[awsm502]

Guys,

Does anyone make a reman caliper (single piston) that uses a plated piston anymore? All the local parts store brands, even NAPA, seem to just blast and re-use pitted pistons. NAPA had the nices looking externally (painted black), but the castings themselves looked repro - no Delco Moraine or anything cast in.

I have just about given up - unless the specialty places like Rick's or Classic etc. have ones of higher quality?

The ones I have now are Delco Moraine with plated pistons - so I am considering rebuilding them.

2nd question - anyone making non-bonded pads? All the pads I see now are glued pads. I have always prefered rivited pads in the past.

I really want to stay with the stock look, so I really do not want to go Wilwood or SSBC and such.

The last time I bought calipers for a project was 2 years ago, and I did not have anywhere near this kind of trouble.

Thanks!

[bigdaddykane]

im also curious to know where you can find rebuilder calipers too...

[Vintage 68]

Do you have a PEP Boys in your area?

The last pair I got from them ('ProStop' brand I think?) were pretty nice.
OEM castings with all new internals.
Went on fine and haven't leaked (I'm sure I'd have heard by now...) or needed service in several years.

They also carry SSBC's line of replacement performance calipers, at my local store anyway, if you decide to go that way.

[awsm502]

I had not tried Pep Boys yet. I was at Auto Zone, Advanced, Car Quest, Lee Auto, NAPA - I was done ordering and returning parts - they all looked about the same (excepted the black painted NAPA's).

Did the Pep Boys ones have plated pistons? If so I'll give them a shot.

[Vintage 68]

Truthfully, I did not look to carefully at the piston and didn't remove it from housing.
I was just impressed with the overall quality for them as rebuilt vs. most of the others I've seen.
They had a nice as-cast cleaned finish, good quality seal that fit perfectly and the piston looked like an all new part.

Just go ask them to let you look at it and see what you think

[Steptoe]

Does anyone make a reman caliper (single piston) that uses a plated piston anymore?

Had the same issue 25 yrs ago.....
It was going to cost a small fortune to get them stripped and re chromed....I do not like the idea of just blasted and cleaned up....these pistons rely on the O ring shap to pull back off the disc...I think non chromed over time would very quickly build up crud and cause issues.....GM did not go to the expense of Chroming the pistons to make them look good in a spare parts box right?

Anyway at the time I shipped in some ceramic pistons....had some doubts about them at the time...used them anyway.....150,000 miles plus and 25 yrs later....other than the 24month replace brake fluid in the system, and a few sets of pads....never had an issue.

Get the ceramics.

[Fred Ficarra]

Keith, why do they need rebuilding? As Steps said, the pistons are not suppose to touch the caliper. The rubber sleeve is a isolator, at least as I've read.
Our style really should last forever. Mine has. Then too, the rotors are perfect and never been turned. Slowing from 120+ for the return road hasn't affected anything.
Last year I had the MC re-sleeved. I think the web site has info about brake calipers too. Here's an old thread. In the thread click on the link, then go to FAQ's.
http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?p=1386181

[awsm502]

Ceramic pistons?

That's a new one for me. I tried some google searches but came up with nothing. Got a vender name?

[yellow69RS]

Originally Posted by awsm502

Ceramic pistons?

That's a new one for me. I tried some google searches but came up with nothing. Got a vender name?

I wonder if he meant Phenolic??? Phenolic is a composite material usually darl brown often used for piston on those other cars back in the 80's, mostly Mopars I think.

Jeff

[Steptoe]

Ceramic pistons?
That's a new one for me. I tried some google searches but came up with nothing. Got a vender name?

Well it looks like the old bakelite stuff they made wall light switches out of 75 yrs ago

I wonder if he meant Phenolic??? Phenolic is a composite material usually darl brown often used for piston on those other cars back in the 80's, mostly Mopars I think.

yep sounds like that stuff.
Havnt got the boxes anymore lol...knew someone would know what I meant...thanks.

I got mine off classic industries when they where still called classic camaro...before the internet...

[yellow69RS]

Glad I could help Steps!

Jeff

[awsm502]

Phenolic - OK, got it now but I haven't seen one's yet for the GM caliper. Intersting option.

Here's a good one. You would think a caliper rebuild kit would contain what you needed to rebuild the whole caliper. Nope - the sliding sleeves and o-rings are in the hardware kit. But the hardware kit does not include the mounting bolts. WTF?

Sorry - venting.

[yellow69RS]

Originally Posted by awsm502

Phenolic - OK, got it now but I haven't seen one's yet for the GM caliper. Intersting option.

Here's a good one. You would think a caliper rebuild kit would contain what you needed to rebuild the whole caliper. Nope - the sliding sleeves and o-rings are in the hardware kit. But the hardware kit does not include the mounting bolts. WTF?

Sorry - venting.

I think that's a way for the parts manufacturer to make more money. Mounting bolts (sold each) hardware kit (sleeves and orings) caliper overhaul kit (piston O ring) Piston. Some many different things to buy it has to cost more.

Jeff

[Steptoe]

Generally mounting bolts are not required for general maintance up as they dont wear
So why add to a kit more expensive specialist bolts....as a repairer 9 times out of 10 or more I dont need to add this to a customers bill and throw them away.

Generally a calaper thats maintained ..as per manufactures recommendations...slides dont wear...so also not needed in a kit..

I note hear , after 40 odd yrs, near 300K miles I still have my orginals.

The O rings yes, the piston yes, the piston to calipar square seal yes, new bleeder yes.

If the rest is required , which is not the norm for general maintianance....buy separate.

Its not about making more money, its about the repairer having to spend a hell of a lot less.

[awsm502]

OK, got a look at the pep boys calipers.

The castings are original Delco Morain. The pistons are painted silver - poorly. I could scrape off some scale and reveal the rust underneath.

So - at least the castings are original so I picked them up to put on the shelf.

I'm sticking with what I have. Unfortunately if someone did actually need a remanned caliper - at this point I am not sure what I would recomend. I think overall the NAPA caliper looked the best - but my guess is it was an aftermarket casting - and still a raw steel piston.

At least that's my survey of parts store calipers. I would be interseted if anyone could report on the quality from someone like Rick's, Year One, etc.