?'s about the C4
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: MoVal California
?'s about the C4
so i have a 91 corvette convertible, its a 6spd as well... now i have some questions that i have been meaning to ask, but just haven't asked, but its actually a long story.
the car was in great sound working order when i purchased it, but one night my brother drove the car to work(thats when it all went down hill) and let me fill you guys in on something, but my brother is not a car savvy person all he knows is put in gas(i had to swap out 4 corolla motors for him because he from what ive seen, don't believe in changing motor oil or its just not important) but back to the story he drove the car about 100miles one nite to work and back... he drove it with the parking brakes on the whole time... the front right caliper exploded, it seems that the pin that holds the caliper in place shot off or something... it totally grinned the inner walls of my new wheels(i just purchased the wheels from a awesome dude in victorville for $400 he said it was ZR1 or something, not to sure) but this not only grinned it, but it also grinned the caliper really bad too.... he told me the next day once i confronted him about it, and he just replied, i thought the car was broken that is why i didnt bother to look for a parking brake. then once he drove about 70 miles or so, he heard a loud pop, and the car started to make a loud grinned sound... i then asked him did you pull over and have the car towed home, he told me, no i was tired and didnt want to wait for a tow truck, so he just drove it home like that... he told me the whole time he drove it, the car wouldnt really stop... i then was shocked and astound about how ridiculous and dumb he sounded(wish he would just listen to himself sometimes.) but i know no matter how much i yell at him, he will never learn or care. so i just told him he is NEVER EVER ALLOWED to touch my car(s) ever again, he shrugged and went back to sleep... sometimes my brother just lives in a awesome world, he works and party, goes to school and party... well back to the story, so i looked into the car, put the car on the lift and lifted the car up, once i removed the front right tire, i kind of knew it all by looking at it... went to the other side and took the tire off and looked at the caliper, notice the pin was missing and so my quest started... after looking for about 3 weeks NO ONE, i mean NO ONE or SHOP could get that pin... not even the dealership, or corvette specialty stores... so i got desperate and went to the home depot and found a bolt similar to the one missing, and just grinned off the portion i didn't need. it works, but that is just to janky and ghetto for my tastes, so i am still in the market for one, a legit GM brake caliper locking pin.(if anyone has one and its not too expensive since im out of work atm, i would gladly purchase it.) but here is the question now, i looked at the rear brakes and the rotor and pads are in good shape, and i was wondering if this car is like the nissan z32 300zx twin turbos where the rears are caliper rotor and inside is a drum brake system? and if it is, does someone on this forum have a write up on it? im still a new person to the world of corvettes let alone domestics, i have been on imports my whole driving life and all i only have are metric tools, and import knowledge, i know that doesnt matter, but im very **** on my vehicles... i mean the parking brakes don't work anymore, they just roll back when i park on a hill, its embarrassing to keep wood or bricks behind the vette, i mean i think im giving the vette community a bad like that(sorry guys and gals) but any answers or advice is well appreciated. i know i should just buy a repair manual, but i love the forums, its where you meet AWESOME people with the same LOVE and COMMITMENTS as you... moreover, we all can trade secrets and that is another reason i love the forums. so again, thank you in advance.
