Front Calipers for '69

[Floyd B.]

One of the piston seals failed and spilled a puddle of brake fluid on the garage floor. The calipers aren't original since they are 547 series. By reading several threads on this forum, I have come to the conclusion that there is no consensus/standard for cast in or stamped date codes and the date codes don't appear to be judged. I have also learned that I need 545 series calipers. The AIM lists them as 5452266 and 5452267. Are these the cast numbers for the inner halves or outer halves?

When purchasing new front calipers for judging what details should I look for?

Thanx

[Dick W.]

Re: Front Calipers for '69

One of the piston seals failed and spilled a puddle of brake fluid on the garage floor. The calipers aren't original since they are 547 series. By reading several threads on this forum, I have come to the conclusion that there is no consensus/standard for cast in or stamped date codes and the date codes don't appear to be judged. I have also learned that I need 545 series calipers. The AIM lists them as 5452266 and 5452267. Are these the cast numbers for the inner halves or outer halves?

When purchasing new front calipers for judging what details should I look for?

Thanx

Chances are if they are not original to your car they have already been sleeved. I would tear one apart and if the bore is shiny with no pits, just put in new seals. Problem solved.

[Floyd B.]

Re: Front Calipers for '69

But what will this mean when I have the car judged? They aren't the correct casting/part numbers for a '69.

[Dick W.]

Re: Front Calipers for '69

But what will this mean when I have the car judged? They aren't the correct casting/part numbers for a '69.

Can you see the numbers when on the car and it on the ground?

[Richard M.]

Re: Front Calipers for '69

If you want correct caliper castings, contact Ken McCormick at Lonestar Caliper Co. 903-829-8400.

[Terry M.]

Re: Front Calipers for '69

One of the piston seals failed and spilled a puddle of brake fluid on the garage floor. The calipers aren't original since they are 547 series. By reading several threads on this forum, I have come to the conclusion that there is no consensus/standard for cast in or stamped date codes and the date codes don't appear to be judged. I have also learned that I need 545 series calipers. The AIM lists them as 5452266 and 5452267. Are these the cast numbers for the inner halves or outer halves?

When purchasing new front calipers for judging what details should I look for?

Thanx

The numbers in the AIM are part numbers for the caliper assembly, and are the casting numbers for neither the inner nor the outer caliper halves. You are confusing part numbers with casting numbers. There is generally, but not always, no relation between the two. It is not uncommon for people to confuse the two. A good rule of thumb to remember that on original parts there is almost always NO part number on the item (some NOS or over-the-counter electrical items will have a partial part number and complete NOS & OTC alternators and carburetors will have a part number stamped on them, and then of course there are engines that are partially or completely assembled.). Over-the-counter, or NOS, parts will sometimes have a tag with a part number on them (most often if they don't come in a box), but for the judges this tag is a dead giveaway of a non-TFP part and you WILL receive an originality deduction for the tag. Most people remove the tag.

Confused yet? Stick with it a while & you will get it.

[Floyd B.]

Re: Front Calipers for '69

Can you see the numbers when on the car and it on the ground?

Yep - you can see the casting number of the inner half. With a little more effort you can see the stamped code on the top machined surface but I don't think this is judged because there doesn't seem to be any absolute confirmation of how this coded. Most believe it is the Julian day of the year.

[Floyd B.]

Re: Front Calipers for '69

The numbers in the AIM are part numbers for the caliper assembly, and are the casting numbers for neither the inner nor the outer caliper halves. You are confusing part numbers with casting numbers. There is generally, but not always, no relation between the two. It is not uncommon for people to confuse the two. A good rule of thumb to remember that on original parts there is almost always NO part number on the item (some NOS or over-the-counter electrical items will have a partial part number and complete NOS & OTC alternators and carburetors will have a part number stamped on them, and then of course there are engines that are partially or completely assembled.). Over-the-counter, or NOS, parts will sometimes have a tag with a part number on them (most often if they don't come in a box), but for the judges this tag is a dead giveaway of a non-TFP part and you WILL receive an originality deduction for the tag. Most people remove the tag.

