Gunn, I hope your new calipers and brake system works for you.
I am just waiting for the next generation of muscle car engineers to come up with a way to retro fit our cars with a mag-lev type set-up that they have for the european trains what will allow us to due away with fossil burning engines and use four of these mag-levs for power and braking and still be attached to each wheel. So we are still free to drive....anywhere. You never know.
"DUB"
Yes, I see that alot. From what I have found is that is caused by several factors due to the crappy design GM created for a brake system. I wrote crappy only because I am comparing it to the later design brake system which is better.
Ususally caused by cars sitting for long periods of time and not being driven or not having the brake pedal pressed on a frequent basis.
Dirty fluid, in conjunction with bearing play and rotor run-out not within specs.
These brake systems are TOUCHY when it comes to working without problems. But they work great if within design parameters. And they do require regular servicing and inspection. It is the nature of the "beast".
Top Gunn, I hope your new calipers and brake system works for you.
I am just waiting for the next generation of muscle car engineers to come up with a way to retro fit our cars with a mag-lev type set-up that they have for the european trains what will allow us to due away with fossil burning engines and use four of these mag-levs for power and braking and still be attached to each wheel. So we are still free to drive....anywhere. You never know.
"DUB"
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
So even I do not have the ss calipers I can still get that kit that I posted above and it will convert over to o ring without ss calipers. I also saw I could just get the o ring pistons separate and the o rings separate instead of all the new bolts and stuff I do not really need in that big kit. Or just wait and save for new already built calipers. I guess thats what everyone goes through questioning those decisions. LOL
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
So even I do not have the ss calipers I can still get that kit that I posted above and it will convert over to o ring without ss calipers. I also saw I could just get the o ring pistons separate and the o rings separate instead of all the new bolts and stuff I do not really need in that big kit. Or just wait and save for new already built calipers. I guess thats what everyone goes through questioning those decisions. LOL
Rick B.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 4
From: Somers CT
Top Gunn,
Yes, I see that alot. From what I have found is that is caused by several factors due to the crappy design GM created for a brake system. I wrote crappy only because I am comparing it to the later design brake system which is better.
Ususally caused by cars sitting for long periods of time and not being driven or not having the brake pedal pressed on a frequent basis.
Dirty fluid, in conjunction with bearing play and rotor run-out not within specs.
These brake systems are TOUCHY when it comes to working without problems. But they work great if within design parameters. And they do require regular servicing and inspection. It is the nature of the "beast".
Top Gunn, I hope your new calipers and brake system works for you.
I am just waiting for the next generation of muscle car engineers to come up with a way to retro fit our cars with a mag-lev type set-up that they have for the european trains what will allow us to due away with fossil burning engines and use four of these mag-levs for power and braking and still be attached to each wheel. So we are still free to drive....anywhere. You never know.
"DUB"
Yes, I see that alot. From what I have found is that is caused by several factors due to the crappy design GM created for a brake system. I wrote crappy only because I am comparing it to the later design brake system which is better.
Ususally caused by cars sitting for long periods of time and not being driven or not having the brake pedal pressed on a frequent basis.
Dirty fluid, in conjunction with bearing play and rotor run-out not within specs.
These brake systems are TOUCHY when it comes to working without problems. But they work great if within design parameters. And they do require regular servicing and inspection. It is the nature of the "beast".
Top Gunn, I hope your new calipers and brake system works for you.
I am just waiting for the next generation of muscle car engineers to come up with a way to retro fit our cars with a mag-lev type set-up that they have for the european trains what will allow us to due away with fossil burning engines and use four of these mag-levs for power and braking and still be attached to each wheel. So we are still free to drive....anywhere. You never know.
"DUB"
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
I am just waiting for the next generation of muscle car engineers to come up with a way to retro fit our cars with a mag-lev type set-up that they have for the european trains what will allow us to due away with fossil burning engines and use four of these mag-levs for power and braking and still be attached to each wheel. So we are still free to drive....anywhere. You never know.
"DUB"
"DUB"
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 2
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
I highly recommend you replace the flexible rubber lines if you are replacing the calipers. the lines have a finite life expectancy and can cause weird problems when they fail. Now is a good time to replace them!