Has anybody used the NEW calipers available with the majority of suppliers?

[IH2LOSE]

I am on my second set of lone star calipers that are weeping fluid.
I love to work on my car but I HATE to do things twice.

So I have noticed that recently some of our suppliers are advertizing brand new calipers and I am ready to try something different.Any feedback from anybody.

 

[Sky65]

I got my rebuilt o-ring calipers from VBP and have had no problems. I bought the kit but got stainless lines instead of the rubber. Works well.

http://www.vbandp.com/detail.aspx?ID=280

 

[drags1998]

Ive herd that a lot of reman.brake stuff is JUNK!!!!!! Have you checked with GM. Or other NEW oarts suppliers? DO what you need to BUT, see if you can find new!!!!! you know you wont be HAPPY til ya do.

 

[Boogieman]

I've been running LONE STAR calipers for 2 yrs. without a bit of trouble.

 

[IH2LOSE]

I've been running LONE STAR calipers for 2 yrs. without a bit of trouble.

What are you doing different that I am not using?

I have my car parked with out moving some times for months at a time on a 4 post storage lift.And as walk around the lift I have found if the car sits longer then 3 weeks I can see a shinny trail on the tire from the brake fluid weeping out of the caliper some place.The longer it sits the wider and more covreage of the tire with fluid on it becomes more apparent.I check the master and it show little if no fluid loss. (If I did not park the car on a lift I do not think I would notice the leak /weepage just by checking the master cylender) But looking at the tires its very clear there is weepage.I have a full set of lonestar but at this time the fronts are the only ones I have installed and both front sets weep. I ran into a fellow from lone star at corvettes of carlilse and he said that they normally dont have this type of a problem send them in and they will correct the problem immedately and I am sure they are an excellent company and have an excellent product but this is 4 new/rebuilt calipers so eather I am doing some thing wrong or I am just having terrible luck.The first set I bled the brakes the normal way and they weeped on my tires

Now the secound set I did use a power bleeder on, had this been the first set I may have thought the power bleeder caused the problem.So now with a weeping set I need to do something different.

When I first purchased my car I installed a set of rebuilt calipers from the local auto parts store and they are still on the car and have never seen a drop of fluid from them.

Now I do repaint my calipers black as soon as I get them and place the dabs of paint on them byt I always mask off the inner area and not get paint on them.I had thought maybee the first set I could have possibly gotton over spray on the rubbers but upon removal of the first set there was no paint any where near the rubbers.

Does your car sit longer then 3 weeks at a time?
Have you peaked at your tires to see if there is any fluid weepage on them.Again the only reason I know they are weeping is because its up on a lift and I see the tires at face level almost every day I am in the garage and the longer it sits the further this fluid stain exstends on the tire.Ii am going to see if I can take a picture of the weepage.

Just so you know I am a fellow who belives a car can sit for a year and should not lose ONE DROP of fluid.I will not tolorate any fluid leakage EVER!

 

[JohnZ]

Larry, I'm with you - can't stand leaks of any sort either. My '67 has rebuilt SS-sleeved calipers on it that are dry as a bone and have never leaked a drop, but they were on it when I bought it and I don't know which outfit they came from.

The only rebuilt/sleeved calipers I've ever used in the past on other midyears were from Vette Brakes & Products (regular piston seals, before they came out with the O-rings), and not one of them ever leaked; my Corvettes sit for six months every winter too - no caliper leaks on any of them.

Pressure-bleeding isn't causing it; if the piston seals will hold the 800-1,000 psi that's generated by hard braking, 20 psi isn't going to hurt them any.

 

[Sting Ray]

Larry,


Ask Mark (VietNam Vet} on the old forum about lonestar, I think he went through about 12 of them last year, I went thru 2 P.S. control valves of there's last year before my supplier got them from someone else.

Tom

 

[BOB SWEETING]

Leaky Calipers

POWERBRAKEBOB HERE. A LOT OF THOSE SLEEVED CALIPERS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FLUID GETTING UNDER THE SLEEVES, BUT THE NUMBER 1 PROBLEM WAS THAT THE MACHINIST LEFT A RIDGE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BORE, AND DID NOT GET THE CENTER OF THE BORE WHEN THE SLEEVE WAS PRESSED IN. THIS LEAVES A SHARP RIDGE WHERE THE SLEEVE MEETS THE OLD BORE. IF THEY DO NOT CHAMFER THIS EDGE, WHEN THE PIISTON AND SEAL ARE PUSHED IN FOR THE PADS, THE SEALS IS NIPPED ON THAT EDGE. WHAM! INSTANT LEAKER! AGAIN, THE ROTORS MUST BE TRUE, AS A WOBBLING ROTOR FORCES THE PISTONS TO FOLLOW A THE ROTOR,A ND WEARS THE SEALS OUT QUICKLY. WE ARE ALSO USING 2-6 LB. CHECK VALVES TO KEEP THE "V" SEALS TIGHT AGAINST THE CYL WALL. IF THE BORE IS CLEAN, THE SEALS WILL HOLD. I CAN BE REACHED AT POWERBRAKEBOB@MSN.COM OR 800 504 1060

 

[IH2LOSE]

Bob Welcome to the forum.

And thank you for the explanation of why it happend.

I am still trying to see if any one has used the new ones available.I have spoken to the supplyer I purchased these from and they will take them back no problem.So before I remove the front set from the car I need to get the new one's on the car.

THANKS AGAIN

P.S. Try not to use your UPPER CASE LETTERS it makes it look like your shouting.

 

[Boogieman]

Sorry for the long response time, I've been out of pocket.
My '65 sits for short periods (about 4-6 weeks) at a time. I got calipers and complete power steering rebuilt parts, including hoses, from Lone Star. I don't think I did anything different from anyone else as far as assembly. I haven't had the least bit of problem. I just checked again, no leakage.
Since I live close to Lone Star's location, I got my parts there. Big facility. It's possible that employee turn-over and lack of expertise has led to the problems you are experiencing. I know it's a hassle, but I think the company would make this right. Sorry you are having troubles.

 

[BOB SWEETING]

typing

Hi! Power Brake Bob here. O.K. I'm not a typist. it's just faster to leave the caps on. I hope you have a new understanding of the calipers used on the Corvette. They were designed to be low drag by Duntov's request, and very heavy duty, because Corvette's had the power to win the races, but kept losing brakes during the race. Duntov kept improving the brakes in 59/60, and with the Z06 metallics and finned drums in 63. It still wasn't enough. Duntov went overkill on the 65's with this heavy rotor and caliper to absorb tremendous heat incurred during racing. The problem is they run so cool that the pads take 10 years to wear out. In this time, the brake fluid absorbs 10-15 years worth of moisture, and the bores turn to rust. When you put in new pads, the pistons are pushed over the rust, and instant leakers!

 

[67Boomer]

When I restored my 67, I purchased a set of the new "original" calipers from Mid America. This were cast using the original Delco-Moraine tooling and look just like the originals. They are SS sleeved also. I've had them on for close to three years now and haven't had the slightest problem. I would definitely buy them again!