Hey guys. I live in Canada and am having trouble finding calipers for my 442. I am curious if there are any other options out there for converting to a two piston set up? Or does anyone know of a good place to order / rebuild my 4 piston calipers? Thanks

 

I bought a set of two piston calipers and bolted them right up to my original 4 piston spindles I did put single piece discs on, I didn't use the original 2 piece discs and hubs. I bought everything at my local auto parts store. Nothing special


What's the problem?

 

The brakes are a bit spongy and both calipers are seeping. I changed out the rear wheel cylinders and bled the lines but that didn't seem to make a difference. I'm thinking it must be the front calipers now just having trouble finding any

 

Also the only 4 piston calipers I can seem to find are for the right side. Does this make any sense?

 

Standard calipers cost $21.99 at Autozone. Search for a 70, not a 68.

 

I get mine rebuilt in Toronto. About $175, four piston set, with stainless sleeves, a few years ago.

 

Sorry I'm a little confused. So if I were to buy the calipers for a 70 olds they should bolt right up to where the 4 piston were? But I would have to change out the rotors as well ? Would I just purchase the rotors for a 70?

 

Single piston calipers came out in 1969. 69 and early 70 still used the two piece rotors.

Henry

 

68 used a two piece rotor but it's functionally the same as a single piece so a 69-72 caliper will work on the rotors you have. If you search for a 68 caliper you'll find that it's either very expensive or not available because it's different from the standard single piston (yeah, I know, technically they are called dual piston) that was used from 69-72 so no one except the Corvette places have them (I say that somewhat facetiously because I'm sure you can find them in other restoration catalogs) .


Have you checked your two piece rotors to see if you have enough surface left on them to use?


As previously mentioned, if you're into a "correct" restoration and have the extra $$$$, feel free to have your 4 piston calipers rebuilt for $175.



I didn't know that Henry. I thought they went to single piece in 69, thanks!

 

The four piston calipers were used on 67-68 Chevelles and Camaros. EVERYBODY sells them. They do cost about ten times the cost of the 69-up single piston calipers. The repro single piston caliper brackets will bolt directly to the 68 spindles if you want to change. Or, get the correct calipers retrofitted with stainless liners so they won't leak again:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ssb-a109/overview/

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/se...lle&vi=1321311

 

Change the flex (soft) brake lines if they are older, fronts and rear. Cheap insurance. Do you have a power bleeder? Get one. Worth their weight in gold.

 

Be aware that the design of the four piston calipers makes them prone to leaks. These calipers have the piston seals on the pistons (like engine piston rings) and they slide on the cast iron bores of the caliper body. Since brake fluid is hygroscopic (absorbs water), the cast iron caliper bores rust and pit. As the seals slide on the rust, they naturally get torn up. This is why you want the calipers with stainless liners.

The single piston calipers changed this design, with the seals fixed in the caliper bore and having the piston slide on them. The pistons are chrome plated to resist rust and easily replaced when they do rust.

 

The rotors are in decent shape so I think I will try to get a bit more out of them. The car is pretty original, that being said I don't have a problem switching to a different caliper for the front. So what you guys are saying is that I order a caliper for a 70 442 they will bolt right up without any modifications and work with my two piece rotor?

 

No, what I said was this:

The single piston calipers (1969-1972 are all the same) require the correct bolt-on caliper brackets. They will NOT bolt to your current caliper brackets. You need these:

 

Joe,


I'll have to look at my car again I guess. My car originally had 68 disc brakes. The two piece rotors were still on the car but were in bad shape. There weren't any calipers in the car when I got it. I asked on another board (ROP) if I could bolt a set of single piston calipers right on and they said yes. I bought a set and they bolted right on. Because the 4 piston calipers weren't on the car when I got it I suppose it's possible that the brackets were changed.

 

The 67-68 four piston calipers are fixed. The 69-up single piston calipers slide. The mounting brackets are completely different because of this. Here are the 67-68 brackets. Compare to the photo above of the 69-up brackets.

 

Joe, would this be the correct bracket I would need?
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/GM-Caliper-Br...vxp=mtr&_uhb=1

Also what calliper would I order to go along with this. Napa near by me sells cardone- 184039, 184040. Would this work?

Thanks again.

Chris

 

Yes and yes.