Well, today my brake pedal went to the floor.  Drove fine last time out.  Left front wheel is wet.  Got the caliper off and before I tore into it, I thought maybe I should just go to the auto parts store and get a rebuilt caliper instead of just a rebuild kit.

So I have Autozone, O'reilly's, NAPA, and a Pep Boys nearby.  Are the calipers they sell worth a chit or should I just rebuild what I've got.  Sure would be easier to just bolt on a caliper instead of getting brake fluid and dirt everywere.


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Here is an opinion only. I have had multple "REBUILT" calipers. ALL of them ain't worth a tinkers stink. They were re-maned by a company called "CARDONE". Not sure of their area of distribution, but I wouldn't use another one if they gave it to me. EVERYONE of them leaked shortly after instalation. SO.... I got a new one, and no leaks. As a side note, I have had a pair of NEW rear calipers on order from Mid-America since last August when I ordered them at Corvettes at Carlisle. They have yet to arrive at my home. They have told me they would check into it, but nothing has resulted. If they are not stainless steel sleeved and have "O" ring seals, my thought is don't buy them. Just an opinion! If the car is used on a regular/Daily basis the lip seals and cast iron lining will work as required, but with these cars only used occasionally, some other system will work better. My 75' is a once in a while car. It needs two rear calipers. My 72' is used often, and has the O.E.M. calipers and they work fine. SO....... how often do you drive it? The choice is yours. "I" would bolt on different ones, not rebuild the ones you have. Keep us in the loop as per your decision.

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When I had to replace the left front on the '74 after trying to fix it for years, I got a reman from either Autozone or Oreillys. So far, so good, but it's only been on there for about a year.....and ya'll know I don't drive it much, so...
From what I know, ALL the remans for these calipers are stainless steel sleeved. It's possible, of course, that some suppliers aren't sleeving them(China), so it's a good idea to ASK the salesperson before purchase.
The front calipers on the '74 were sleeved when I bought it....don't know where they come from, but the left front had always been a leaker. I rebuilt it several times before I found one of the piston bores had been machined off-center.   Every time the piston retracted into the bore, it would nick the seal, until it would finally start leaking.

So, yeah...buyer beware on the remans.

btw...most, if not ALL of the calipers sold by the Corvette vendors come from Lone Star Caliper here in Texas...right down the highway a bit from me. They do NOT sell retail. I tried a few years back to get a distributorship for them, but their demands were just too ridiculous.




|UPDATED|1/3/2017 8:22:11 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Sometimes I drive it twice a week, sometimes it goes a month before I drive it.

Rock Auto has a bunch of different brands of rebuilt calipers.  I wonder if Lone Star rebuilds any of those.


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Lone Star was at Corvettes at Carlisle, and is most years. The prices they wanted for an axel set was WAY higher than the VETTE venders at the 2016 show. If I was certain the product the venders sell was from Lone Star and NOT R.O.C. I would not mind ordering them. Shipping knocks your socks off on cast iron, and if a problem surfaces, and have to go back to vender, THEN shipping kicks in AGAIN both ways. WILWOOD is looking better all the time.

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For the past 40 years there have many shops rebuilding calipers. The process isn't really hard as long as you have a mill and fixture but the quality from many shops just isn't good. Cheap labor and lousy QC is most likely the reason.

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I just talked to Lone Star and they now will sell to individuals.  Can't do it online, gotta call them I guess.  $101 for a caliper + $50 core + shipping and tax for us Texans.

Found Lone Star calipers at Corvette World in Dallas.  With my club discount, $73.80 plus tax.  On my was this afternoon!


|UPDATED|1/4/2017 11:42:14 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Is SSB (Stainless Steel Brakes) still around? They were the first to sleeve IIRC.   Also Vette Brakes is another good source.

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1973 L-82 4 spd

Edzachary what I have found. Lone Star, VBP, Stainless, all pretty much specialize in doing these things, so the quality of their products, compared to Autozone, etc., is much mo betta. Not saying even the specialist places don't screw up every now and then, but it happens far less than the cheaper ones.



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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

I had my calipers rebuilt on the '74 30 years ago by Vette Brakes (VBP). They put in stainless steel sleeves and pistons. Switched to silicone fluid when I reinstalled them. Have never had any leaking with them and the finish has held up well. Good luck on getting yours back on the road!