I've known my front calipers for the '74 had stainless sleeves in them since I've had the car. Never been an issue...until NOW, just a couple of weeks from the Gathering.
The pass side front was leaking, so I figured what the heck, I'll just pull it off and rebuild it...again. I built these calipers once before, back in '99. The car has been driven to WV and back once, Pigeon Forge, Hot Springs, and a few other longish trips since then. Anywho...I got the caliper off today, had my new seal kits I got from our pal Larry at CS, and started the job. Got everything cleaned up, seals intalled ont eh pistons, etc. Had a little trouble getting one of the pistons to go all the way down into the cylinder. I kept thinking the spring was getting off-centered, but I finally determined the issue was not with the spring, or the piston. Further examination found that the dadgum sleeves were OFF-CENTERED in the caliper halves! Whomever did these caliper bored the holes off centered, which leave a small ledge at the bottom of the bore....which the piston catches.... Now I know why the dam thing has been leaking. I checked the other bores on the same caliper, and they are ALL off-centered, but none as bad as the one that was actually leaking.
I have no clue where these calipers came from, since they were already on the car...I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest they prolly came from a (local)parts house. What really gigs me is, I'm always warning folks about this very issue....
Don't know why/how these have managed to work for so long, but they have. Imma guessing if I drove the car more, the problem would have shown up sooner. So now what? Do I buy new calipers and be done with it, or rebuild this one, since it HAS worked for years like this?
I decided to go ahead and rebuild/re-use. I'll get the brake bled tomorrow eve, and see how it works. I've also got to get the car inspected(State Safety Inspect), so that'll give me some miles to put on it to see if the dang thing is gonna leak again or not.
Why the heck didn't I start this maintenance before now? Because I'm frikkin lazy. I've had the car up on jack-stands for two months now, and I keep tellin meself I'm gonna get started on it every evenin...and that's as far as it goes.

Soooo..how was YOUR day?

F-d up caliper

I don't know, Joel, I know that you know WAY more about this stuff than I do, but if it was ME, I'd go ahead and get new ones. Knowing that something wasn't right would bug the crap out of me, besides possibly being unsafe. I KNOW you're gonna be keeping the car so why not do it right while you got 'em off? Just my .02!

Joel, You continue to make me laugh! Just tonight I added to my interior thread that I havent done anything in weeks. The last post on that thread was from you were you told me you were lazy! Now I dont consider it lazy, it just becomes much easier to sit on our favorite chairs in our living rooms and rest from all the other work we get thrown at us. I know you will have that car ready for the trip even if it means you have to pull an all nighter! I wish I could make the trip to MAM because it would be a blast to meet you and the other members that continue to help the rest of us get good information to get our cars on the road. Are you planning on getting to the CA tour on your way? I know it would add more time and mileage to your trip.
BTW, does your 74 have power brakes? I am considering adding a booster kit to mine. I dont think I could lock my wheels up if I had to! My 74 has so many options yet no PB. I think it was a $30 dollar option. What was someone thinking? Idiots!
Rodney
rod75152011-05-01 20:35:24

Just slap on some rebuilt or new calipers it will save you time and peace of mind. If cost is the issue rebuild you know that will last a while the start to leak but will not cause your brakes to fail completely but you will be back to the same choice again. my 4 cents worth

Rest assured...there will be NO all-nighters for me...We'll drive another vehicle if it comes to that. Did I mention that I was lazy? If I weren't I wouldn't be in this position!
Barry, I thought long and hard about getting new calipers, but just decided "Hey...this thing has worked fine for the last 10-12 years". O'Riley's has the calipers in stock(but not the seal kits..go figure).  Granted, it does bother me now that I know about it, and I will correct the problem...eventually. At rest, the pistons do not go all the way down into the cylinder anyway, with the pads that are on it. NEW pads might shove the pistons back a bit, tho. After I drive it out to the shop to get it inspected, I'll check for leaks, and go from there.
Rod, it do have power brakes...I couldn't see having one these days without them...especially around DALLAS drivers...

Joel that is what I would do..rebuild em and go..I found a place that does that sleeve deal for all the big companies at Carlisle Friday...had to stop because the girl at the booth with the guy was smokin!! Brooke Shields in her younger days..kinda..after I wiped off the eye balls I did take notice to what they were sellin..I think it was called white post..or one post..in Va..restoration shop..they charge 80$ per hole though..kinda pricey..but seeing younger Brook was worth it!!

Rich

Yeah...I tell ya tho, IF I go back with sleeved callys, I'll dam sure check them before I install them to see if the bores were sleeved on-center. I've seen too many calipers ruined because of this, and I warn folks about it every time I get asked about sleeved calipers. For some reason, when I did the brakes on this turd years ago, I just never paid any attention to them....

Actually, I think I can get down in there with my die-grinder and bevel/remove the ledge that is left. I just don't wanna do it right now, and then wind up having to replace the caliper at the last minute. I'll do it when we get back from Mid Am...eventually. I thought about doing it yesterday, but I was worried about possibly gouging the sleeve. Once I have the time to do it properly, it'll come out better. Might even find a lathe, or mill somewhere to do it on...
Adams' Apple2011-05-02 10:45:52

I can see the wizer wheel goin now...wwwwwwwzzzzzzzzzzzzshzzziit!!!!


Richyostusota2011-05-02 10:55:00