Front Brake Caliper fitting issues (not Pistons)

[DonkUK]

Hi all

I'm having some issues fitting a pair of reconditioned Lockheed callipers back onto the vertical links. The new callipers came from a well known supplier but the lugs where the 2 bolts secure it to the vertical link (where it fits with the front disc shield) are a tad physically too big. Not by a lot, probably a couple of mm tops, but just too wide to fit in the slot.

The original callipers fit on easily as I have just tried them and the part numbers are identical, as are the old and new callipers. Its almost like the lugs on the new callipers need grinding down a bit to fit, which to my mind should not be the case unless I have misses something fundamental here, or this is accepted practice. I have done a search of the forum cant find others with the same issue.

Any suggestions gratefully received!

Thanks

Dave

[V Mad]

You should not attempt to grind them down, something is wrong. There are shims somewhere in this area, not sure if that affects calipers though. I just received my new calipers, the lug measures 17.2mm. I havent tried to fit them yet. Let me know what else you find out.

[loudnproud]

Hi there try loosening the rest of the front strut to hub mounting bolts and you should find the caliper will slide in, good luck.

Peter

[DonkUK]

Thanks for the quick replies! I will have a measure of the lug width tomorrow and also slacken the bolts off as suggested. Will post findings back here so it may help someone else in the future.

[dasadrew]

Thanks for the quick replies! I will have a measure of the lug width tomorrow and also slacken the bolts off as suggested. Will post findings back here so it may help someone else in the future.

Definitely do that - I've got new calipers in bags waiting to be fitted but can't get at the legs at the moment - would be very interested!

Drew

[DonkUK]

Okay, this really was a case of RTFM properly, I missed the fact that you needed to slacken the other 3 bolts on the strut flange just as the workshop manual says you should, doh. Silly thing is I done all this 22 years ago when I first restored the car, time and age must have clouded my memory. Once the other bolts were slackened it all went together as it should. Measuring the new calliper lug width without the aid of a micrometer or calliper made it around 17.8mm which is ever so slightly bigger than the originals so maybe there is some casting tolerance there, not sure.

Anyway, thanks for the help chaps

[new to this]

Okay, this really was a case of RTFM properly, I missed the fact that you needed to slacken the other 3 bolts on the strut flange just as the workshop manual says you should, doh. Silly thing is I done all this 22 years ago when I first restored the car, time and age must have clouded my memory. Once the other bolts were slackened it all went together as it should. Measuring the new calliper lug width without the aid of a micrometer or calliper made it around 17.8mm which is ever so slightly bigger than the originals so maybe there is some casting tolerance there, not sure.

Anyway, thanks for the help chaps

that might be why they have shims behind the brake caliper

dave

[DonkUK]

Dave - There are shims in that area, presumably to set camber / castor angles, situated between the top front lug and the vertical link. However, you don't actually disturb these doing the callipers unless you take the whole vertical link / stub axle assemblies apart.