Bad front brake caliper?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 276
Likes: 5
From: Aptos, CA
Bad front brake caliper?
I noticed my '69 pulls left when braking hard.
Today I removed both front wheels to inspect.
The front left rotor looked pretty good, even wear and appeared to be an aftermarket replacement.
The front right rotor had GM stamps on it so it might be a replacement from GM from a different time.
The front right rotor has a ridge deep enough that I can nearly get my fingernail caught on it.
Any ideas? Problem with the caliper?
-Brad
Today I removed both front wheels to inspect.
The front left rotor looked pretty good, even wear and appeared to be an aftermarket replacement.
The front right rotor had GM stamps on it so it might be a replacement from GM from a different time.
The front right rotor has a ridge deep enough that I can nearly get my fingernail caught on it.
Any ideas? Problem with the caliper?
-Brad
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 276
Likes: 5
From: Aptos, CA
I don't know.
I bought the car 2.5 years ago and this is the first brake related issue I've noticed. It has been braking strong with a solid brake pedal.
Unfortunately the previous owners records don't say anything about any brake work or replaced parts.
I do know there are rotors from two different manufacturers on the car now, which is odd.
Think maybe a flex line is failing internally?
I bought the car 2.5 years ago and this is the first brake related issue I've noticed. It has been braking strong with a solid brake pedal.
Unfortunately the previous owners records don't say anything about any brake work or replaced parts.
I do know there are rotors from two different manufacturers on the car now, which is odd.
Think maybe a flex line is failing internally?
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 146
Likes: 2
From: Hillsborough NC
caliper
Had the same problem with pulling to the left and found it was a very degraded (and leaking) lip seal on the front RHS caliper. Was a recently replaced (rebuilt) caliper from ghettozone. Won't go that route again. Replaced the lip seals all around with the o-rings from vbp.
Might as well replace the rubber lines while you are at it.
Let us know what you find.
Might as well replace the rubber lines while you are at it.
Let us know what you find.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
Since you are pulling left it means that the left side is braking harder than the right. As Biscuitville says, you may have a slight leak in the right caliper. It might be that the right side caliper is hanging up a little bit and causing more pressure to go to the left side. That might have allowed dirt to get between the pad and the rotor to cause the grooves. It could also be low air pressure in the left tire or alignment. I seriously doubt the ridges in the rotor have anything to do with it. The purists will cringe here, but I have put new pads on slightly grooved rotors on my older daily drivers and the brakes worked fine. Not only that, the next time I looked at the rotors the grooves were gone.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
If you don't know how old the hoses are and the rest of the brakes, just bite the bullet and replace all the rubber hoses, rebuild all the calipers and replace any pads with any wear, plus resurface the rotors.
I know...it may not all be needed, but brakes are simply too important to not maintain and know exactly what you have.
I know...it may not all be needed, but brakes are simply too important to not maintain and know exactly what you have.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 276
Likes: 5
From: Aptos, CA
Ok, if I decide to replace the caliper do any of the local parts stores carry Corvette calipers with o-ring seals?
Or should I just search the web and order calipers with o-ring seals from online?
Or should I just search the web and order calipers with o-ring seals from online?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
You are better off just buying ss lip seal calipers locally, save any shipping nonsense if you have problems. Down the road when the seals fail, then change just the pistons and orings, you'll still be money ahead.
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