slight brake upgrade ? ammended to a source of OE calipers

[Rambo]

I just measured the piston on an old OEM caliper with a ruler and it was approx. 47 mm. WTF

Confused

Mark,

Did you measure across the exposed face (which bears on the pad) or across the main body of the piston (which acts against the rubber seal)? - the 2 measurements are different.

I suspect I took the wrong measurement

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Mark:

It is the diameter that goes/slides against the o-ring /seal in the caliper body. I believe the pad end is a bit smaller in diameter.

I dragged out a used OEM front caliper and started glass bead blasting it to make it easier to work with. I will measure the piston tomorrow.

I also have a "rebuilt" caliper from Rock Auto that claims to be 54mm and I will open it and measure it as well.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Sorry, but measuring the "stock" caliper turned out to be a nightmare.
The stock calipers came in the boot of a car I bought years ago and just got thrown up on the shelf for future maintenance BUT they are so badly rusted they will require some dynamite to get the piston(s) out.

I also got a pair of used calipers from Cliff a few years ago - when he did a brake upgrade, so went to get those but his calipers are nothing like the stock ones I have. Must have been an earlier upgrade...

The Rock Auto REBUILT calipers will be here later today, so I will at least measure them.

The stock calipers definitely have a reduced diameter at the brake pad end, so must be pushed/pumped out a bit to reach the real OD.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Finally got time to pop out a piston and the:

AUTOSPECIALTY/KELSEY-HAYES 4013007 Includes: Caliper, Hardware, and Pads @ $18.67
AUTOSPECIALTY/KELSEY-HAYES 4013008 Includes: Caliper, Hardware, and Pads @ $18.67

Are really 52mm pistons not 54mm as they advertise. Quite a deal - 2 calipers with hardware and pads for $37.34 (around £29.00) plus postage.

Stock is limited. They are being closed out and will be gone forever when stocks are depleted.

Caliper.jpg

[lotustonybassplayer]

Thanks for measuring the pistons John . Maybe i should rename the thread . But as you say a bargain price for some off the shelf replacement standard calipers that are cheaper than a rebuild kit

[CalElan]

$51 shipped for a pair of calipers.. grabbed me a pair of those for the shelf!

[ElanBRG]

The bleed nipple has to be at the top if you ever expect to get all the air out of them

Totally agree. You'll never get the air out with bleed nipples at the bottom

PS from memory, piston size on OEM was 46 or 48 (not 52 or 54 mm) Unfortunately I don't have any Vernier calipers to give you an accurate measurement

For the bleed nipple at the bottom, the workaround is to just remove the caliper for bleeding so the nipple is on the top for that occasional operation.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Actually, the calipers are labeled as "left" and "right" based on their position on the LeMans. Those calipers are at the rear of the hub. The M100has the calipers at the front, so you need to swap positions. You always want to put the bleeder as high up as possible. That is how they are designed to work.

The rear calipers have the same issues and solution.

[Saltire]

Finally got time to pop out a piston and the:

AUTOSPECIALTY/KELSEY-HAYES 4013007 Includes: Caliper, Hardware, and Pads @ $18.67
AUTOSPECIALTY/KELSEY-HAYES 4013008 Includes: Caliper, Hardware, and Pads @ $18.67

Are really 52mm pistons not 54mm as they advertise. Quite a deal - 2 calipers with hardware and pads for $37.34 (around £29.00) plus postage.

Stock is limited. They are being closed out and will be gone forever when stocks are depleted.

Caliper.jpg

Given that the part now quoted by John are NLA, does anyone happen to know if these will work on our cars instead?
AUTOSPECIALTY/KELSEY-HAYES 4013011 Includes: Caliper, Hardware, and Pads @ $14.47
AUTOSPECIALTY/KELSEY-HAYES 4013012 Includes: Caliper, Hardware, and Pads @ $14.47

I have a suspected scored bore in the RHF caliper, and SJs only lists the LHF for purchase new.

[lotustonybassplayer]

Hi Jonathon, the bracket number on the caliper is wrong, so I am guessing they won't fit. I looked at the listing on RA and it says for vented discs though. I was wondering if the bracket could be unbolted from the piston body and the elan bracket fitted, maybe someone with more knowledge might comment if it's possible. Tony

[Saltire]

Thanks, Tony, that was my suspicion too. You were very fortunate to get the ones you did when you did; wish I’d bought a spare set I think the only option will be to get the old calipers reconditioned.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

BECK/ARNLEY 0761047
BECK/ARNLEY 0761048
AUTOSPECIALTY/KELSEY-HAYES 4013012
AUTOSPECIALTY/KELSEY-HAYES 4013011

All of the above are for the vented disc LeMans. They are all $18.59 each (what a difference 2 days makes). There are more of the AUTOSPECIALITY available (13/14) than the BECK ARNLEY (1/12)

They are listed as 48MM, NOT 52mm or 54mm BUT they often get measurements wrong.

A couple years ago, this was posted: viewtopic.php?f=41&t=26131&p=331901&hilit=lemans#p331932

[Saltire]

Many thanks, John, think I’ll order a pair anyway - it’s not much to lose and it might just save me a three week wait for the reconditioning.

[lotustonybassplayer]

as i am currently off sick and bored !! I just found these front calipers listed on RA they appear to have the right bracket 7616 in the info pics part no centric 14149008 & 14149007 23.72 pounds including the surcharge each. they are listing 10 of each available ? A very similar part no to the ones i purchased at the start of this thread. might be of interest if you are doing or thinking about any brake work in the future.