Quick Brake Caliper question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,312
Likes: 156
From: Richmond Texas
Quick Brake Caliper question
2 of my calipers are leaking because the car was sitting up a long time. I am thinking about buying rebuild kits with the o-ring upgrade. I saw a video where they were doing this upgrade but the guy said it is only possible if the calipers are lined with stainless steel. Is he correct or FOS. If he is correct, is there an easy way to tell if they are lined with stainless steel other than disassembling the caliper?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,949
Likes: 4,507
From: Virginia
I'd say YouTube guy is correct. If they are not sleeved, send them back as cores. If they are sleeved, I used CSSB Inc. high-heat O-ring rebuild kits on my car (with sleeved Delco Moraine castings). They only sell on eBay now, though.
It'll be obvious once you have them apart.
It'll be obvious once you have them apart.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,226
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
I don't see how it would matter if they were sleeved or not, as long as they are the correct diameter and the bores aren't pitted.
If they aren't ss sleeved, there is a good chance that they are pitted and may not be suitable to rebuild.
If they aren't ss sleeved, there is a good chance that they are pitted and may not be suitable to rebuild.
Last edited by Sayfoo; Feb 23, 2021 at 08:03 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,312
Likes: 156
From: Richmond Texas
I want to upgrade them to o-rings. They must have SS sleeves for this. At least that is what I read and all the videos I've watched say.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,949
Likes: 4,507
From: Virginia
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
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From: eastern NC
Ronnie, I would wager that the odds of your '69 having un-sleeved calipers is slim and none! I replaced my first set of leaking calipers with SS sleeved ones in 1979 and that was on a '77 with less than 20k on it. To my knowledge the factory never installed SS sleeved calipers, even after they knew they would be problematic. But the last ones were installed in '82, some 39 years ago, so the odds of finding un-sleeved original calipers are not in your favor. If you did find a set, the cast iron bores would probably be far too corroded to hone and reuse. Which is why the SS sleeved calipers appeared in the first place.
Buy the rebuild kit and when you tear the caliper apart it will be readily evident if they are sleeved - they will have very minor if any corrosion and can probably be cleaned up with some crocus cloth if they do. Be sure to include new pistons as most have aluminum pistons which still corrode even if the bores don't.
If yours are un-sleeved, send them off and have them sleeved, I think Lone Star still offers that service, or turn them in to your nearest NAPA for new calipers which will probably already have the SS sleeves in them anyway.
FYI; if you do decide to rebuild, loosen the caliper half bolts while the calipers are still bolted to the car. Trying to break them loose on the bench can be a real challenge!
Good luck... GUSTO
Buy the rebuild kit and when you tear the caliper apart it will be readily evident if they are sleeved - they will have very minor if any corrosion and can probably be cleaned up with some crocus cloth if they do. Be sure to include new pistons as most have aluminum pistons which still corrode even if the bores don't.
If yours are un-sleeved, send them off and have them sleeved, I think Lone Star still offers that service, or turn them in to your nearest NAPA for new calipers which will probably already have the SS sleeves in them anyway.
FYI; if you do decide to rebuild, loosen the caliper half bolts while the calipers are still bolted to the car. Trying to break them loose on the bench can be a real challenge!
Good luck... GUSTO
Last edited by GUSTO14; Feb 23, 2021 at 10:13 PM. Reason: added additional info
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,312
Likes: 156
From: Richmond Texas
Ronnie, I would wager that the odds of your '69 having un-sleeved calipers is slim and none! I replaced my first set of leaking calipers with SS sleeved ones in 1979 and that was on a '77 with less than 20k on it. To my knowledge the factory never installed SS sleeved calipers, even after they knew they would be problematic. But the last ones were installed in '82, some 39 years ago, so the odds of finding un-sleeved original calipers are not in your favor. If you did find a set, the cast iron bores would probably be far too corroded to hone and reuse. Which is why the SS sleeved calipers appeared in the first place.
Buy the rebuild kit and when you tear the caliper apart it will be readily evident if they are sleeved - they will have very minor if any corrosion and can probably be cleaned up with some crocus cloth if they do. Be sure to include new pistons as most have aluminum pistons which still corrode even if the bores don't.
If yours are un-sleeved, send them off and have them sleeved, I think Lone Star still offers that service, or turn them in to your nearest NAPA for new calipers which will probably already have the SS sleeves in them anyway.
FYI; if you do decide to rebuild, loosen the caliper half bolts while the calipers are still bolted to the car. Trying to break them loose on the bench can be a real challenge!
Good luck... GUSTO
Buy the rebuild kit and when you tear the caliper apart it will be readily evident if they are sleeved - they will have very minor if any corrosion and can probably be cleaned up with some crocus cloth if they do. Be sure to include new pistons as most have aluminum pistons which still corrode even if the bores don't.
If yours are un-sleeved, send them off and have them sleeved, I think Lone Star still offers that service, or turn them in to your nearest NAPA for new calipers which will probably already have the SS sleeves in them anyway.
FYI; if you do decide to rebuild, loosen the caliper half bolts while the calipers are still bolted to the car. Trying to break them loose on the bench can be a real challenge!
Good luck... GUSTO
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,226
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,312
Likes: 156
From: Richmond Texas
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,226
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
IF I had good original bores--no pits--I would use them.
Perhaps you could call Ecklers to get their take on it.
Of course, if you have original bores with pits, the point is mute.
I've found, just because a company has been in business a long time, doesn't guarantee that they are 100% accurate.
The older I get, the less I believe.
Good luck either way.
Perhaps you could call Ecklers to get their take on it.
Of course, if you have original bores with pits, the point is mute.
I've found, just because a company has been in business a long time, doesn't guarantee that they are 100% accurate.
The older I get, the less I believe.
Good luck either way.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,581
Likes: 28
From: Spring, Texas
I've put O-rings in calipers that were not stainless sleeved because the bores were clean with no pitting or damage.
Those O-rings far outlasted the lip seals I had previously replaced, even with C3's that were rarely driven.
I've heard the same thing the Ecklers video claims, and stainless sleeved bores are probably recommended just to ensure there are no pits or damage that could cause brake issues. There's a lot of liability risk related to automotive brakes.
A standard rebuilt caliper may not be sleeved, but should have new pistons, piston seals, O-rings for where the caliper separates, and dust seals.
Those O-rings far outlasted the lip seals I had previously replaced, even with C3's that were rarely driven.
I've heard the same thing the Ecklers video claims, and stainless sleeved bores are probably recommended just to ensure there are no pits or damage that could cause brake issues. There's a lot of liability risk related to automotive brakes.
A standard rebuilt caliper may not be sleeved, but should have new pistons, piston seals, O-rings for where the caliper separates, and dust seals.