the car was in great sound working order when i purchased it, but one night my brother drove the car to work(thats when it all went down hill) and let me fill you guys in on something, but my brother is not a car savvy person all he knows is put in gas(i had to swap out 4 corolla motors for him because he from what ive seen, don't believe in changing motor oil or its just not important) but back to the story he drove the car about 100miles one nite to work and back... he drove it with the parking brakes on the whole time... the front right caliper exploded, it seems that the pin that holds the caliper in place shot off or something... it totally grinned the inner walls of my new wheels(i just purchased the wheels from a awesome dude in victorville for $400 he said it was ZR1 or something, not to sure) but this not only grinned it, but it also grinned the caliper really bad too.... he told me the next day once i confronted him about it, and he just replied, i thought the car was broken that is why i didnt bother to look for a parking brake. then once he drove about 70 miles or so, he heard a loud pop, and the car started to make a loud grinned sound... i then asked him did you pull over and have the car towed home, he told me, no i was tired and didnt want to wait for a tow truck, so he just drove it home like that... he told me the whole time he drove it, the car wouldnt really stop... i then was shocked and astound about how ridiculous and dumb he sounded(wish he would just listen to himself sometimes.) but i know no matter how much i yell at him, he will never learn or care. so i just told him he is NEVER EVER ALLOWED to touch my car(s) ever again, he shrugged and went back to sleep... sometimes my brother just lives in a awesome world, he works and party, goes to school and party... well back to the story, so i looked into the car, put the car on the lift and lifted the car up, once i removed the front right tire, i kind of knew it all by looking at it... went to the other side and took the tire off and looked at the caliper, notice the pin was missing and so my quest started... after looking for about 3 weeks NO ONE, i mean NO ONE or SHOP could get that pin... not even the dealership, or corvette specialty stores... so i got desperate and went to the home depot and found a bolt similar to the one missing, and just grinned off the portion i didn't need. it works, but that is just to janky and ghetto for my tastes, so i am still in the market for one, a legit GM brake caliper locking pin.(if anyone has one and its not too expensive since im out of work atm, i would gladly purchase it.) but here is the question now, i looked at the rear brakes and the rotor and pads are in good shape, and i was wondering if this car is like the nissan z32 300zx twin turbos where the rears are caliper rotor and inside is a drum brake system? and if it is, does someone on this forum have a write up on it? im still a new person to the world of corvettes let alone domestics, i have been on imports my whole driving life and all i only have are metric tools, and import knowledge, i know that doesnt matter, but im very **** on my vehicles... i mean the parking brakes don't work anymore, they just roll back when i park on a hill, its embarrassing to keep wood or bricks behind the vette, i mean i think im giving the vette community a bad like that(sorry guys and gals) but any answers or advice is well appreciated. i know i should just buy a repair manual, but i love the forums, its where you meet AWESOME people with the same LOVE and COMMITMENTS as you... moreover, we all can trade secrets and that is another reason i love the forums. so again, thank you in advance.
Last edited by ayang951; Jul 9, 2011 at 08:33 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,750
Likes: 275
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
re C4
Hi
I just looked at the corvette central website and they have the front brake caliper guide pin and clip for $10.50 each
They hold the caliper to the bracket
I must order a set for my vette
I have the 88-96 heavy duty brakes on my 85
The 88-96 don't have brake linings for the hand brake like the 84-87, the handbrake cable attaches to the caliper and applies pressure to the pads. Hope this helps you
I just looked at the corvette central website and they have the front brake caliper guide pin and clip for $10.50 each
They hold the caliper to the bracket
I must order a set for my vette
I have the 88-96 heavy duty brakes on my 85
The 88-96 don't have brake linings for the hand brake like the 84-87, the handbrake cable attaches to the caliper and applies pressure to the pads. Hope this helps you
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
the park brake has NO connection with front brakes.
You have two SEPERATE unrelated brake problems.
Have you confirmed the park brake mechanism works ( moves ) on the rear calipers when the park brake is pulled?
Last edited by rodj; Jul 9, 2011 at 04:47 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: MoVal California
no i have not... but i will now... sorry i just havent been doing much to it... but yeah i know that the front has nothing to do with the parking brakes... but i have not confirmed the rear calipers once the brake is pulled... once i get it out of the shop, i will check it... it seemed that my dizzy was bad... i wish i owned a diagnostic reader... but yeah, hoping that i will get it back tomorrow... just that the shop is taking forever to order the part... but again thanks for your answer...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: MoVal California
Hi
I just looked at the corvette central website and they have the front brake caliper guide pin and clip for $10.50 each
They hold the caliper to the bracket
I must order a set for my vette
I have the 88-96 heavy duty brakes on my 85
The 88-96 don't have brake linings for the hand brake like the 84-87, the handbrake cable attaches to the caliper and applies pressure to the pads. Hope this helps you
I just looked at the corvette central website and they have the front brake caliper guide pin and clip for $10.50 each
They hold the caliper to the bracket
I must order a set for my vette
I have the 88-96 heavy duty brakes on my 85
The 88-96 don't have brake linings for the hand brake like the 84-87, the handbrake cable attaches to the caliper and applies pressure to the pads. Hope this helps you
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: Bowling Green Ky
here's a little tip to get responses.
