'73 brakes
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Navigator
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'73 brakes
Had my 73 for about 20 years. I have enjoyed it even through all the brake bleedings I have done and paid for as well. I am ready to try and fix this once and for all if that is at all possible. Please tell me it is - I was looking at corvette central and they have this package that has all new calipers and everything else that goes with it minus actual brake lines and master cylinder. It is all USA made stainless steel. In any of your opinions - do you feel if I move forward with this with all new master cylinder it will actually fix the problem? Or am I going to continue to have to bleed these on a regular basis? I forgot to mention my brakes are not power brakes. Any ideas on how to make this like a new car where you just don't have those issues are welcome.
Thanks
Keith
Thanks
Keith
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Thanks
Keith
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: eastern NC
Is it safe to assume that you do not have any calipers leaking fluid at this time?
Have you ever changed brake rotors on the car? If you have, have you since checked your rotor run out?
And by all means, welcome to the Corvette Forum!
Good luck... GUSTO
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 252
Back when I was trying to keep my car original I would have to attend to a leaking caliper about annually. I rebuilt calipers, I purchased rebuilt calipers, I purchased advanced seals and stainless sleeve models and a leak would eventually pop up somewhere. I finally gave up and installed the bolt-on Wilwood aluminum calipers a few years ago and have not looked back. Just replaced the calipers only (they come with pads and lines). No leaks, stop great. Dropped a ton of weight was just a bonus.
Last edited by Dynra Rockets; Apr 24, 2017 at 07:50 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,349
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From: los altos hills california
I'll put my vote in for a complete Willwood upgrade. There is a caveat though in that the angle of the rears and the design of the caliper itself make bleeding a bit more of a chore. I posted on this in "Adventures in Braking" sometime back.
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Keith, I also have a '73 with the manual disc brakes. I bought the car in 1988 and soon after installed a set of SS sleeved calipers and a new master cylinder from one of the normal Corvette vendors. Since that time I have changed pads (to a more aggressive pad for autocrossing) and changed the fluid a few times. Each of those times I did re-bleed the brakes, but never otherwise.
Is it safe to assume that you do not have any calipers leaking fluid at this time?
Have you ever changed brake rotors on the car? If you have, have you since checked your rotor run out?
And by all means, welcome to the Corvette Forum!
Good luck... GUSTO
Is it safe to assume that you do not have any calipers leaking fluid at this time?
Have you ever changed brake rotors on the car? If you have, have you since checked your rotor run out?
And by all means, welcome to the Corvette Forum!
Good luck... GUSTO
Thanks for the information. I do have a front right caliper leaking. I have not changed the rotors and I was doing what Dynra mentioned. I was originally keeping it original and getting rebuilt, etc. Big pain so would like to just upgrade it all and make it work like a new car. So it sounds like I need to get rotors, calipers, master cylinder and lines correct?
I am actually thinking about dropping the original engine and transmission and storing and putting a new engine and transmission in. I just cant count on it when I drive it now.
Keith
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Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Sep 2016
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Its a 69.
Back when I was trying to keep my car original I would have to attend to a leaking caliper about annually. I rebuilt calipers, I purchased rebuilt calipers, I purchased advanced seals and stainless sleeve models and a leak would eventually pop up somewhere. I finally gave up and installed the bolt-on Wilwood aluminum calipers a few years ago and have not looked back. Just replaced the calipers only (they come with pads and lines). No leaks, stop great. Dropped a ton of weight was just a bonus.
Back when I was trying to keep my car original I would have to attend to a leaking caliper about annually. I rebuilt calipers, I purchased rebuilt calipers, I purchased advanced seals and stainless sleeve models and a leak would eventually pop up somewhere. I finally gave up and installed the bolt-on Wilwood aluminum calipers a few years ago and have not looked back. Just replaced the calipers only (they come with pads and lines). No leaks, stop great. Dropped a ton of weight was just a bonus.
I was doing the same and believe I have come to the same place at this time with wanting to upgrade and fix the problem.
Anymore information is welcome.
Thanks
Keith
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 23
From: Kawartha Lakes and PEC, Ontario
Have you measured the run-out of your rotors? I used to have this issue until I adjusted the rotors to get the run-out within specs and for good measure I rebuilt the calipers with o-ring pistons at the same time. I think that was about 8 years ago.
Last edited by Brooklinite; Apr 24, 2017 at 10:30 AM.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,095
Likes: 4,025
From: New Braunfels Texas
I had to put a seal kit in the RR of my 66' about once a year...until I fixed the rotor runout.........
Jebby
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,114
Likes: 597
Here is my pile of calipers.
Went with Wilwood D8-4 all around, plus new rotors. But as others have noted, check rotor run-out, this will make the problem return much quicker.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,321
Likes: 8,125
From: Napa Valley California
I just purchased Wilwood 6 piston front calipers and 4 piston rear calipers, with new Wilwood 11.75" rotors all around for my 73. My fit check showed they do fit with the stock 15" X 8" stock rally wheels. I will replace the master cylinder with a new Wilwood unit after I complete my motor as Wilwood recommended after I determine engine vacuum, so they can calculate the MC bore size. Wilwood recommended using a power bleeder to bleed the system and they said once done that's it.
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Navigator
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That is all great information. I am not sure what rotor runout is. I did call wildwood and it looks like I will be moving forward with a whole new wildwood system. master to calipers. That is interesting about waiting on master with new engine. I am doing the same - so I guess I should not get new master until I have decided on the motor and transmission.
Thanks
Keith
Thanks
Keith
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,321
Likes: 8,125
From: Napa Valley California
That is all great information. I am not sure what rotor runout is. I did call wildwood and it looks like I will be moving forward with a whole new wildwood system. master to calipers. That is interesting about waiting on master with new engine. I am doing the same - so I guess I should not get new master until I have decided on the motor and transmission.
Thanks
Keith
Thanks
Keith