Caliper rebuild questions??
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 281
From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
Caliper rebuild questions??
I am planning on rebuilding my calipers soon. I was wondering what kit is prefered the lip seal or o-ring. I only drive my car on the weekends (about 7000 miles a year). When I rebuild them to change from lip to o-ring seal is just as easy as buying the kit or do I need to have the calipers machined?? I really want to use the zero tolerance pistons if that is the best method.
Mark B.
Mark B.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,407
Likes: 2
From: Carmichael CA
Re: Caliper rebuild questions?? (Sigforty)
I suggest going to Kragen/Checker/Schucks for one of their units that are already rebuilt. The reason is because the two halves are bolted together with (I recall) 120ftlbs of torque. This means you can't just hold them between your legs and crank on a ratchet. You will need a bench mounted vise with, and should use wood or cloth covering for the vise jaws to prevent damage.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,943
Likes: 44
From: Florham Park NJ Port Credit Ontario
Re: Caliper rebuild questions?? (Sigforty)
I'll tackle ANY job on my beloved Vette but In my opinion, me screwing around with brake rebuild kits is like playing russian roulette. I leave the caliper rebuild stuff to the pros. I guess I am just a chicken.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 582
Likes: 72
From: Near Raleigh NC
Re: Caliper rebuild questions?? (Sigforty)
I bought the GM parts to fix one of mine. It cost way too much, and if the seals don't go in right, they will leak. I could have just purchased 2 reman ones and saved the headaches and $$. It isn't worth it. If you only go 7k a year, pull off send off your cores and get some from Vette Brakes or any other good vendor and just replace them. :smash:
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 281
From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
Re: Caliper rebuild questions?? (Sigforty)
So the general census is to just get the already rebuilt calipers. I am the type of person who will try anything myself, but it seems that everyone believes the work is to complicated. Did anyone actually go threw the calipers themselves??
Mark B.
Mark B.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 1
Re: Caliper rebuild questions?? (Sigforty)
So the general census is to just get the already rebuilt calipers. Did anyone actually go threw the calipers themselves??
If you don't know whether they've been sleeved, send them off or buy new.
I sent mine to Precision Engineering in Florida and am quite anxious to put them back on. After taking them apart I determined that they have never been sleeved - can you believe it? Zero Tolerance pistons and O-Rings, and I'll be stopping with as much precision as my new suspension system handles.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,266
Likes: 0
From: Allen, TX, USA
Re: Caliper rebuild questions?? (Sigforty)
Hey Sigforty
I rebuilt one of my calipers - $8 for the kit from the 'zone.
Need a tube of high temp gasket stuff too, possibly a brake hone ($10?)
A couple of hours. Use a bench mounted vice or something mounted to the floor.
You will need it to unbolt the calipers. Make sure to use the gasket stuff
to seak the boot (inside and on the top of ring seal, like the manual suggests.
Then back together and get you're big torque wrench!
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 281
From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
Re: Caliper rebuild questions?? (mayberg)
Did you get your zero tolerance pistons yet?? How much do they cost?? How much does it cost to get the calipers sleeved??
Mark B.
[Modified by Sigforty, 12:29 PM 4/18/2002]
Mark B.
[Modified by Sigforty, 12:29 PM 4/18/2002]
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,126
Likes: 174
From: WI
Re: Caliper rebuild questions?? (adam)
adam,
BEWARE the caliper kit from "the zone" may resemble the right stuff BUT it is NOT RIGHT. I had NOTHING but trouble with their caliper kits. If you look closely at the two lip seals you will see the difference. You can get the right stuff from Vette brakes or Muskegon for $10 per corner + UPS. NO it`s not convenient but neither is having to redo either. ...redvetracr
BEWARE the caliper kit from "the zone" may resemble the right stuff BUT it is NOT RIGHT. I had NOTHING but trouble with their caliper kits. If you look closely at the two lip seals you will see the difference. You can get the right stuff from Vette brakes or Muskegon for $10 per corner + UPS. NO it`s not convenient but neither is having to redo either. ...redvetracr
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,126
Likes: 174
From: WI
Re: Caliper rebuild questions?? (Sigforty)
Sigforty,
The term "Zero Tolerance" is being abused, as far as I know you can buy o-ring brake pistons from many sources BUT you can only get "Zero Tolerance" from the company called Zero Tolerance. I have a set of ZT pistons in a freshly sleeved set of calipers in my trailer (very nice pieces), the last I heard they were around $250 a set. If I was you I think I would go with standard sleeved calipers from whoever had the best reputation,best price and the best warranty. If you get sleeved calipers and decide to go with ZT pistond I am looking for a set of NEW stock front pistons. ...redvetracr
The term "Zero Tolerance" is being abused, as far as I know you can buy o-ring brake pistons from many sources BUT you can only get "Zero Tolerance" from the company called Zero Tolerance. I have a set of ZT pistons in a freshly sleeved set of calipers in my trailer (very nice pieces), the last I heard they were around $250 a set. If I was you I think I would go with standard sleeved calipers from whoever had the best reputation,best price and the best warranty. If you get sleeved calipers and decide to go with ZT pistond I am looking for a set of NEW stock front pistons. ...redvetracr
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,266
Likes: 0
From: Allen, TX, USA
Re: Caliper rebuild questions?? (redvetracr)
:eek:
Ah, it's on there. For about 9 months now. I have another kit
sitting, but nothing to compare to. So what is the difference in
the lip seals? You think it will leak? I'll have to check the
caliper...