leave out the commentary that is not related to the issue.
put in several paragraphs. I read the whole thing and was confused abut if there was a question.
if your brake was on, ther should have been a red light on the panel forward of steering wheel.
leave out the commentary that is not related to the issue.
put in several paragraphs. I read the whole thing and was confused abut if there was a question.
if your brake was on, ther should have been a red light on the panel forward of steering wheel.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: MoVal California
here's a little tip to get responses.
leave out the commentary that is not related to the issue.
put in several paragraphs. I read the whole thing and was confused abut if there was a question.
if your brake was on, ther should have been a red light on the panel forward of steering wheel.
leave out the commentary that is not related to the issue.
put in several paragraphs. I read the whole thing and was confused abut if there was a question.
if your brake was on, ther should have been a red light on the panel forward of steering wheel.
another thing, how do i know which brake setup do i have and what kind of suspension, i see some that says Z51 and FX3 or something... and whenever i go to the store to get stuff for it they always ask me all these questions on what it is....
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
On the brake caliper pins - I can always get a pin and e-clip for the j55 calipers at any auto parts store.
I'll look and see if I have a kit in the tool box and give the brakeware part number.
I'll look and see if I have a kit in the tool box and give the brakeware part number.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 755
Likes: 32
From: Roswell Georgia
You need to replace the pins on both front calipers. If one went, the other will follow in short order. (When you apply the front brakes, the caliper "grabs" the disc, and the rotation of the disc tries to lift the caliper upward. The retaining pin resists this movement, but the pin is made of softer metal than the steel backing plates of most disc pads. Eventually, the backing plates will "saw" through the retaining pin to the point it just drops out allowing the caliper to rotate upwards and disengage the rotor while scoring the inside of the wheel as it runs.)
You never did specify whether you had the standard 12" front brakes or the heavy duty 13" brake set. The pins are different for each. (The 13" pin is slightly longer.) Any Corvette supply house will carry them. I think that Vette Brakes & Products is a forum sponsor so try them.
As for the rear brakes, inspect them to be sure that you have sufficient pad material left on both sides of each rear rotor and that the emergency brakes engages as well as releases. In most cases, drivers tend to not fully release the parking brake so the rear brakes are dragging, but not fully engaged. You may have to remove the rear pads on both sides to remove any heat glazing from the pads themselves. (Rare, but it does happen.)
You never did specify whether you had the standard 12" front brakes or the heavy duty 13" brake set. The pins are different for each. (The 13" pin is slightly longer.) Any Corvette supply house will carry them. I think that Vette Brakes & Products is a forum sponsor so try them.
As for the rear brakes, inspect them to be sure that you have sufficient pad material left on both sides of each rear rotor and that the emergency brakes engages as well as releases. In most cases, drivers tend to not fully release the parking brake so the rear brakes are dragging, but not fully engaged. You may have to remove the rear pads on both sides to remove any heat glazing from the pads themselves. (Rare, but it does happen.)
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: MoVal California
awesome thanks guys.. now im all excited, cant wait for it to get back home... hopefully the part came in and i can take her home, and do a nice tune up and install new dizzy. but ill measure the brakes though and ill repost it... and on the suspension what kind do i have? like i stated earlier i hear about the z51 or something and fx3 or something... im not too sure, but i do have that **** that makes the suspesion adjust to three different settings... perf sport and tour... hopefully that might give you guys more information on as to what it is...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
awesome thanks guys.. now im all excited, cant wait for it to get back home... hopefully the part came in and i can take her home, and do a nice tune up and install new dizzy. but ill measure the brakes though and ill repost it... and on the suspension what kind do i have? like i stated earlier i hear about the z51 or something and fx3 or something... im not too sure, but i do have that **** that makes the suspesion adjust to three different settings... perf sport and tour... hopefully that might give you guys more information on as to what it is...
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