Front caliper brackets, correct finish

[Joseph T.]

Re: Front calliper bracket, correct finish

The First picture is from a 5 star Bowtie 66 Corvette and the second picture is from a 5 star Bowtie 67 Corvette. The caliper brackets look Gold or Yellow chromate to me, especially comparing them to the brake splash shields. Let the arguments begin.

[Joe L.]

Re: Front calliper bracket, correct finish

The First picture is from a 5 star Bowtie 66 Corvette and the second picture is from a 5 star Bowtie 67 Corvette. The caliper brackets look Gold or Yellow chromate to me, especially comparing them to the brake splash shields. Let the arguments begin.

Joseph-----

In the first picture, the caliper clamp bolts are not original. So, who knows what else may have been changed?

The stamped in caliper bracket part numbers would be the definitive answer to this question.

[Frank T.]

Re: Front caliper brackets, correct finish

The last few originals that we pulled apart showed evidence of gold behind bolts . On 1967s

[Gene M.]

[Tony S.]

Re: Front caliper brackets, correct finish

The new 67 JG calls for

gold cadmium dichromate

. Modern platers tend to plate to a very gold finish. I think the originals were paler on the front brake caliper support brackets and the power brake booster.

[Rick R.]

Re: Front caliper brackets, correct finish

The new 67 JG calls for

gold cadmium dichromate

. Modern platers tend to plate to a very gold finish. I think the originals were paler on the front brake caliper support brackets and the power brake booster.

Tony is correct that (as I previously mentioned) the new JG calls for the gold finish. I must state that I was in error though in saying previously that the old 6th edition JG also calls for the gold finish - it does not. Based on the fact that my brackets have correct part numbers and show no traces of a gold finish, along with the evidence posted by Joe and Gene, I'm going to stick with the clear zinc/silver finish. Thanks to all for your input.

[Joe L.]

Re: Front caliper brackets, correct finish

Tony is correct that (as I previously mentioned) the new JG calls for the gold finish. I must state that I was in error though in saying previously that the old 6th edition JG also calls for the gold finish - it does not. Based on the fact that my brackets have correct part numbers and show no traces of a gold finish, along with the evidence posted by Joe and Gene, I'm going to stick with the clear zinc/silver finish. Thanks to all for your input.

Rick------


It would be very interesting to learn what the stamped-in part numbers are on these chromate finished 1967 caliper brackets. Of course, even if they are the 1965-67 part numbers, that would not rule out the possibility that the brackets were refinished at some point. But, that would be far less likely and might be somewhat discernible by the overall condition of the brackets.

[Edward J.]

Re: Front caliper brackets, correct finish

The new 67 JG calls for

gold cadmium dichromate

. Modern platers tend to plate to a very gold finish. I think the originals were paler on the front brake caliper support brackets and the power brake booster.

Tony, were the brackets zinc with a dichromate wash? if so the brackets were may not be the bright gold dichromate in color, just a goldish hue.

[Joe L.]

Re: Front caliper brackets, correct finish

All------


It occurs to me it's also very possible that after the 3928649, 3928649 brackets were introduced in 1968 that SERVICE examples of the 3864115, 3864116 might have been chromate finished. It could be that both brackets were manufactured by the same source and that source decided that since the specs called for the chromate finish on the 68+ brackets, they'd just do the 65-67 brackets the same for manufacturing simplicity. If so, any 1965-67 that had the brackets replaced in the 1968 to 1975 period with the original part numbered brackets would have the chromate finish. In case anyone is wondering, the only difference between the 1965-67 brackets and the 68-82 brackets is the size of the holes for mounting to the steering arms. The 65-67 brackets have 15/32" holes; the 68-82 have 17/32" holes.

So, why would any car have even needed replaced brackets? Well, when uneven pad wear is noted, one of the culprits suspected is a bent caliper bracket. Many Corvettes exhibit uneven pad wear so brake shops servicing Corvettes may have decided they needed to replace the brackets. Plus, it would justify an "up charge".

[Joe L.]

Re: Front caliper brackets, correct finish

Tony is correct that (as I previously mentioned) the new JG calls for the gold finish. I must state that I was in error though in saying previously that the old 6th edition JG also calls for the gold finish - it does not. Based on the fact that my brackets have correct part numbers and show no traces of a gold finish, along with the evidence posted by Joe and Gene, I'm going to stick with the clear zinc/silver finish. Thanks to all for your input.

Rick------

I agree. While the chromate finish does "dissipate" over time, it will not "dissipate" in the area under the bolt heads or any surface which is in intimate contact with a mating surface. So, if your brackets exhibit no chromate color in these areas, then your brackets were never chromate finished.

[Ron G.]

Re: Front caliper brackets, correct finish

Back in the mid to late 90s my Dad and I restored the Peter Fonda 1965 396 car which is now owned by Paul Sedacka. I vividly remember that the caliper brackets were silver cadmium. Also, for those interested, this was supposedly the first
M 22 and side exhaust car available to the public. Peter Fonda had plans to race it at Bonnyville and Zora Dubrovnik got involved with build and had a 2.72 rear gear installed from the factory. Again, the car had brake caliper brackets that were played silver CAD.