O-Ring Brake Caliper conversion
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 1
From: Hagerstown MD
Re: O-Ring Brake Caliper conversion (Robd)
My car's not finished yet, so I can't tell you how much I like it... but I just took off my old calipers, ordered a set of O-ring calipers from Eckler's, and sent the old calipers to Eckler's using the boxes the new ones arrived in. The "conversion" couldn't be (much) easier.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 724
Likes: 0
From: Palm Bay FL
Re: O-Ring Brake Caliper conversion (zymurgist)
I have SS brakes now however they have some miles on them so in my restoration process wanted to include the calipers also. And was considering the o-ring conversion kit advertised by Precision Engineering in the NCRS Driveline.
[Modified by Robd, 12:30 PM 12/3/2002]
[Modified by Robd, 12:30 PM 12/3/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
Re: O-Ring Brake Caliper conversion (Robd)
If you do this, (and I recommend that you do), include the foolowing components for great brakes:
quality sleeved calipers, O rings and (I think this is important) billet alum pistons from Zero Tolerance.
The new piston design is longer and more solid in shape so that it cannot wobble in the sleeve.
The VB O ring design uses OE design pistons which can wobble and function less efficiently. I don't think this is necessarily bad, I just think the Zero Tolerance is better.
Worked great for me!
[Modified by flynhi, 11:52 PM 12/3/2002]
quality sleeved calipers, O rings and (I think this is important) billet alum pistons from Zero Tolerance.
The new piston design is longer and more solid in shape so that it cannot wobble in the sleeve.
The VB O ring design uses OE design pistons which can wobble and function less efficiently. I don't think this is necessarily bad, I just think the Zero Tolerance is better.
Worked great for me!
[Modified by flynhi, 11:52 PM 12/3/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,000
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis, Mn USA
Re: O-Ring Brake Caliper conversion (flynhi)
Flynhi-I have a couple questions on these
Where did you get the Zero Tolerance pistons?
If you dont mind, what is the ballpark for these?
Do they come with the O-Rings?
This is my next project- brakes and I have heard of Precision Engineering (there are 2 locations in florida and 1 is good and 1 is not good, I have that info at home) and there is Zero Tolerance in California I think.
Id appreciate whatever you can tell me. It sounds like you had a positive experience with this and you addressed my only concern with the VBP pistons- "the wobble".
Brent....
Where did you get the Zero Tolerance pistons?
If you dont mind, what is the ballpark for these?
Do they come with the O-Rings?
This is my next project- brakes and I have heard of Precision Engineering (there are 2 locations in florida and 1 is good and 1 is not good, I have that info at home) and there is Zero Tolerance in California I think.
Id appreciate whatever you can tell me. It sounds like you had a positive experience with this and you addressed my only concern with the VBP pistons- "the wobble".
Brent....
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,758
Likes: 4
From: Medford, Or
Re: O-Ring Brake Caliper conversion (Robd)
I installed the Zero Tolerance "o" ring design back in '97. Works awesome. Still on the road. No problems. You will need to use a dermel to clean up the back of cylnders, where the stainless sleeves mate up to the cast.
Dan
Dan
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 117
Likes: 8
From: SWFL
Re: O-Ring Brake Caliper conversion (Robd)
Zero Tolerance URL:
http://www.zerotoleranceind.com/index.htm
Piston set is @$275 but worth every penny. A real piston design that works - pretty suprising when the rear calipers actually do some of the braking. Call them with questions, the owner will call you back and is very knowledgeable.
Phil
http://www.zerotoleranceind.com/index.htm
Piston set is @$275 but worth every penny. A real piston design that works - pretty suprising when the rear calipers actually do some of the braking. Call them with questions, the owner will call you back and is very knowledgeable.
Phil
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Europe , Luxembourg
Re: O-Ring Brake Caliper conversion (pmazza)
Hi
I just received the piston kit from VB.
About 28 US$ per caliper set, so quiet a bit cheaper than ZT.
Can't tell you how they work as I did not put the car on the road yet.
Good luck Gunther
I just received the piston kit from VB.
About 28 US$ per caliper set, so quiet a bit cheaper than ZT.
Can't tell you how they work as I did not put the car on the road yet.
Good luck Gunther
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Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: O-Ring Brake Caliper conversion (WESCH)
For 275 bux, make that ~200 bux EXTRA, over the VBP set which I have...someone needs SHOW me it makes ANY differance.....
my front O ring set in place for about 3 years now.....works fine....
my rear set in place for about 4 months now.....
works fine....
IF you have a wobble problem...first off you need see if the rotor is turning concentric ...if not...NO pistons will cure the problem....
