rotors and calipers - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

71Custom10 · 07-09-2011, 11:36 PM

Are there different rotor thicknesses in '71 and '72 and different calipers to fit them. Just replaced my pads and calipers and they wont go over the rotors unless i hammer them on, then the rotor will not turn because the outside pad is tight against the rotor, but there is space between inside pad and the rotor. Help

beautimus · 07-10-2011, 12:21 AM

Your caliper is not floating on the mounting bolts like it is supposed to.
the caliper has to be able to slide left to right on the mounting bolts in order for it to center itself on the rotor. remove the caliper, and take the pads out. then put the caliper back in place and install the bolts. you should be able to slide it freely back and forth. add a couple of drops of light weight oil to the shaft of the bolts if it doesn't slide like its supposed to. DON'T put a lot of oil, wipe of any excess before you put the pads back in, and you shoould be fine.
Tony

71Custom10 · 07-10-2011, 05:11 PM

anyone else

**Classic Bowties** · 07-10-2011, 05:57 PM

Did you match up/compare your original calipers with your new one's before swapping them out, its possible that you got later calipers designed to work with the later style 1" rotors? Your 71 should have 1-1/4" rotors. Mel

71Custom10 · 07-10-2011, 07:58 PM

no i didnt match them up first. But i did go to a different store and get another set and same problem. Its actually on my '72, and they are 1 1/4 rotors. Anybody got a set laying around that they can measure the inside width for me.

swierker · 07-10-2011, 08:56 PM

I do happen to have a caliper laying around. It's hard to see in the pics but the 1st is 2.5" and the second is 3". Hope this helps.

**truckster** · 07-10-2011, 08:58 PM

No intention to offend, but are you sure the pistons are all the way back into the calipers?

beautimus · 07-10-2011, 09:22 PM

[QUOTE= the outside pad is tight against the rotor, but there is space between inside pad and the rotor. Help[/QUOTE]

This tells you that the caliper is not centered on the rotor. the only way that can happen is if your caliper is not free. I have found this more times than i can count. When you took the old pads out , one was worn a lot more than the other am i right? Remember they are called FLOATING CALIPERS....
ok now i'll shut up....... best of luck to you, Tony

71Custom10 · 07-10-2011, 09:35 PM

the piston is all the way in. the inside pad is not even touching the rotor. they are free floating with out the pads in but that allows them to pull towards the rotor, which is the problem. the distance from caliper mounting surface to outside pad surface seems to be to little. the two sets i bought are 2.5". what are the 3" one off of?

71swb4x4 · 07-10-2011, 09:36 PM

Like the others said, your caliper is not floating. Free it up and your problem should go away.

71Custom10 · 07-10-2011, 09:36 PM

different measuring points, duh. thought we had a solution

**70cst** · 07-10-2011, 11:07 PM

Good learning thread ...

7T2 · 07-10-2011, 11:23 PM

A picture might help, if you can post one. Sometimes in frustration you can miss something obvious.

71Custom10 · 07-11-2011, 11:20 PM

what am i missing

**Classic Bowties** · 07-11-2011, 11:33 PM

Those spindles pictured are not 72's, and I would say that is what is giving you the problems. Mel

71Custom10 · 07-11-2011, 11:45 PM

those are cpp's modular drop spindles with brackets for stock calipers. They've been on there for a couple of years.

**Classic Bowties** · 07-11-2011, 11:50 PM

Here is picture of a 72 C/10 spindle, again I am sure this is where your problem lies. Mel

ls1nova71 · 07-11-2011, 11:57 PM

Looks like your caliper is hitting the caliper bracket, and not letting it slide outward enough.

07-09-2011, 11:36 PM	#1
71Custom10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Temple, Texas Posts: 325	rotors and calipers Are there different rotor thicknesses in '71 and '72 and different calipers to fit them. Just replaced my pads and calipers and they wont go over the rotors unless i hammer them on, then the rotor will not turn because the outside pad is tight against the rotor, but there is space between inside pad and the rotor. Help __________________ '67 Chevy Longbed Fleetside - Daily Driver(For Now) '72 Cheyene Longbed Fleetside-Daily Driver Best Towing Service

07-10-2011, 12:21 AM	#2
beautimus Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: woodstock, alabama, usa Posts: 938	Re: rotors and calipers Your caliper is not floating on the mounting bolts like it is supposed to. the caliper has to be able to slide left to right on the mounting bolts in order for it to center itself on the rotor. remove the caliper, and take the pads out. then put the caliper back in place and install the bolts. you should be able to slide it freely back and forth. add a couple of drops of light weight oil to the shaft of the bolts if it doesn't slide like its supposed to. DON'T put a lot of oil, wipe of any excess before you put the pads back in, and you shoould be fine. Tony __________________ i survived cancer and kidney stones, but my kids are killing me.

