Brake Parts Question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
Brake Parts Question
On my 68, I have Stainless Steel sleeved calipers and one of them has now developed a slight leak. Car still stops perfect, no problem.
I know that everyone is now using the O-rings BUT if I wanted to rebuild the one leaking caliper with the original style rubber cups, can I still buy those or are they different from stock since they have been resleeved ?
I don't want to do all 4 calipers and I would not go to O-rings on just one caliper which is why I am asking about rebuilding only the leaking one with the orignal style rubber cups.
Thank you in advance,
Kurt
I know that everyone is now using the O-rings BUT if I wanted to rebuild the one leaking caliper with the original style rubber cups, can I still buy those or are they different from stock since they have been resleeved ?
I don't want to do all 4 calipers and I would not go to O-rings on just one caliper which is why I am asking about rebuilding only the leaking one with the orignal style rubber cups.
Thank you in advance,
Kurt
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
You can buy rebuild kits at AutoZone or Advance Auto for < $15.00. I used them when I rebuilt my brakes 3 years ago and they worked fine, but they sat in the garage while I did a body-off rebuild and now the fronts are leaking again. I'm going to buy an O-ring rebuild kit this time.
Rick B.
Rick B.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
I don't think I would use an O ring kit on just one caliper and leave the other with lip seals either. May not really cause any harm but.....
I do know that you can mix the pairs - use O Ring types on both rears and lip seal type on both fronts or vice versa. I just got a pair of O Ring type rear calipers from VBP last week to try - I still have their original 24 year old Lip seal SS calipers on the front but I "traded in" the 24 year old rears because one was leaking a little. It was VBP that suggested the O ring type so I thought I'd give them a try.
So now I am converted half-way over to the "dark side".
I do know that you can mix the pairs - use O Ring types on both rears and lip seal type on both fronts or vice versa. I just got a pair of O Ring type rear calipers from VBP last week to try - I still have their original 24 year old Lip seal SS calipers on the front but I "traded in" the 24 year old rears because one was leaking a little. It was VBP that suggested the O ring type so I thought I'd give them a try.
So now I am converted half-way over to the "dark side".
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
Based on nothing scientific. I said I wouldn't. Doesn't mean you can't. Plese note I commented it may not cause any problems. I wouldn't know first hand because I have never done it and never would.
Personally I just feel more comfortable keeping opposing sides in like pairs. You are not talking a big dollar expense here for either kits or calipers.
Must be getting cold in Canada about now. Nice and sunny here in Florida
Personally I just feel more comfortable keeping opposing sides in like pairs. You are not talking a big dollar expense here for either kits or calipers.
Must be getting cold in Canada about now. Nice and sunny here in Florida
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
There's plenty of cars running around with mixed sets of S/S, non S/S, lip seal and o-ring seal calipers. There's NO evidence or technical reason that mixing causes a problem.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Yes, mixed and matched any combo you can think of. A few ounces of extra force required to move an o-ring piston is nothing compared to the hundreds or thousands of pounds pressure behind the piston when the brakes are applied.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
Well now that I have heard it from an expert on all things Corvette, that answers the question. Thank you.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
I'm not an expert on all or even 'many' things. I just keep my mouth shut when I having nothing to offer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
One of the easiest ways to tell if Oring calipers are installed, that I use is by the inherent drag of the brake pads over the Delco lip seals.
I don't and WON'T use Oring style calipers on my Vettes.
I had a fellow club member install a hydraboost system on his C2 Vette and during the set-up (trail and error?) period, he BLEW the Orings off his front caliper pistons. Who made the pistons? I don't know. Guldstrand Performance installed the calipers. The C2 now sports lip seal calipers and is holding up well.
I know they aren't "trick" but GM spent a lot of time and money engineering the C2/3 Vette brake system, I'll take OEM style parts for peace of mind. Actually the lip seals are WAY MORE "TRICK" than Orings are. Most of the guys who are going to post here can't even tell you the differences/advantages between the 3 versions of brake systems offerd by GM for the C2/3 Vettes.
I don't and WON'T use Oring style calipers on my Vettes.
I had a fellow club member install a hydraboost system on his C2 Vette and during the set-up (trail and error?) period, he BLEW the Orings off his front caliper pistons. Who made the pistons? I don't know. Guldstrand Performance installed the calipers. The C2 now sports lip seal calipers and is holding up well.
I know they aren't "trick" but GM spent a lot of time and money engineering the C2/3 Vette brake system, I'll take OEM style parts for peace of mind. Actually the lip seals are WAY MORE "TRICK" than Orings are. Most of the guys who are going to post here can't even tell you the differences/advantages between the 3 versions of brake systems offerd by GM for the C2/3 Vettes.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,427
Likes: 1,560
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Lip seals on one side and 'O' rings on the other, sounds like a sure recipe for a spin out, lets see what VBP has to say about that! PG.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
I remember similar advice when SS calipers were really becoming popular- don't mix them or BAD things will happen 
I'm constantly amazed how many myths circulate in this hobby and how quick people are to create new ones.
I'm constantly amazed how many myths circulate in this hobby and how quick people are to create new ones.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
I'm constantly amazed how many myths circulate in this hobby and how quick people are to create new ones.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
Pro
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 575
Likes: 3
From: Tampa / Ft. Myers FL
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
There's plenty of mixed caliper sets in the field (has been for years), yet no one can come up with proof or even a reasonable theory as why it's a bad idea.