1973 Brake Repairs

[Roger S.]

A couple of issues:

I get to overhaul my brakes this winter - the rear calipers are leaking. I have read that to put the vehicle up on stands you should raise the vehicle by placing the jack under the rear spring center support. Also, if you want to raise the front end place the jack under the front crossover brace. Is this the best way?

The calipers supposedly have the stainless steel liners so I am not planning on replacing them. I have read that there is a better brake piston seal, an o-ring instead of the original lip seal. Is the o-ring really better that the lip seal?
I drive my Corvette about 1000 miles a year and some folks say the o-ring is better for low mileage cars.

I have heard alot about silicone DOT5 brake fluid. Since I will be replacing the rear calipers and the master cylinder for certain and probably the hoses to all four calipers. Should I convert to the silicone brake fluid at this time?

While I am at Carlisle I will be checking with brake vendors on pricing for the parts that I may need. Any vendors to see or to stay away from?
Roger

[Harmon C.]

Re: 1973 Brake Repairs

Roger If you use a 4 post lift and store a car under it use silicone. Went to look at a 73 stored under it was a 63 split window with a silver paint job was like new but trashed by brake fluid. Both rears on the 73 leaked and he had drip pans but when brakes leak on the platform the fluid runs under the pans and on the car under it. I use lone star brakes and silicone fluid and it works for me. I allways replace the hoses and trailing arm lines and other lines when needed.Lyle

[Warren F.]

Re: 1973 Brake Repairs

Roger:

My car has had its calipers sleeved by VBP (Vette Brakes Products), no problems at all.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: 1973 Brake Repairs

Roger:
The o-ring design has one big advantage over the traditional design: there will never be any air pumping in the rear calipers due to run out of the rotor which causes loss of rear brakes. You can purchase the entire inners of the calipers and rebuild your own as long as you are sure that they are already sleeved. If not, you can buy sleeved, o-ring calipers for the same price as original design. I wouldn't consider any other kind. As far as lifting the car, I have always found that jacking up one side at a time and placing jack stands at the four corners the best method. That's just 1 person's opinion.
Jeff Salz

[Donald T.]

Re: 1973 Brake Repairs

I would not use the crossmember as a jacking point. It will damage the crossmember by denting it in. There is no easy way of repairing it either. I would use the recommended jacking points on the frame as outlined in the service manual. Mark from Calipers Online rebuilt my calipers. Excellent work and was less than other places I checked. There are differing opinions on silicone, but I prefer standard brake fluid. There is nothing wrong with standard brake fluid, as long as you change it every couple of years, and keep it off your paint. JMHO

[Tom H.]

Re: 1973 Brake Repairs

The o-ring pistons solved my brake leakage completely. I used the VBP's and regular fluid and have never had a leak since. Tom

[Klaus Friedrich #33362]

Take care with DOT5

Roger,

don't mix DOT3 or DOT4 with DOT5 brake fuild. If you like to change you have to exchange all seals and clean the system carefully. Best time to change to DOT5 is when installing a complete new brake system.

Ask speciallists, not the mechanic around the corner. Something chemical is going on when mixing the brake fluids.

Klaus