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Topic: Calipers for my 1974 Corvette S.B. Vert rear calipers are leakng

in Forum: C3 Handling Components


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Calipers for my 1974 Corvette S.B. Vert rear calipers are leakng (1/16)
 11/25/22 2:46pm
alweeja
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Thomson, GA - USA

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1974 convertible S.B.


Joined: 11/25/2022
Posts: 10

I want O-ring stainless sleeved.  Where do I get them?  I guess I need brake hoses(2) & pads.   Should I do all 4?  Can I just get away w/ 2.  Rear M.C. Is new.

I have heard rebuilding with O-rings not enough.

 

Thanks for help & suggestions

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Re: Calipers for my 1974 Corvette S.B. Vert rear calipers are leakng (2/16)
 11/25/22 6:10pm
alweeja
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Thomson, GA - USA

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I am sure that someone has idea’s

Re: Calipers for my 1974 Corvette S.B. Vert rear calipers are leakng (3/16)
 11/25/22 6:20pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

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How often do you drive your car?

Nothing wrong with the lip seals.  Just go out and pump the brakes once a week.  All the vendors have replacement calipers.



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Re: Calipers for my 1974 Corvette S.B. Vert rear calipers are leakng (4/16)
 11/25/22 6:45pm
NorskyLifetime Member
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Re: Calipers for my 1974 Corvette S.B. Vert rear calipers are leakng (5/16)
 12/27/22 12:04am
alweeja
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Thomson, GA - USA

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1974 convertible S.B.


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F4Gary said:

How often do you drive your car?

Nothing wrong with the lip seals.  Just go out and pump the brakes once a week.  All the vendors have replacement calipers.



Is that why Chevrolet discontinued using lip seals all together?  I know I will just rebuild them with O-ring calipers

Re: Calipers for my 1974 Corvette S.B. Vert rear calipers are leakng (6/16)
 12/27/22 7:31pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

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1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
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They discontinued lip seals on the fixed mounted C3 calipers? When?



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Re: Calipers for my 1974 Corvette S.B. Vert rear calipers are leakng (7/16)
 12/29/22 1:30am
73shark
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Overland Park, KS - USA

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1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


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I wasn't aware that they did. 

Personally I'm not sure that O-rings are a good idea because w/ lip seals, the more pressure, the better they seal.  Whereas w/ O-rings, the more pressure, the more likely they will leak.



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Re: Calipers for my 1974 Corvette S.B. Vert rear calipers are leakng (8/16)
 12/29/22 2:29pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

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Good info on C3 caliper seals.

http://www.duntovmotors.com/tech-calipers.php



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Re: Calipers for my 1974 Corvette S.B. Vert rear calipers are leakng (9/16)
 12/29/22 4:10pm
manchestersharkLifetime Member
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Equinunk, PA - USA

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1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.


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Greetings to anyone who may be attentive. So...Are lip seals available in SS lined calipers?  MY reason for wanting SS is rusty corrosion. The seal is not the reason. I.M.H.O. the least amount of residue from rust or corrosion is what keeps the contact in the bore, and does not allow seal to pass fluid by, and be messy on the outside. I agree with lip seals, but cast iron seems to cause leaks. Help me better understand. Thanks



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Re: Calipers for my 1974 Corvette S.B. Vert rear calipers are leakng (10/16)
 12/29/22 4:28pm
73shark
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
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Stainless-Steel lined calipers will not allow rust to form on the surface that the lip seals will contact and that will prevent any leakage.

I know that others will probably disagree with me on this but when I replaced my front calipers with Stainless-Steel lined ones and honed the rear calipers, I went to silicon-based brake fluid. The rears never leaked and I attribute that to the fact that silicon brake fluid is not hygroscopic.  YMMV  😉

 



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Re: Calipers for my 1974 Corvette S.B. Vert rear calipers are leakng (11/16)
 12/29/22 11:20pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

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1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


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I thought everyone had gone to SS lined calipers.  All the aftermarket suppliers only sell SS calipers.



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Re: Calipers for my 1974 Corvette S.B. Vert rear calipers are leakng (12/16)
 12/30/22 10:42am
manchestersharkLifetime Member
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Equinunk, PA - USA

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"Lined" or entire calipers SS?"  I would think perhaps the lined ones are rebuilt, and "IF" totally SS, they are brandy new! 



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Re: Calipers for my 1974 Corvette S.B. Vert rear calipers are leakng (13/16)
 12/30/22 12:18pm
73shark
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

Lined.  I believe they rebuild the cores that you send in. Plus I think I read years ago that someone was making new castings. 



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Re: Calipers for my 1974 Corvette S.B. Vert rear calipers are leakng (14/16)
 12/30/22 3:40pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

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1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.


Joined: 8/26/2006
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I've never heard of a totally stainless steel caliper.



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Re: Calipers for my 1974 Corvette S.B. Vert rear calipers are leakng (15/16)
 1/6/23 1:00pm
Kentvetteuk
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, - France

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1978 L48 Auto. Red with Oyster Leather interior. Owned since 1990.


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I've read and heard various pros and cons of O-Ring callipers, but in my own experience, I'd never think of anything else now.

Back in the 90's it seemed we were changing callipers every month due to leaks, etc and we definitely had to bleed the callipers each year due to air in the system.    Eventually, I bought 4 new Stainless Steel lined, O-Ring callipers from Ecklers.  And I never looked back!    While I think its a good idea to bleed the system annually, it doesn't need it now.  The braking performance is better and I have more confidence in them.

With regard to S/S liners, I notice that there are in fact some callipers on the market that use O-Rings, but not S/S liners - the rational apparently being that S/S adds a lot of cost, and that the O-Ring design alleviates some of the need due to better sealing.   



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Re: Calipers for my 1974 Corvette S.B. Vert rear calipers are leakng (16/16)
 1/6/23 1:29pm
kstyerLifetime Member
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Therre is nothing wrong with lip seals, but the o ring seals are better.   If the car is driven every day, not much difference.  Most of our cars are not.   Stainless sleeves are also better.

If you are inclined one of the best things you can do is bleed the brakes annually, flushing out all the old fluid.  Regular brake fluid has an affinity for moisture and will absorb it.  this happens gradually even in a sealed system.  little used lip seals are worse for this.  If the brakes are used often enough, even a few good pumps on the pedal will do, they maintain a better seal.  With o ring seals this is not necessary.  The moisture in the fluid is what causes detriment of all fluid contact components.  That is what causes the fluid to change color.  

This can be avoided by using silicone brake fluid but I do not recommend it.  Silicone has an affinity to absorb air making it difficult to bleed.  More importantly it has a lower boiling point.  This can cause brake fade in an extreme heat situation.  IF the car is stored most of the time or driven like an average car its fine.  I like to push mine once in a while.  Stainless steel sleeves help stop corrosion which in turn damages either type of seal. 

With a bit of research it is easy to find rebuild calipers with sleeves and o rings.  I have actually bought them at Autozone in the past.  Much cheaper but have worked well on my car.

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