69 brake calipers

[DT]

Oops, maybe you could get them for $75.00. Donny did they resleeve your single pistons?
I haven't seen anyone specifically say they sleeve single piston units.

Todd

1969 single piston calipers have a stationary seal in the caliper bore and the piston seals against it. It really doesn't matter if the caliper has pits in it because it doesn't provide a seal.Therefore there is no need to re-sleeve it. If your pistons are pitted that's a problem that would contribute to a leak. George

[
George summed it up. No sleeve.

[Hans L]

They're not that hard to rebuild yourself.   You can buy a rebuild kit from NAPA for under $20, not including the piston.

Basically:

- Use compressed air to blow out the old piston (place a piece of wood in the caliper to let the piston slam into).  Compressed air fed into the brake line hole.
- Removed the old seals
- Thereafter, I de-rusted the calipers using the electrolysis process and applied Boeshield to retain natural cast iron finish.
- Went to Harbor Freight and bought a caliper piston seal press for like $10
- Installed the new seals
- Installed the old piston as it was in good shape.

Done!  The Chevy Chassis Service Manual describes the process as well.



Date Code:  "87"






Note:  I've already chanced the bleeder cap to the lighter pale blue.

[Mike S]

 It looks soooo good when the parts are new or restored. Makes you not want to drive it now, doesn't it?

Mike

[DT]

Excellent pic on the date code Hans!!  Most guys claim the casting # is the date code.

[69Z28-RS]

After reading thsi thread, I checked the date codes on mine (while they are off), and found one with a 3 digit code, and the other with a 5 digit code...  doesn't seem to correllate iwth the infomration in the beginning of this thread..   Anyone with more information?
Gary

[BillOhio]

Great pictures.
Napa does have pistons and the guy said it was used for a while, maybe into the 80's

[NoYenko]

Hans, Nice rebuild job & finish on the calipers. Where did you find pale blue bleeder caps? George

[Fred Mertz]

I purchased reman. calipers from NAPA auto parts a couple of years ago.  I think they $38.00 each. They had them in stock. I kept the old ones as spares.  Don't get the ones that MCB or Right Stuff sells. They will send you calipers for a Chevelle that the brake hoses won't work with.

[Hans L]

Thanks all on the feedback!

Regarding the pale blue bleeders - the originals were in good enough shape to re-use.   I just de-greased and cleaned them.  Though I think Steve's Camaro Parts & HBC sells the correct ones.  I know Rick's does not....

And yes, NAPA sells the piston, but unless it's really corroded, no need to replace it - it does not touch the cylinder walls.

[69Z28-RS]

Going back to the date codes for a moment, there are 'cast dates' on the calipers, and also stamped dates:   on my two calipers from my 09C (1969) Z28,  on one caliper was a cast code of 143 (23May), with stamped date of 168 (17June).   On the other, was a cast date of 188 (7July), and a stamped date of 227 (15August).   All of these dates seem reasonable to me for calipers.   Am I interpreting the cast and stamped dates correctly?   The castings are done, then some time later, (3 to 5 weeks later in my caes), the parts are machined, the calipers built/assembled, and the assembly dates stamped in.   Note:  My '227 stamped date actually seemed to be 00227, but I interpreted it the same way?

Gary

[DT]

After reading thsi thread, I checked the date codes on mine (while they are off), and found one with a 3 digit code, and the other with a 5 digit code...  doesn't seem to correllate iwth the infomration in the beginning of this thread..   Anyone with more information?
Gary

What are the codes (date stamps)

[69Z28-RS]

DT:   I posted the dates in the prior post to yours (but maybe you missed it?)..  "on my two calipers from my 09C (1969) Z28,  on one caliper was a cast code of 143 (23May), with stamped date of 168 (17June).   On the other, was a cast date of 188 (7July), and a stamped date of 227 (15August).   All of these dates seem reasonable to me for calipers. "