oVoSanto

Hi, I'm helping a friend to choose a rebuild kit for the brake calipers of his 1980 vette.
We was thinking to buy an o-ring conversion kit on corvette central:
https://www.corvettecentral.com/c3-6...f%3fcount%3d27

In the notes is specified that this kit is for calipers that are with stainless steel sleeve. In the 1980 they already had this characteristic?

Thank you!

4-vettes

Not Factory. Sorry. However it's highly likely that by now someone has had it done. Guess you'll have to pull them apart and find out.

Bikespace

After 40 years, it is very likely that this has already happened. They certainly were in my 80, and my 79, so I was able to rebuild them with a CSSB Inc. O-ring rebuild kit. But as @4-vettes said, you won't know for sure until you check.

L-46man

Even the SS sleeved ones will eventually leak, Everybody seems to forget that the car is grounded through the frame and the brakes are also 'grounded through' the frame. (inadvertently)
Brake fluid is Hydrophilic...absorbs water (from where-ever) and THIS in combination with Aluminum Pistons, Hi Carbon steel Calipers, SS sleeves, Steel springs creates a galvanic action which eats the 'less noble' material...that being the aluminum pistons.

SS sleeves are not a cure-all forever...it just slows down the process.

Split the calipers and look.
See the rebuild procedure for removing the pistons (fairly easy, but there is a 'trick to it'.)
Be horrified at what it all looks like!

Be safe and well in ITALY...dive into the garage work on the 'vette until this all passes.

Unkahal