Rebuild done - Now needs brakes 20 degree question

[clarelaw]

Hi members,

I posted my 81 SC rebuild was done a few months back, but she ran poorly. I was concerned about the cam timing and wanted to check that my pressure fed tensionsers were working correctly.

With the engine in the car, I rechecked the cam timing and pulled to tensioner covers. The chains were tight and there was oil in the tensionsers. The cam timing was in the right range, so I left it alone, the ignition timing however was way off - about 15 degrees, so I reset it, put everlything back together and she runs great. Guess it never hurts to recheck things.

However. . . isn't there always a however. When I went for my first few runs around the block, it was clear that my brakes were dragging. At first I thought it was the e-brake, but I pulled the rear disk/drum and it was fine, so I think it is probably just 24 year old brakes. So now I have resigned myself to a brake rebuild. I suspect that sitting for 18 months while the engine was rebuild did not help the brakes, my plan is to rebuild the calipers, and while I am in there put on new pads and hoses. I have read the Pelican posts and articles on rebuilding calipers and it looks fairly straight forward, however, I am a little unclear on the 20 degree angle for the caliper.

I understand the template and I think I can make one, no problem. What I do not understand is how to use the template.

Where does the 20 degree angle go. Does it lay across the surface of the piston so the bottom of the piston is the farthest away from the pad?

Does the template lay perpendicular to the piston?

Anyone got a photo of how to use the template?

Thanks to all,

[IROC]

I think you might be putting too much thought into this. I've never even gone as far as making a template. I flip to the appropriate page in the Hayne's manual that shows the orientation and simply insert the piston so that it's "close". Works like a charm.

Mike

[RANDY P]

Originally posted by IROC
I think you might be putting too much thought into this. I've never even gone as far as making a template. I flip to the appropriate page in the Hayne's manual that shows the orientation and simply insert the piston so that it's "close". Works like a charm.

Mike

Yeah, I tried the template, threw it away, grabbed my clear protractor and just kinda 'eyeballed' it. Mirroring against the other caliper (pre - rebuild) was also a method of checking.

Works perfectly.

rjp

[MotoSook]

Eye-balling it is find....haven't had a problem. For the days when I'm anal, I have a clear piece of plastic that I cut into a 20-70-90 triangle....slap it over the piston and done..less than a minute each...

[masraum]

I made a little sliver of sheet Al to use as a template. Works like a charm. If I remember correctly (and I may not) the angle points at the hub, but I can't remember for sure if it's leading or trailing. I think leading. Someone will come up with the answer.

[stefang]

Having just done the rebuild, the answer is that it becomes obvious once you're looking at the caliper. I couldn't make sense of all the descriptions either. I made a template out of cardboard. Easy job, but be prepared for a PITA bleeding ritual afterwards. Also make sure your rotors are up to spec while you're in there. BTW, there's a rebuild article in the tech section.

Enjoy,
Stef

[clarelaw]

Thanks to all that replied. I just ordered the parts from our host and I'll see if it makes more sense with I actually reload the pistons.

Sometimes it does not pay to think too much.

[buster73]

Just align the template between the recessed area of the pistons and the caliper. For orientation watch the rotation of the wheel in attached picture.