Brake caliper is off center

[Jordan S.]

I just tried to install a new set of brake calipers on the back of my 70. The drivers side fits fine. The passenger side does not have enough room between the caliper and outside of the rotor to install a brake pad. I measured the gap between the inner pad metal backing and caliper and the clearance at the front was 0.152" and rear .132".

I have read an online article with the following advice:

"If a rear caliper is off-center or angled to the outside or a front caliper of is off-center or angled to the inside, simply remove it and add flat washers between the caliper and caliper mounting bracket such that the problem is eliminated. Special washers, in .015-, .020-. .025 and .030-inch thicknesses, are made by Global West to solve caliper position problems.

If off-center or angling of a rear or front caliper is opposite

[Wayne W.]

Re: Brake caliper is off center

Probably have the rotors on wrong. A front on the rear, or the mounting flange is bent. Otherwise you shouldnt need shims.

[Jim T.]

Re: Brake caliper is off center

Your problem with the difference could be with the caliper mounting bracket. The tool made by Kent Moore to remove Corvette spindles connected at three places, the lower shock mounting position, and the two remaining positions were the caliper mounting bracket. The spindles could be very difficult to remove and the caliper mounting bracket sometimes suffered from the result. The caliper mounting brackets can be bent/distorted and will not allow proper mounting alignment of the brake caliper.

[Jordan S.]

Re: Brake caliper is off center

Thanks for the replys. The rotor is definitely a rear rotor and fit fine with the old calipers. It is securley bolted to the spindle with the lugs. I have not serviced the spindle or rear wheel bearings (That's the project for next winter). There is no reason to believe the mount is bent as I simply removed the old caliper a few mos. ago with no other service done here.

I'm thinking that since the right caliper is a new casting, maybe the mounting boss is thicker than the old casting (Drivers side is a rebuilt and fits fine) which moves the caliper inboard in relation to the rotor.

Anyone else experience this with a new casting caliper?

[Wayne W.]

Re: Brake caliper is off center

Thanks for the replys. The rotor is definitely a rear rotor and fit fine with the old calipers. It is securley bolted to the spindle with the lugs. I have not serviced the spindle or rear wheel bearings (That's the project for next winter). There is no reason to believe the mount is bent as I simply removed the old caliper a few mos. ago with no other service done here.

I'm thinking that since the right caliper is a new casting, maybe the mounting boss is thicker than the old casting (Drivers side is a rebuilt and fits fine) which moves the caliper inboard in relation to the rotor.

Anyone else experience this with a new casting caliper?

Reading your post over on the other forum, I think you might be correct. You said it was a GM casting. I doubt that. I dont think GM is still casting them. Probably China crap with GM logo. Anyway, why not just change it?