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Topic: Caliper Issue

in Forum: C3 Handling Components


Caliper Issue

Posted: 11/20/10 8:36pm Message 1 of 12
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Red Lion, PA - USA
Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182
Vette(s): 1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic
Well I put my Cragers on and they look really good on the car car but................ they dont clear the brake calipers on frt or back. My options? Use spacers and find long wheel studs? So I am heading to summits website. For those of you that have mag wheels on your vettes what did you do to clear the calipers? It looks as thou I would need a 1/4 inch spacer but I didnt measure as I was really disappointed with that. Hopefully theres a solution because the car looks great with those wheels and new BFG T/A's!!
Rodney




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Caliper Issue

Posted: 11/20/10 8:50pm Message 2 of 12
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
This has been an issue with '65-'82 Corvettes...ever since they went to disc brakes. Unless you specifically order, or happen to find a set of rims with the correct off-set/backspacing, yer gonna have caliper rub. If you can get by with 1/4" spacers, that would be fine. Anything more, and it becomes unsafe, imho. The Anson Sprints I had on my '74 would rub in a hard turn, but not very much, and not enough for me to be concerned.
Depending on how close your rims are, and how hard they hit the calipers, it may be possible to gently grind the calipers for the clearance needed...



Joel Adams
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Caliper Issue

Posted: 11/20/10 9:02pm Message 3 of 12
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Red Lion, PA - USA
Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182
Vette(s): 1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic
Joel, what a disappointment. I found spacers on the summit site and I can go to long wheel studs. Do you happen to know what the knurl size is? They list a .560 and a .480. The description says the .560 fits most late model disc brakes. I guess I'll have to pull a wheel and knock one out to measure it. The spacers are 1/2" thick. But the lugs nuts will go thru the wheel s and spacers so I would feel ok with that. Just another 120 bucks to make it work, but I really like them on there. Just cant back it out into the sun tomorrow to get a good look at it! Have to change back then pull it out then change back take pics in the sun and change again. I am sure this wont be my last setback till this thing is done!
Rodney




Caliper Issue

Posted: 11/21/10 5:38am Message 4 of 12
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Sykesville, MD - USA
Joined: 4/27/2008
Posts: 4239
Vette(s): 1979 Corvette Coupe Corvette Light Blue Midnight Blue interior Mirrored Glass T-tops
Man, that really is a bummer when something like that happens. But once you get past it just think how good you'll feel! Keep up the good work!   Wits End
 
Barry
 
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Caliper Issue

Posted: 11/21/10 5:43am Message 5 of 12
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York, PA - USA
Joined: 5/18/2010
Posts: 1518
Vette(s): 1969 daytona conv. all original 350 350 380 4 sp w/air..and hard top
Sorry to hear they didn't fit..I missed out on the fun!
Rich



My first parade at Carlisle 2010

Caliper Issue

Posted: 11/21/10 9:25am Message 6 of 12
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
1/2" spacers may create new problems...such as the tires hitting on the fenders... Wits End
Not sure about the knurl size...that would be the size of the hole in the hub(s). .560" sounds a bit large, but it may be correct...I may have some studs out in the geerage I could measure, but finding them might be a problem! I know I had to replace one of mine a few years back, and I did have the correct ones in my stash. I'll look and see, but don't hold yer breath.
The Cragar SS was the wheel of the stars...those things are just classic, and look great on just about anything, imho. I assume those are the ones you have?



Joel Adams
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Caliper Issue

Posted: 11/21/10 10:29am Message 7 of 12
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York, PA - USA
Joined: 5/18/2010
Posts: 1518
Vette(s): 1969 daytona conv. all original 350 350 380 4 sp w/air..and hard top
I replaced mine on the rear hub that exploded..I got them from NAPA..you could stop buy one and measure one and know what size it is..
Rich



My first parade at Carlisle 2010

Caliper Issue

Posted: 11/21/10 5:39pm Message 8 of 12
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HOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812
Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
I have a set of 1/8" spacers that I'd gladly done although sounds like your way past that...Like Joel, I would say 1/4" is the max. In the worst case, UI can introduce to to the guy that sold me my wheels - located in NC and sold me a beautiful set of wheels for a very reasonable price and they cleared the original C3 calipers with no spacers...

Let me know if you want to speak to him - I'll dig up his contact info.... He may also have other suggestions to fit your current wheels...

Good luck

Paul
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Caliper Issue

Posted: 11/21/10 5:49pm Message 9 of 12
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Red Lion, PA - USA
Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182
Vette(s): 1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic
Originally I bought 2 cragars because I didnt know if I was going to like them on the car. I ordered 4 BGF TA's 225/70R15. My thought was I would mount 2 of them and put them on one side and see if I liked them. Yes they are the classic SS wheels from the 70's. The 2 I bought were used on a street rod and they were to wide for the gentleman that had them. They are like new and the price was right. Wish he would have had 4 of them!! Anyway once they were on the car I knew I had to make them work. So i decided to see how much spacing I would need to clear the caliper. I went to the neighborhood Ace is the Place and I bought six, 1/2" nuts. They measured .550 thick so I thought that would tell me if the 1/2 spacer would work. I put 3 nuts on the front hub and used the cragar nuts. I was surprised to find the studs were still almost all the way thru the wheels even with the nuts behind them. Then I went to the back and did the same. I have about 1/8" clearance this way. I can live with that so I guess I will order the spacers from Summit. They come with long wheel nus that are 1.3" long.  Also it appears to give me plenty of clearance at the fender wells. I just have to use those Cragars!! They look fantastic I think! I will add the pics from outside with the cragars on. I also put the trim rings and centers on the other side as well. Not a fair comparison since I didnt clean the wheels or tires but I dont think it would have mattered! Oh by the way, I am sending 2 of those tires back and I am changing the rear tire size to 255/60R15. They are only 1/2" shorter then the front tires.  Anyway hopefully this issue will be closed and on the the next project. I think the gas tank will be next to see if a sticker will still be there. 



Caliper Issue

Posted: 11/22/10 5:51am Message 10 of 12
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BINGHAMTON, NY - USA
Joined: 7/19/2003
Posts: 3808
Vette(s): ......
I've got the problem all figured out,take off the calipers,and put the wheels onThumbs UpCorvettes are sposta go fast,unless ya really need to stop use the E-Brake,I solved another problem ClapLOLShocked


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in Forum: C3 Handling Components


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