1966 427 425 Brake Caliper Markings

[John R.]

Re: 1966 427 425 Brake Caliper Markings

Would like to piggy back on this thread and ask if one was doing a complete brake job on a 1966 and determined that the existing calipers were incorrect, 547 and 545, thus needing the 546 set, would it be best to go with the original insulator design and lip seal or the go with the 546's with the o-ring seal? Car has great potential and would like to top flight some day,

[Joe L.]

Re: 1966 427 425 Brake Caliper Markings

Would like to piggy back on this thread and ask if one was doing a complete brake job on a 1966 and determined that the existing calipers were incorrect, 547 and 545, thus needing the 546 set, would it be best to go with the original insulator design and lip seal or the go with the 546's with the o-ring seal? Car has great potential and would like to top flight some day,

John-----

If you were to use the o-ring seal on the 546xxxx calipers, then you would have to have the piston guides machined out of the 546xxxx caliper halves and that's an irreversible process. However, there are a lot of 546 castings around that have already had the piston guides machined out. So, you could use these with o-ring pistons and seals.

If you were to use the original style guided pistons with insulators you would need to have a set of 546xxxx caliper halves that have not had the piston guides machined out.

[Ronald L.]

Re: 1966 427 425 Brake Caliper Markings

Joe, I did not see this thread originally but on the comment about painted calipers, my 66 purchased back in the 70's did not have painted calipers, I am sure, they were original and had never been touched when I first went to bleed them, etc. What fun that was and those insulators...cracked easy.

[Steven S.]

Re: 1966 427 425 Brake Caliper Markings

What fun that was and those insulators...cracked easy.

And still do!

[John R.]

Re: 1966 427 425 Brake Caliper Markings

Joe, considering I have to totally replace mine, should I go with the original set up or go with the o rings, keeping the 546 casting regardless? Car will not be driven much so I was thinking the o ring set up?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1966 427 425 Brake Caliper Markings

Joe, considering I have to totally replace mine, should I go with the original set up or go with the o rings, keeping the 546 casting regardless? Car will not be driven much so I was thinking the o ring set up?

John------


The o-rings will probably be best. No one will ever know which type is installed. However, I hate to see the piston guides machined out of a set of '546xxxx' caliper halves; there are few enough originally configured calipers left inasmuch as commercial rebuilders have been routinely and for YEARS machining the piston guides out to convert to 2nd design. So, you might ask for a set that's already been converted to 2nd design. All o-ring pistons are 2nd design type.

[John R.]

Re: 1966 427 425 Brake Caliper Markings

As always thanks for the info, Joe!

[Chris H.]

Re: 1966 427 425 Brake Caliper Markings

Barry, very cool archeological find. It would be great if you could preserve the original St. Louis markings while still having the calipers restored.

Perhaps the rebuilder could do his thing while preserving the exterior "patina" of the caliper.

That is what I did with my original '70 master cylinder. I had the restorer re-sleeve the cylinder, but gave instructions not to touch the exterior, thereby preserving the original St. Louis finish.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1966 427 425 Brake Caliper Markings

I am restoring a 1966 that has been parked in our garage since 1971. Anyone ever seen caliper markings still on the calipers. Car has 30,000 miles on it over a 4.5 year period. .....

There was a previous thread about 2 yrs ago, link attached, discussing paint daubs on rear calipers; (2nd link includes a reason why)

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?t=66915&highlight=orange+paint&uid=5437

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...liper&uid=4985

[Ronald L.]

Re: 1966 427 425 Brake Caliper Markings

On these 65 - E67 caliper castings, is there a year designation???

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1966 427 425 Brake Caliper Markings

On these 65 - E67 caliper castings, is there a year designation???

Man, you're really digging through the vaults . AFAIK, only the Julian (?) dates (without year anywhere on the caliper, at least that I could see). and, in later years, not sure if the cast "Julian date" (?) corresponds even roughly to the birth date.

[Ronald L.]

Re: 1966 427 425 Brake Caliper Markings

Wayne,
I know you like these kind of questions