I found this out the HARD way, with using an old rotor once some time ago....it did not run concentric...and caused the pads even without springs in the calipers to jump around with spin....hear the clicking going down the road slowly next to parked cars.....had to be done with NO brakes applied...just coasting....
wife noticed it first...I didn't think much of it...but....yup...she was right....
helps to have a good observer...she worked at a dealership for 15 years..so she is car smart a good bit....lovely woman she is......;-))) now what happens is the brake pads are wobbling around in the calipers...wearing grooves in the retaining pins...and pad edges against caliper castings....
and concentric means to the spin axis...NOT a side to side runout thing....
OH and another thing...take the damn springs out of the capipers....O rings or not....
GENE
my front O ring set in place for about 3 years now.....works fine....
my rear set in place for about 4 months now.....
works fine....
IF you have a wobble problem...first off you need see if the rotor is turning concentric ...if not...NO pistons will cure the problem....
I found this out the HARD way, with using an old rotor once some time ago....it did not run concentric...and caused the pads even without springs in the calipers to jump around with spin....hear the clicking going down the road slowly next to parked cars.....had to be done with NO brakes applied...just coasting....
wife noticed it first...I didn't think much of it...but....yup...she was right....
helps to have a good observer...she worked at a dealership for 15 years..so she is car smart a good bit....lovely woman she is......;-))) now what happens is the brake pads are wobbling around in the calipers...wearing grooves in the retaining pins...and pad edges against caliper castings....
and concentric means to the spin axis...NOT a side to side runout thing....
OH and another thing...take the damn springs out of the capipers....O rings or not....
GENE
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: Cumberland RI
Re: O-Ring Brake Caliper conversion (mrvette)
What do you mean "make sure the rotor is turning concentric"? I understand "runout", where the rotor has high/low spots or is just warped; but how can a disc not be concentric to itself? Do you mean it is out of round? (like a bicycle tire gets?).
I'm with Gunther above...I bought the VPB O-ring conversion kits ($110 car set). I have the calipers out of the car and will start rebuilding them this weekend if my back holds out. I've never done this before so, "here we go again" :p:
I'm with Gunther above...I bought the VPB O-ring conversion kits ($110 car set). I have the calipers out of the car and will start rebuilding them this weekend if my back holds out. I've never done this before so, "here we go again" :p:
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 724
Likes: 0
From: Palm Bay FL
Re: O-Ring Brake Caliper conversion (mrvette)
QUOTE]For 275 bux, make that ~200 bux EXTRA, over the VBP set which I have...someone needs SHOW me it makes ANY differance.....
my front O ring set in place for about 3 years now.....works fine....
my rear set in place for about 4 months now.....
works fine....
GENE[/QUOTE]
WOW...I see what you mean. The VBP are a lot cheaper. Thanks for the input.
Was the conversion simple?[
my front O ring set in place for about 3 years now.....works fine....
my rear set in place for about 4 months now.....
works fine....
GENE[/QUOTE]
WOW...I see what you mean. The VBP are a lot cheaper. Thanks for the input.
Was the conversion simple?[
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Europe , Luxembourg
Re: O-Ring Brake Caliper conversion (Robd)
Hi
I have done the aft calipers so far.
Very easy. Remove the caliper, lever the dust boot out with a screwdriver and the old piston will just jump out due to the aid of the spring behind the piston.
Now just install the new O-ring piston ( with spring ) and install a new dust boot ( included in the kit ).
The new pistons habe the exact same measurements as the old original once.
I did not split the caliper as they where already stainless sleeved.
Now reinstall the calipers to the car, install new stainless braided flex hoses
( car kit about 85 US$ from VB ) and bleed the system.
I'm doing the conversion due to the air sucking of the old lip seals. This is caused due to slight aft bearing play . I will also repl the bearing, but don't want to loose the brakes again at the next slight play.
Because our summer is so short, I must make it from winter to winter, even if a bearing starts getting play.
Hope this O-rings will solve this problem.
Good luck. Gunther
I have done the aft calipers so far.
Very easy. Remove the caliper, lever the dust boot out with a screwdriver and the old piston will just jump out due to the aid of the spring behind the piston.
Now just install the new O-ring piston ( with spring ) and install a new dust boot ( included in the kit ).
The new pistons habe the exact same measurements as the old original once.
I did not split the caliper as they where already stainless sleeved.
Now reinstall the calipers to the car, install new stainless braided flex hoses
( car kit about 85 US$ from VB ) and bleed the system.
I'm doing the conversion due to the air sucking of the old lip seals. This is caused due to slight aft bearing play . I will also repl the bearing, but don't want to loose the brakes again at the next slight play.
Because our summer is so short, I must make it from winter to winter, even if a bearing starts getting play.
Hope this O-rings will solve this problem.
Good luck. Gunther
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
Re: O-Ring Brake Caliper conversion (MN-Brent)
MN-Brent,
I bought mine about five years ago and frankly, my memory is not good enough to quote the price. At the time, they had the only o ring available. VB had not yet begun to offer them.
