Rear brake dragging
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Rear brake dragging
Working on Davids 77 car and took it for a mile drive yesterday. It felt like something was dragging. I took my IR gun after a 1 mile 25 mph drive and shot all 4 rotor. 3 of the 4 are 80 degrees the 4th is 160 degrees. Pads are very hot to the touch. Removed the wheel this morning to find this. It looks like the caliper is crooked to the rotor. Now these are brand new trailing arms that are completly rebuilt with new rotors and everything by a vendor. No names yet. I loosened the caliper bolts and rotor lug nut a few times to see if they were not seated correctly and they are. The rotor is not out of round because it does it all the way around. Almost is like the caliper mounting is bent or the caliper is somehow bent. I don't know if this is possible because both are castings.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Europe, France
It seems that you need a little more clearance between one of your brake pads and the caliper.
Or maybe the caliper isn't correctly aligned / centered with the brake disc...
Do you feel the disc dragging when you turn the wheel by hand ( off the ground ) ?
The calipers can't be bent. They would break. But the caliper mounting brackets can be...
Or maybe the caliper isn't correctly aligned / centered with the brake disc...
Do you feel the disc dragging when you turn the wheel by hand ( off the ground ) ?
The calipers can't be bent. They would break. But the caliper mounting brackets can be...
Last edited by 73StreetRace; Nov 16, 2009 at 11:06 AM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Here is some better pics with the pads out. The caliper is definitly on somehow crooked. Check the distance from the sides to the rotors. The caliper is almost touching the rotor on the outside.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Problem taken care of. I called the vendor and they said this does happen on occasion. The mounting bracket for the caliper is not right. I measured it and one side was .676 the other was .770 so around .100 difference. That cocked the caliper enough to cause a heavy drag. Hey $%it happens but why always me. 
They are sending a box to send the trailing arm back and should turn it around in a day and get it back here. 
They are sending a box to send the trailing arm back and should turn it around in a day and get it back here.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I do remember having trouble getting the caliper bolts started when they were first installed so this is the reason why. The trailing arm is out and going back to the vendor at no charge.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
I install the caliper loaded also but once tightened down its easy not to notice the pad is wedged against the caliper because you don't feel it while tightening. Its always a good idea to get your head up above the caliper and look down to see how everything is sitting.
On the pad pins I've always thought the reason the pin is installed wheel side is so if the cotter pin comes out the pin won't simply fall out.
On the pad pins I've always thought the reason the pin is installed wheel side is so if the cotter pin comes out the pin won't simply fall out.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I install the caliper loaded also but once tightened down its easy not to notice the pad is wedged against the caliper because you don't feel it while tightening. Its always a good idea to get your head up above the caliper and look down to see how everything is sitting.
On the pad pins I've always thought the reason the pin is installed wheel side is so if the cotter pin comes out the pin won't simply fall out.
On the pad pins I've always thought the reason the pin is installed wheel side is so if the cotter pin comes out the pin won't simply fall out.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Europe, France
It will, yes, but it will take some time, and during this time, you're safe because the pads will stay in place.
If you install the pin head-side in, nothing will prevent it from falling.
The same kind of principle is used with a vertical bolt and nut.
If you install the bolt with the head down, it will fall instantly if the nut gets loose and falls.
With the bolt head up, you have a chance that the bolt will stay in place...
If you install the pin head-side in, nothing will prevent it from falling.
The same kind of principle is used with a vertical bolt and nut.
If you install the bolt with the head down, it will fall instantly if the nut gets loose and falls.
With the bolt head up, you have a chance that the bolt will stay in place...
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
It will, yes, but it will take some time, and during this time, you're safe because the pads will stay in place.
If you install the pin head-side in, nothing will prevent it from falling.
The same kind of principle is used with a vertical bolt and nut.
If you install the bolt with the head down, it will fall instantly if the nut gets loose and falls.
With the bolt head up, you have a chance that the bolt will stay in place...
If you install the pin head-side in, nothing will prevent it from falling.
The same kind of principle is used with a vertical bolt and nut.
If you install the bolt with the head down, it will fall instantly if the nut gets loose and falls.
With the bolt head up, you have a chance that the bolt will stay in place...
Safety should be #1 when working on brakes.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I just went and looked at mine and mine are installed with the head out. With 17s and 18s though there is nothing there to really stop the pin coming out. I looked at the rest of Davids pins on his car and they are installed with the head in. He is running stock Rally wheels on his. I'll have to change them all. I'd like to know the percentage of cotter pins that have come out and pins that have come out. I'll bet lightening strikes are more common.