07-10-2011, 05:11 PM	#3
71Custom10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Temple, Texas Posts: 325	Re: rotors and calipers anyone else __________________ '67 Chevy Longbed Fleetside - Daily Driver(For Now) '72 Cheyene Longbed Fleetside-Daily Driver Best Towing Service

07-10-2011, 05:57 PM	#4
Classic Bowties Always on the hunt... Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Portland, OR. Posts: 5,696	Re: rotors and calipers Did you match up/compare your original calipers with your new one's before swapping them out, its possible that you got later calipers designed to work with the later style 1" rotors? Your 71 should have 1-1/4" rotors. Mel

07-10-2011, 07:58 PM	#5
71Custom10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Temple, Texas Posts: 325	Re: rotors and calipers no i didnt match them up first. But i did go to a different store and get another set and same problem. Its actually on my '72, and they are 1 1/4 rotors. Anybody got a set laying around that they can measure the inside width for me. __________________ '67 Chevy Longbed Fleetside - Daily Driver(For Now) '72 Cheyene Longbed Fleetside-Daily Driver Best Towing Service

07-10-2011, 08:56 PM	#6
swierker Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wallingford, PA Posts: 186	Re: rotors and calipers I do happen to have a caliper laying around. It's hard to see in the pics but the 1st is 2.5" and the second is 3". Hope this helps. Attached Images __________________ 1970 Chevy LWB - 305/350 In Progress: 4/6 ECE drop, front discs, power brakes, Coys C5's.

07-10-2011, 08:58 PM	#7
truckster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 7,956	Re: rotors and calipers No intention to offend, but are you sure the pistons are all the way back into the calipers?

07-10-2011, 09:22 PM	#8
beautimus Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: woodstock, alabama, usa Posts: 938	Re: rotors and calipers [QUOTE= the outside pad is tight against the rotor, but there is space between inside pad and the rotor. Help[/QUOTE] This tells you that the caliper is not centered on the rotor. the only way that can happen is if your caliper is not free. I have found this more times than i can count. When you took the old pads out , one was worn a lot more than the other am i right? Remember they are called FLOATING CALIPERS.... ok now i'll shut up....... best of luck to you, Tony __________________ i survived cancer and kidney stones, but my kids are killing me.

07-10-2011, 09:35 PM	#9
71Custom10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Temple, Texas Posts: 325	Re: rotors and calipers the piston is all the way in. the inside pad is not even touching the rotor. they are free floating with out the pads in but that allows them to pull towards the rotor, which is the problem. the distance from caliper mounting surface to outside pad surface seems to be to little. the two sets i bought are 2.5". what are the 3" one off of? __________________ '67 Chevy Longbed Fleetside - Daily Driver(For Now) '72 Cheyene Longbed Fleetside-Daily Driver Best Towing Service

07-10-2011, 09:36 PM	#10
71swb4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 10,497	Re: rotors and calipers Like the others said, your caliper is not floating. Free it up and your problem should go away. __________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

07-10-2011, 09:36 PM	#11
71Custom10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Temple, Texas Posts: 325	Re: rotors and calipers different measuring points, duh. thought we had a solution __________________ '67 Chevy Longbed Fleetside - Daily Driver(For Now) '72 Cheyene Longbed Fleetside-Daily Driver Best Towing Service

07-10-2011, 11:07 PM	#12
70cst Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: New Madison, Ohio Posts: 21,375	Re: rotors and calipers Good learning thread ... __________________ A husband can be right...or...A husband can be happy. 67-72 Chevy and GMC Trucks...The Classic Truck for the Classic Folk. 1970 CST Two tone green, 402BB, 400 Automatic, Tach, Buckets, AC, AM-FM, Tilt, GM CB, GM 8 Tract, LWB, etc JOHN 17:3...The better side of "LIFE" Remember: Everyday is a good day...Some are just gooder!

07-10-2011, 11:23 PM	#13
7T2 Active Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Marysville, OH Posts: 667	Re: rotors and calipers A picture might help, if you can post one. Sometimes in frustration you can miss something obvious. __________________ 1957 GMC Ambulance 1962 Belair Wagon 1963 C80 Truck Cab FOR SALE 1969 Chevy C10 Short Bed 1972 Chevy C10 Long Bed SOLD 1996 C3500 Dually SOLD

07-11-2011, 11:20 PM	#14
71Custom10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Temple, Texas Posts: 325	Re: rotors and calipers what am i missing Attached Images __________________ '67 Chevy Longbed Fleetside - Daily Driver(For Now) '72 Cheyene Longbed Fleetside-Daily Driver Best Towing Service

07-11-2011, 11:33 PM	#15
Classic Bowties Always on the hunt... Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Portland, OR. Posts: 5,696	Re: rotors and calipers Those spindles pictured are not 72's, and I would say that is what is giving you the problems. Mel



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07-11-2011, 11:45 PM	#16
71Custom10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Temple, Texas Posts: 325	Re: rotors and calipers those are cpp's modular drop spindles with brackets for stock calipers. They've been on there for a couple of years. __________________ '67 Chevy Longbed Fleetside - Daily Driver(For Now) '72 Cheyene Longbed Fleetside-Daily Driver Best Towing Service

07-11-2011, 11:50 PM	#17
Classic Bowties Always on the hunt... Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Portland, OR. Posts: 5,696	Re: rotors and calipers Here is picture of a 72 C/10 spindle, again I am sure this is where your problem lies. Mel Attached Images

07-11-2011, 11:57 PM	#18
ls1nova71 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Independence Mo Posts: 4,118	Re: rotors and calipers Looks like your caliper is hitting the caliper bracket, and not letting it slide outward enough.

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