The kit was complete - no other parts required.
It was necessary to do some minor Dremel grinding but the instructions say exactly what to do.
I bought mine about five years ago and frankly, my memory is not good enough to quote the price. At the time, they had the only o ring available. VB had not yet begun to offer them.
The kit was complete - no other parts required.
It was necessary to do some minor Dremel grinding but the instructions say exactly what to do.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Re: O-Ring Brake Caliper conversion (flynhi)
We did have a similar thread a month or two ago but I believe the focus was on runout and the removal of the springs.
I rebuilt my SS calipers by replacing the pistons with the O ring pistons and removing springs. Removal of springs is no cure for runout but if you have slight warpage and aren't into replacing rotors...his is a short term solution. All consider mileage and usage.
I rebuilt my SS calipers by replacing the pistons with the O ring pistons and removing springs. Removal of springs is no cure for runout but if you have slight warpage and aren't into replacing rotors...his is a short term solution. All consider mileage and usage.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: O-Ring Brake Caliper conversion (vett70)
70, you got it, not round....in fact the one I had on the car was an old original, I had it in place of a new one I thought the runnout was excessive....and anyway, I never even really LOOKED at wether or not it was concentric...the outer edge was fine,...where the cooling fins are...the inner drum was fine....it seemed fine on the hub/flange....but when looking at the brake shoe surface with it spinning, I could SEE that surface was not concentric to the spin axis.....weird looking thing....so when putting on the pads, the tended to wobble around even without the springs in place...meaning loose, but not so loose they werent' moved around against the retaining pin, and caliper...so they were 'ratteling' when car was driven...
I ran engine up to about 50 mph and watched those pads....couldn't even freaking BELIEVE it.....shocked me...never even heard of such a problem...but it bit me in the butt for sure....
so I put the new rotor back on, and played with it a bit to get the runout accectable...and put everything back together again...fine....worked like a charm....
GENE
I ran engine up to about 50 mph and watched those pads....couldn't even freaking BELIEVE it.....shocked me...never even heard of such a problem...but it bit me in the butt for sure....
so I put the new rotor back on, and played with it a bit to get the runout accectable...and put everything back together again...fine....worked like a charm....
GENE
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,563
Likes: 2
Re: O-Ring Brake Caliper conversion (Robd)
A real big problem with the early (C-2, C-3) calipers is that they're fixed, NOT floating, as most all newer calipers are. The least problem with the rotors causes major problems with the calipers.
:yesnod: :chevy :yesnod:
:yesnod: :chevy :yesnod:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 3
From: Moon Twp. PA USA
Re: O-Ring Brake Caliper conversion (flynhi)
The Precision 2000 pistons I received from Precision Engineering look identical to the pistons on the Zero Tolerance web site.
Any connection between the 2 companies?
Any connection between the 2 companies?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 3
From: Moon Twp. PA USA
Re: O-Ring Brake Caliper conversion (MN-Brent)
Flynhi-I have a couple questions on these
Where did you get the Zero Tolerance pistons?
If you dont mind, what is the ballpark for these?
Do they come with the O-Rings?
This is my next project- brakes and I have heard of Precision Engineering (there are 2 locations in florida and 1 is good and 1 is not good, I have that info at home) and there is Zero Tolerance in California I think.
Id appreciate whatever you can tell me. It sounds like you had a positive experience with this and you addressed my only concern with the VBP pistons- "the wobble".
Brent....
Where did you get the Zero Tolerance pistons?
If you dont mind, what is the ballpark for these?
Do they come with the O-Rings?
This is my next project- brakes and I have heard of Precision Engineering (there are 2 locations in florida and 1 is good and 1 is not good, I have that info at home) and there is Zero Tolerance in California I think.
Id appreciate whatever you can tell me. It sounds like you had a positive experience with this and you addressed my only concern with the VBP pistons- "the wobble".
Brent....
Precision 2000 pistons look identical to the pistons shown on the Zero Tolerance web site.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,126
Likes: 174
From: WI
Re: O-Ring Brake Caliper conversion (glen242)
After reading about MIKER and his problem with the "Florida caliper con men" the only Corvette vendor I would EVER deal with in the state of Florida is VETTE BRAKES!! It is just NOT worth the aggravation as the State of Florida doesn`t seem to give a poopie about con artists (I remember a guy scamming Vette owners out of their wheels not too long ago). ...redvetracr
PS: Zero Tolerance is in CA, maybe someone should call him and find out who actually is a dealer for his stuff (or you could just deal with VBP)
[Modified by redvetracr, 8:24 AM 12/5/2002]
PS: Zero Tolerance is in CA, maybe someone should call him and find out who actually is a dealer for his stuff (or you could just deal with VBP)
[Modified by redvetracr, 8:24 AM 12/5/2002]
