Caliper Recommendations
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: webster ny
Caliper Recommendations
Looking for Caliper manufacturer/reseller recommendations for my C3.
Have looked at Ecklers (89.00), corvettes of Houston (70.00) Vette Brakes and Products (89.00) Autozone (89.00)
Recommendations welcome!
Thanks,
Hef
Have looked at Ecklers (89.00), corvettes of Houston (70.00) Vette Brakes and Products (89.00) Autozone (89.00)
Recommendations welcome!
Thanks,
Hef
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
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From: McHenry Illinois
I don't know anything about them, but Advance Auto has them for $64 with $40 core charge. There is a thread on here somewere with online discount codes for Advance also.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...pon-codes.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...pon-codes.html
Last edited by '75; Sep 24, 2011 at 05:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: webster ny
Yea I just tried rebuilding and for some reason its still leaking.
The pistions have alot of corrosion, and I noticed a very tiny "cut" or notch in the SS sleeve right near the top. Not sure if that is casuing the leak?
Its also a major pain (for me anyway) to get the dust boots seated evenly. I bent a couple in the process.
Hef
The pistions have alot of corrosion, and I noticed a very tiny "cut" or notch in the SS sleeve right near the top. Not sure if that is casuing the leak?
Its also a major pain (for me anyway) to get the dust boots seated evenly. I bent a couple in the process.
Hef
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Yea I just tried rebuilding and for some reason its still leaking.
The pistions have alot of corrosion, and I noticed a very tiny "cut" or notch in the SS sleeve right near the top. Not sure if that is casuing the leak?
Its also a major pain (for me anyway) to get the dust boots seated evenly. I bent a couple in the process.
Hef
The pistions have alot of corrosion, and I noticed a very tiny "cut" or notch in the SS sleeve right near the top. Not sure if that is casuing the leak?
Its also a major pain (for me anyway) to get the dust boots seated evenly. I bent a couple in the process.
Hef
I would also put in a plug for Vansteel when it comes to calipers and suspension parts. They do a lot of their own R&D now and have picked up where many of the venders left off in developing the C2 - C3 suspension. Great folks to deal with and their customer service is outstanding. If you need to talk to an expert you can with them, a service that is becoming much harder to achieve with some other venders.
http://www.vansteel.com/
Good luck... GUSTO
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 101
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From: webster ny
Hef, when you install the dust boots, it's always good to use a large socket to do this job. It makes installing them evenly much easier and reduces the chance of damaging the boots.
I would also put in a plug for Vansteel when it comes to calipers and suspension parts. They do a lot of their own R&D now and have picked up where many of the venders left off in developing the C2 - C3 suspension. Great folks to deal with and their customer service is outstanding. If you need to talk to an expert you can with them, a service that is becoming much harder to achieve with some other venders.
http://www.vansteel.com/
Good luck... GUSTO
I would also put in a plug for Vansteel when it comes to calipers and suspension parts. They do a lot of their own R&D now and have picked up where many of the venders left off in developing the C2 - C3 suspension. Great folks to deal with and their customer service is outstanding. If you need to talk to an expert you can with them, a service that is becoming much harder to achieve with some other venders.
http://www.vansteel.com/
Good luck... GUSTO
Yea I did use a PVC pipe fitting that lined u with the metal ring of the boot, but it would bend up at one spot.
If a caliper leaks, its not the dust boot, it has to be leaking past the lip seal correct?
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: webster ny
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,664
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From: columbia city in
i bought mine from advance auto.when you have a problem they will have one in stock or the next day .no shipping or waiting two or three days.paying more may not get you better brakes.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Did you use an original style lip seal or an "O-ring" seal? (I see you answered that above...) The O-ring seals are more tolerant of excess rotor run-out which often occurs when chancing to new rotors as well.
Front or rear? Here's a terrific deal on a pair of front calipers from a great Forum member...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...-calipers.html
Good luck... GUSTO
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
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From: eastern NC
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: webster ny
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Canada
Here's my question then regarding brakes. My primary driving is cruising with my wife, no more track runs. Are the kits offered bt Baer, Wildwood etc. really that much better than the ones mentioned above. They are 6 - 10 times the cost of the Napa, Autozone etc. It may seem a silly question to some but for regular street use would I really notice that much of a difference. Anyone who upgraded to one of these high end systems I'd love to hear from you. I keep the maintenance fully up to date and next spring I am looking to do the brakes. In a few yrs when the current tires need replacing I plan on moving to 17/18" rims and tires.
Last edited by gdh; Sep 26, 2011 at 07:50 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Here's my question then regarding brakes. My primary driving is cruising with my wife, no more track runs. Are the kits offered bt Baer, Wildwood etc. really that much better than the ones mentioned above. They are 6 - 10 times the cost of the Napa, Autozone etc. It may seem a silly question to some but for regular street use would I really notice that much of a difference. Anyone who upgraded to one of these high end systems I'd love to hear from you. I keep the maintenance fully up to date and next spring I am looking to do the brakes. In a few yrs when the current tires need replacing I plan on moving to 17/18" rims and tires.
In 1977 I bought my first new Corvette. An L-48 automatic that was loaded with power everything. The A/C would freeze you out and the power brakes would pin you in the seatbelt! I would wager that a well maintained "power brake" system on one of these cars will never disappoint you.
I did keep the car for 6 years but sold it to by a new C4 (which I still own) and one reason was that the brakes on the C4 were even better than the brakes on my '77. A few years later I did pick up a '73 convertible with 4-speed to play with. Unfortunately, with no power brakes, boy did it open my eyes. I autocrossed it for 3 years in Hawaii and even with a perfect system and Hawk pads, couldn't approach the stopping power of my '77.
I guess my answer to you would be that yes the Baer and Willwood systems are good and for serious performance driving maybe even indispensable, but the stock system will perform superbly if maintained well.
Good luck... GUSTO
HEF, absolutely, you can run "O-rings" in front, back or both with no adverse issues...
