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I was told by a vendor that the brake calipers were assembled just prior to the car assembly. I could understand maybe part of the caliper like the bleeders or lines installed but at the rate that a assembly line runs! What date code is used to mark these assemblies? Did I miss it in the NCRS book, were does it state code used, it does say they are a low gloss black.
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Re: C3 Brake assemblies
If you look at the AIM, UPC 5 Sheet A4 (70), the front and brake caliper assemblies are shown with a specific part numbers for the caliper ASSEMBLIES. Since there is only one part number for the entire caliper assembly, that means the line worker was picking up an entire assembly, complete with pads and bleeders. Any part that is not discretely identified with its own part number in the AIM was part of a larger, part-numbered assembly.
Caliper date codes: These are not addressed in the TIM&JG, and few restorers pay any attention to them because they are not judged and nearly impossible to see. I have found the date codes before and I know they're dated, but it was a long time ago (NCRS syndrome worsens with each passing year). I believe it was a Julian date (one digit for year, three digits for day of the year) and it was stamped on a machined area on one end of the caliper. The stamped codes on mine were very faint...a good coat of paint would completely fill them. -
Re: C3 Brake assemblies
Calipers weren't handled or installed separately at St. Louis - they were received as a component part of the front steering knuckle and hub assembly and of the rear spindle support and trailing arm assembly from Chevrolet-Warren. Keeping up with assembly line speed wasn't an issue for Corvette component plants - only seven per hour (vs. 375 per hour for Impala/Caprice, for example).Comment
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Re: C3 Brake assemblies
Mmmmmm...John, that may be correct for C2s, but it is at odds with my 70 AIM. The calipers have part numbers called out (fronts 5452266-7, rears 5452268-9), as well as the caliper attaching bolt and lock washer part numbers and torques. It would be unusual for the AIM to give assembly information that wasn't necessary.Comment
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Re: C3 Brake assemblies
Chuck,
Thank you and the others for the responces but you lost me on AIM, UPC5, sheet A4. Can you help me on that.Comment
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Re: C3 Brake assemblies
Sorry, Bill...AIM = Assembly Instruction Manual. The Assembly Instruction Manual was the book of instructions provided to the St. Louis assembly line workers on how to assemble a Corvette.
Each model year had a unique AIM, although some drawings (sheets) carried over year after year. The AIM was organized into sections that cover the applicable vehicle area; for example, the brakes, both front and rear, are covered in Section 5, or in AIM terminology, UPC 5.
Each section has several "sheets" that are numbered A1, A2..., B1, B2,...etc. The number of sheets depended on the complexity of that assembly area. At the beginning of each section there was a contents page that showed the general area covered in the section. This contents page, generally Sheet A1, showed each installed component labeled with an applicable "Sheet Number". If you turned to that sheet, it had all the assembly details for that area. In my 70 AIM, UPC 5, Sheet A4 is titled "Front and Rear Brake Caliper Asm.".
Reprints of the original AIMs are available at the NCRS store. If you are restoring a Corvette, it is probably the first and most important book you should buy.Comment
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Re: C3 Brake assemblies
Chuck -
I'm sure you're correct - 1965-67 had them as part of the hub/knuckle and trailing arm assemblies, must have changed the calipers to separate parts during the C3 years.Comment
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