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,126
Likes: 174
From: WI
Re: Caliper rebuild questions?? (mayberg)
mayberg,
If precision caliper from Florida is the same guy as Florida caliper, what your getting is screwed!! Not too long ago someone had quite a thread about this guy. He is very BAD NEWS!! And like I said above, as far as I know NO ONE but Zero Tolerance sells Zero Tolerance pistons everthing else is a copy and from what I have seen from Florida caliper or Precision caliper (if it`s the same guy) they are very poor quality. ...redvetracr
If precision caliper from Florida is the same guy as Florida caliper, what your getting is screwed!! Not too long ago someone had quite a thread about this guy. He is very BAD NEWS!! And like I said above, as far as I know NO ONE but Zero Tolerance sells Zero Tolerance pistons everthing else is a copy and from what I have seen from Florida caliper or Precision caliper (if it`s the same guy) they are very poor quality. ...redvetracr
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,266
Likes: 0
From: Allen, TX, USA
Re: Caliper rebuild questions?? (redvetracr)
Okay...
I'll be looking at them real soon...
Rebuild them every 2 races - that's time consuming. But now it must take
you 20 minutes if you do it all the time.
Where do you race? I used to live in Milw...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 1
Re: Caliper rebuild questions?? (redvetracr)
If precision caliper from Florida is the same guy as Florida caliper, what your getting is screwed!!.....He is very BAD NEWS!!.....everthing else is a copy and from what I have seen from Florida caliper....they are very poor quality.
I think they're different, but please check it out!
http://fixvetteparts.com
I think Florida Caliper is operating under a different name, and I "think" this is not the Florida Caliper guy. I had a buddy that was a bit disappointed in Florida Caliper also. GM
[Modified by mayberg, 1:46 PM 4/18/2002]
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,130
Likes: 3,938
From: Connecticut, USA
Re: Caliper rebuild questions?? (Sigforty)
I used the kits from Muskegon before without a problem and just bought soem kits from Bair's this week. The only thing I don't remember doing is the silicone sealing? Just where is this applied and why do you need high temp?
Thanks,
Gary
Thanks,
Gary
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 1
Re: Caliper rebuild questions?? (Sigforty)
Did you get your zero tolerance pistons yet?? How much do they cost?? How much does it cost to get the calipers sleeved??
Anyway, I spent $58/caliper to get the treatment, not including pads. But that did include the stainless sleeve, piston and o-ring, cleaned up and painted, and new crush washers for the front.
I think the prices have gone up a bit. If you're one of those eeeeevil NCRS members (like I am) be sure to ask about the club discount. I've got his web site in another portion of this thread.
Keep in mind, I have yet to bolt mine back into the car, so I'll reserve the right to open a new thread and complain if things don't go well. But I suspect they'll be just fine. GM
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,126
Likes: 174
From: WI
Re: Caliper rebuild questions?? (mayberg)
mayberg,
Lucky for you it looks like these are two different people, and I hope yours are a better quality than "Florida caliper" or whoever he is this week. Although whoever told you you were getting "Zero Tolerance" pistons was not telling you the truth, or you simply misunderstood. ...redvetracr
Lucky for you it looks like these are two different people, and I hope yours are a better quality than "Florida caliper" or whoever he is this week. Although whoever told you you were getting "Zero Tolerance" pistons was not telling you the truth, or you simply misunderstood. ...redvetracr
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 1
Re: Caliper rebuild questions?? (redvetracr)
Although whoever told you you were getting "Zero Tolerance" pistons was not telling you the truth, or you simply misunderstood
Did I just make a rhyme?
