Hello Everyone, I am restoring (frame off) a mid year that had 50k miles on it. The previous owner had stainless steel brakes installed. This is a car I hope to have flight judged and a car that I will drive. Does anyone have any advice as to the proper course of action regarding the brake calipers? Should they be rebuilt or replaced as a precautionary measure? Like "one of those things you should do while you are in there"? If so, can someone recommend where to send these? TIA Tony
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Re: Mid year brake advice
Tony, what was done to the car when "Stainless Steel Brakes were installed? If the caliper's were replaced, do you know the manufacturer of the calipers installed? Were the Parking brakes redone? and if so, with what components? Essentially if you are going to restore the car and drive it, you need to give the brakes the same examination that you would give any other part of the car, in other words, inspect what's there, evaluate it in light of suitability for use in your intended activity, take necessary action based on your evaluation. If the calipers were resleeved by a major manufacturer, and no obvious problems exist, they may be usefull for a long period of time, however you still need to consider the master cyl, Brake lines, E-brake, etc, all of which are just as important in their own right as the calipers. If you don't know anything about the caliper vendor, I'd replace them too with a known quantity if you're going to drive the car. It's cheap insurance. -
Re: Mid year brake advice
Hi again Mr. DiGiorgio!
I concur with Mr. Clupper's reccomendations. To this I would only add: should you elect not to replace the calipers, you may wish to consider removing the caliper seals to inspect the bores and pistons. Contrary to my previous belief, removing seals is a simple matter. Seals are easily replaced (& inexpensive) thereafter if all parts appear serviceable. Interestingly, after removing four seals from one of my rear SSBC-sleeved calipers (installed 1987), three of the four aluminum pistons were corroded and would require replacement (I removed these as a matter of academic curiosity, am replacing caliper). Sleeved bores were perfect.
I would also make a case for using silicone (DOT 5) fluid when re-installing.
CarlComment
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Re: Mid year brake advice
Bill, I learned fromthe orig owner that "The calipers were replaced at the same time with ones that had stainless-steel inserts around the pistons", this was done in 1982. Who do you think now? Is there someone to recommend for building these if they need done?Thanks, TOnyComment
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Re: Mid year brake advice
Tony----
Stainless steel sleeved calipers, if of high quality, will last a lifetime. High quality means type 304 seamless, stainless steel sleeves installed by someone that knows how to do it right. Quality rebuilders include Carter's Brakes, Stainless Steel Brakes Corp(SSBC), Vette Brakes, Dr. Vette, and Florida Precision Calipers. If yours were done by one of these, you should be all set as far as the calipers, themselves, are concerned. "Gypo" rebuilders sometimes use decorative stainless and poor quality machining/sleeve installation.
Although the caliper sleeves should last a lifetime, if the calipers were rebuilt as long ago as 1982 you need to, at least, reseal them since the seals and pistons DON'T last a lifetime. 17 years is a long time even with low mileage. Remove the piston boots, pistons, and springs. Inspect the pistons carefully for wear on the piston skirts near the seal. If the gold anodize is worn through in this area, replace the pistons. Install new GM seals on the pistons and carefully reinstall. Dr. Vette sells plastic sleeves to use as an installer to compress the seals or you can do it carefully with a feeler gauge. It is critical that the seals not be cut or damaged in any way.
If you choose not to do it yourself, you can send them off to one of the rebuilders mentioned above and they can do the job for you.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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