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O-ring caliper piston seals

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Old Jun 19, 2011 | 09:06 PM
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Default O-ring caliper piston seals

Do you really have to have stainless steel bore liners to use the o-ring seal pistons? I bought rebuilt calipers from napa before I new any better, and I would like to install o-ring seal pistons in them. It will most likely be temporary, for a year or two, till I can upgrade to the Willwood aluminum calipers. Thanks,


Scott
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Old Jun 19, 2011 | 09:11 PM
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The rebuilt calipers are most likely stainless-steel sleeved.



Rick B.
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Old Jun 19, 2011 | 09:26 PM
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They dont look like stainless steel. Shouldn't the bores be shiney-shiney?

If not, then I just won't worry about it, and we'll see what happens.


Scott
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Old Jun 20, 2011 | 08:43 AM
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Look inside the bore, you should see a line in the bottom where the sleeve stops.
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Old Jun 20, 2011 | 10:02 AM
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If you use dot 5 brake fluid throughout the system the iron calipers will last a long time since dot 5 does not take up moisture and I can't see why the o-rings would not work better than the lip seals.
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Old Jun 20, 2011 | 12:20 PM
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[
QUOTE=scottyp99;1577922681]Do you really have to have stainless steel bore liners to use the o-ring seal pistons? I bought rebuilt calipers from napa before I new any better, and I would like to install o-ring seal pistons in them. It will most likely be temporary, for a year or two, till I can upgrade to the Willwood aluminum calipers. Thanks,


Scott
[/QUOTE]

bought my o-ring setup from the original designer (ZTI) before he sold to a brake outfit. He told me no need to SS sleeve my bores if they could be honed . Had to be in the early 90's and I still have no issued . (Dot 5 fluid)
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Old Jun 21, 2011 | 04:02 PM
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OK, turns out there is a liner in the bores, I didn't see it because I was expecting something thicker. One of the liners had just barely crept out of the bore, loosening the dust cover, I tapped it back in, I hope it stays put. The O-ring seals made the job much easier than fussing around with the lip seals. The pistons have a much closer clearance than the old lip seal pistons, too. I am hoping for good results. Installed them today before work, will be bleeding them tomorrow, I'll let ya know how it goes.


Scott
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Old Jun 21, 2011 | 04:08 PM
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Originally Posted by scottyp99
OK, turns out there is a liner in the bores, I didn't see it because I was expecting something thicker. One of the liners had just barely crept out of the bore, loosening the dust cover, I tapped it back in, I hope it stays put. The O-ring seals made the job much easier than fussing around with the lip seals. The pistons have a much closer clearance than the old lip seal pistons, too. I am hoping for good results. Installed them today before work, will be bleeding them tomorrow, I'll let ya know how it goes.


Scott
EHHHH....U got a issue there, that brake fluid WILL work it's way around that loose liner....you need get another caliper....

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Old Jun 21, 2011 | 05:05 PM
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O ring seal calipers are actually for floating calipers like the 84 Vettes and later......Lip seal calipers are those used from 65 through 83 Vettes that are not a floating style and instead rigid mounted......but whatever works for you....neither style are immune from rust forming with regular fluids damaging the seals especially the cars are not used on a regular basis.....high humidity areas could probably contribute to moisture too
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Old Jun 21, 2011 | 05:43 PM
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Originally Posted by mrvette
EHHHH....U got a issue there, that brake fluid WILL work it's way around that loose liner....you need get another caliper....

Oh, terrific...... well, I'll keep an eye on it, and if/when it starts to leak again, I'll get a new caliper. Any suggestions on where to shop?


Scott
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Old Jun 21, 2011 | 10:13 PM
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You can get them from AutoZone or Advance and swap the O-ring pistons into them.



Rick B.
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Old Jun 21, 2011 | 10:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Ironcross
O ring seal calipers are actually for floating calipers like the 84 Vettes and later......Lip seal calipers are those used from 65 through 83 Vettes that are not a floating style and instead rigid mounted......but whatever works for you....neither style are immune from rust forming with regular fluids damaging the seals especially the cars are not used on a regular basis.....high humidity areas could probably contribute to moisture too

Every opposed piston solid mount caliper on the market uses either o-rings or square o-rings and have for decades. Only the Corvette calipers use the lip seals.
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Old Jun 22, 2011 | 07:41 PM
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I'm told that lock-tite will hold it in there, I wish I'd heard that before I put 'em back together, I would have tried it.


Scott
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