Confused yet? Stick with it a while & you will get it.

Terry,
I get all that. I had heard that calipers were a special case and that you will not find the caliper part number in any GM publication that we know of. I was told that the numbers listed in the AIM for the calipers were actually one of the casting numbers. It makes sense since the number of digits is correct and the number listed in the '69 AIM start with "545". The numbers I listed in my orginal post are out of the 69 AIM, J188, 5-A4, However, if I have bad information it wouldn't be the first time.

Thanx

[Floyd B.]

Re: Front Calipers for '69

If you want correct caliper castings, contact Ken McCormick at Lonestar Caliper Co. 903-829-8400.

Thanx Richard. Loanstar is usually at all the big shows. Since I'll be at Carlisle this August, I'll stop by and see them. Since I have to leave for PA in the next few weeks, I won't be able to do anything before then anyhow.

[Dick W.]

Re: Front Calipers for '69

Yep - you can see the casting number of the inner half. With a little more effort you can see the stamped code on the top machined surface but I don't think this is judged because there doesn't seem to be any absolute confirmation of how this coded. Most believe it is the Julian day of the year.

Judges are hung up on minute, insignificant crap, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is usually a duck.

[Floyd B.]

Re: Front Calipers for '69

Judges are hung up on minute, insignificant crap, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is usually a duck.

Agreed. Not that I'm an experienced judge but when I do judge early C3's when I see calipers with a casting number that starts with "545" and painted semi-gloss black with no overspray on the machined surfaces - that's about as far as I can take it.

[Terry M.]

Re: Front Calipers for '69

Terry,
I get all that. I had heard that calipers were a special case and that you will not find the caliper part number in any GM publication that we know of. I was told that the numbers listed in the AIM for the calipers were actually one of the casting numbers. It makes sense since the number of digits is correct and the number listed in the '69 AIM start with "545". The numbers I listed in my orginal post are out of the 69 AIM, J188, 5-A4, However, if I have bad information it wouldn't be the first time.

Thanx

There are a few unique cases in which the part number for the part or the assembly is the same as the casting number. I know Joe Lucia has posted the caliper half casting numbers in earlier posts, but from work my search functionality sucks. Something to do with our firewall I think. If you or someone else doesn't come up with them before I get home tonight, I will try to find them. I suppose there is a chance they are in the 4th Edition TIM&JG also, but mine too is at home. It wouldn't hurt for someoen to look.

[Floyd B.]

Re: Front Calipers for '69

There are a few unique cases in which the part number for the part or the assembly is the same as the casting number. I know Joe Lucia has posted the caliper half casting numbers in earlier posts, but from work my search functionality sucks. Something to do with our firewall I think. If you or someone else doesn't come up with them before I get home tonight, I will try to find them. I suppose there is a chance they are in the 4th Edition TIM&JG also, but mine too is at home. It wouldn't hurt for someoen to look.

The TIM&JG has a short paragraph for the calipers and it does not provide the casting numbers. I did search the archives but I did not find any posts that provide the inner and outer casting numbers for a '69. I was able to confirm that 545 series calipers at all four corners was typical.

Thanx

[Terry M.]

Re: Front Calipers for '69

The TIM&JG has a short paragraph for the calipers and it does not provide the casting numbers. I did search the archives but I did not find any posts that provide the inner and outer casting numbers for a '69. I was able to confirm that 545 series calipers at all four corners was typical.

Thanx

Here you go. I got the search function to work from home. The last one is the one you want, unless you want to see a lot of other supporting information.

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...brake+calipers

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...brake+calipers
Read the last two posts

And here is the one for the WIN:
https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...brake+calipers

Now I can say: Use the search function. I think it took me less than 15 minutes to find this. I chose Joe Lucia's name and membership number and then added "brake caliper" to the search. Easy peasy.