C2 upper brake bracket

[Eugene B.]

Members,
The 1965 TIM & JG documents that the trailing arm assembly, rear spindle support, disc brake caliper assembly are all painted semi-gloss black. It also states that the upper brake bracket is a natural unpainted forging. No problem.

Question is: Does anyone have background info. why Chevrolet made the decision to leave the upper brake bracket natural instead of painting it like the other parts?

Thanks gents,
Gene

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 upper brake bracket

Gene----

The various painted components of the rear trailing arm and brake assembly were individually component-painted. They were not painted as a complete assembly. For reasons unknown, the specs for the caliper bracket must not have called for it to be painted. The specs for the other components may have called for painting. The specs for the other components changed over the years. By at least 1969, and very likely earlier, the spindle supports were no longer painted. The calipers on my original-owner 69 were never originally painted, although that is quite unusual for any 65-82 Corvette.

I believe that it's very possible that the reason that the caliper brackets were not painted is because GM didn't want the possibility that paint would interfere with the precision fit of the bracket to the spindle support. The spindle support, itself, was component painted prior to machining. So, the machining took care of any paint that might which might be present at the interface of the support and the bracket.

By the way, one other thing: although the JG and other references may refer to the rear caliper brackets as "forged", they are NOT forged pieces. The rear caliper brackets are cast from nodular cast iron. This is the same material used for the spindle supports and the spindle inner flange.

[Eugene B.]

Re: Thanks, Joe

Joe,
Thank you for your response to my question and your excellent answer.

Your knowledge of the Chevrolet Corvette is incredible.

Regards,
Gene