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CALIPER REPLACEMENT

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habaneronut

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My LBC is teaching me all kinds of things - mechanical skills, new cuss words, patience.... Now it has me stymied trying to replace the front calipers. Remember I'm not much of a mechanic, so these are maybe some stupid questions.

I bought some rebuilt calipers that are supposed to replace the type "C" calipers I have on my TR3A/4A now. Got the old ones off, and after some work wih some wood shims got the pistons on the new one far enough back in to get the caliper fitted over the rotor, but it is tight, tight and I don't think I can get it on all the way without hammering it in place. So, can the pads be ground down just a little to give it more clearance? It's not supposed to fit real snug, is it? Then, on top of that, the bolt holes on the new caliper are 3/16 in closer together than the old ones. I'm thinking even that little bit is going to cause problems getting the bolts back in, but I can't check it since I can't get the calipers on all the way. This new one says it is a Lockheed 3243 331C, 10M6. Anyone know what that is off of? Much as I hate to, I'm thinking maybe I just better send it back and rebuild the old ones.

Any and all advice appreciated, including what to order if I decide to rebuild - do I need the rebuild kit Moss advertises, for example, or just new pistons, pads, rubbers?

Fred
 
Sounds to me like you have the wrong calipers, at least different than what you had before. The mounting holes should be exactly the same distance apart, there is very little slop in the way they fit.

What to replace when rebuilding depends on the condition of the old calipers. I don't think I've ever replaced the pistons, because the old ones were still in good shape. But the springs do sometimes wear or break, so they get replaced if they look bad.

In fact, since switching to DOT 5; all I do is replace the pads & springs. Haven't touched the seals since the conversion, some 15 years ago.
 
Ya know what, Andy, I think you are exactly right. What they sent me looks just like the calipers Moss advertises for the 1600 and MKII MGA. These are real close to the TR4 type "C" calipers that are on my car, but as I noted, the mounting bracket holes are just a tad closer together. And I guess the spacing between the pads must be just a hair smaller also. And now that I take another look at the picture in the catalog that I ordered from, what I got is not what I ordered, so guess a phone call is definitely in order tomorrow!! Hey, thanks for putting me on the right track.

Fred
 
TR3driver said:
What to replace when rebuilding depends on the condition of the old calipers. I don't think I've ever replaced the pistons, because the old ones were still in good shape.
Click to expand...
Lucky dog!
I've rebuilt several sets over the years, and they've ALL needed new pistons. Of course thay're all from calipers that had sat around for a long time.
If there is ANY pitting in the pistons, they need to be replaced, and up here in the "salt belt" not much survives. Of course most of the pitting I experienced was from moisture that had gotton into the calipers.
 
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