Front Caliper mounting bracket for 69

[Michael L.]

Re: Front Caliper mounting bracket for 69

Thanks guys for all the help on this. The spindle def had some minor pitting from sitting in the garage all these years. after hitting it with some scotch brite the bearing slipped right on. AS for the gap in the backing plate it was the steering arm that was missing. I'm good to go now only I can't find the torque specs for any of the nuts I have to tighten. They aren't in the AIM because this came to the factory already assembled. Strangely the 5 or 6 service and reference books I have don't have this info either. Can someone tell me what the torque specs are for my 69 SB coupe for the three bolts that hold on the splash shield and caliper backing nut and also for the spindle nut, and also tell me where I can find this info in the future?

Thanks,
Mike

[Leif A.]

Re: Front Caliper mounting bracket for 69

Michael,
Specifically which nuts and bolts do you need torque specs for? Do you have the Chevrolet Chassis Service Manual for 1969? If so, the torque specs you're looking for should be at the very back of the manual. If not, let me know which nuts and bolts you need specs for and I'll see if I can help.

[Joe L.]

Re: Front Caliper mounting bracket for 69

Thanks guys for all the help on this. The spindle def had some minor pitting from sitting in the garage all these years. after hitting it with some scotch brite the bearing slipped right on. AS for the gap in the backing plate it was the steering arm that was missing. I'm good to go now only I can't find the torque specs for any of the nuts I have to tighten. They aren't in the AIM because this came to the factory already assembled. Strangely the 5 or 6 service and reference books I have don't have this info either. Can someone tell me what the torque specs are for my 69 SB coupe for the three bolts that hold on the splash shield and caliper backing nut and also for the spindle nut, and also tell me where I can find this info in the future?

Thanks,
Mike

Mike-------

The upper, 11/16-16 X 7/8" bolt (which threads into the spindle) is torqued to 120 lb/ft. This bolt is sometimes referred to as the "disc brake anchor bolt". You will find this spec in the front suspension bolt torques section of the Chassis Service Manual.

The spindle nut is adjusted by tightening it to 12 lb/ft while rotating the wheel. Then, back off the nut 1 flat plus any additional required to insert the cotter pin.

The torque for the two steering arm bolts is nowhere to be found. I've looked for it for years in various references and have never found it. However, the 1969-82 bolts are 1/2-20 and of SAE grade 8 material. So, I use the "standard" torque for such bolts which is about 95 lb/ft.

[Michael L.]

Re: Front Caliper mounting bracket for 69

Ok thanks Joe. Got it done. This dust cap is impossible to get on. Is there a trick to it? I've seen the install tools. Is it the 1.98" one or the bigger one?

[Joe L.]

Re: Front Caliper mounting bracket for 69

Ok thanks Joe. Got it done. This dust cap is impossible to get on. Is there a trick to it? I've seen the install tools. Is it the 1.98" one or the bigger one?

Michael------


I've never used any special tool to install these hub caps and I've never had any trouble installing them. However, if a tubular-type tool were to be used I think it would need to be larger than 1.98 ID". 2.15" ID would be more like it.

[Graeme B.]

Re: Front Caliper mounting bracket for 69

If they are new caps they can be a pain to get on. File a small chamfer on the leading edge of the cap.
Cheers, Graeme.

[Richard M.]

Re: Front Caliper mounting bracket for 69

Yes the dust caps, if reproductions, may not fit well. The last set I had for a '67, their outer flange would not fit flush against the hubs. I drove one on and the outer flange was sitting quite far from the hub face, about a sixteenth or so. After checking dimensions, the inner lip of the cap was too long/deep and was bottoming out on the bearing race. I stood there shaking my head in disgust.

I had to remove a 1/16th" from the caps inner lips for them to fit. I did this on my flat table belt sander, whilst burning my fingers when they got hot, so I had to go get a can of water too cool both my fingers and the caps when sanding them. After sanding, I then had to use a de-burring tool to remove any traces of metal burrs on the edges of the caps. Then a wash in my de-greaser to remove any additional debris, then a air dry blowing them out with compressed air.

After drying and ensuring I had properly modified and scrupulously cleaned dust caps, I simply installed them with no trouble.

Just another 1 minute job that takes 30 minutes when using some wonderful reproduction parts.

[Michael L.]

Re: Front Caliper mounting bracket for 69

Thanks Rich, but I haven't even gotten that far yet. I simply can't get the cap on the hub. Its very close but it just doesn't want to go. Of course I can't just whack it because even with the rubber mallet I'm afraid of denting the cap. What I need is one of those tools that are used for just this purpose, but not sure of the size. Some of the ones I've seen are listed as being for 1.98" caps but I put the calipers on mine and they are 2.09, which may be why I'm struggling to get them on. I'm guessing they are supposed to be the 1.98" variety so I think I'm going to order that tool and give it a go, unless someone has a better idea.

Mike

[Joe L.]

Re: Front Caliper mounting bracket for 69

Thanks Rich, but I haven't even gotten that far yet. I simply can't get the cap on the hub. Its very close but it just doesn't want to go. Of course I can't just whack it because even with the rubber mallet I'm afraid of denting the cap. What I need is one of those tools that are used for just this purpose, but not sure of the size. Some of the ones I've seen are listed as being for 1.98" caps but I put the calipers on mine and they are 2.09, which may be why I'm struggling to get them on. I'm guessing they are supposed to be the 1.98" variety so I think I'm going to order that tool and give it a go, unless someone has a better idea.

Mike

Mike-----


All 1969-82 Corvettes used the same size hub caps. The OD of the insertion section of the known originals on my 1969 range from 2.075" to 2.080" depending where I measure it (there may be some slight distortion after almost 50 years). If yours are actually 2.090", I don't think that would cause any problem for installation. As I mentioned, I've removed and installed mine many times over the years with no problems.