Help needed - rear caliper piston alignment (w photos)

[dave 911]

I've got myself confused on the orientation of the 20 degrees. The photos are of my left rear caliper. #1 is before the pistons were removed:


This one is how it seems like it should go, and how I put the first piston in, referring to the diagram in the tech instruction, before looking at my 'before' photo above - with the side closest to the inside of the wheel lower than the outside:


This is putting the other piston in that same caliper, the same orientation as it was in the 'before' photo:

This seems wrong, when I compare to the diagram, and when I hold it up to the car, but I doubt that they were installed wrong...I've never had any squealing, and I don't think they've ever been off the car (car is a 76, I've owned it since 84)

Can anyone help clear up my confusion and confirm which one is correct?

[aj88cab]

The notch is oriented into the rotation of the rotor. In other words as the rotor turns it first passes the notch.

[pete3799]

[dave 911]

yes, that's the diagram I'm using, and that's why I'm confusing myself. This picture is of a caliper on the right side of the car, correct?

So I'm assuming that the 'fat' part of the template should be on the inside of rotor, or the same side of the caliper as the mounting bolt holes - yes?

The first photo I posted is of a left side rear caliper w/ what I assume is the factory installation, and it seems backwards from the diagram. Is the before/dirty photo correct, or is 2nd photo I posted correct? Again, all photos are of the left rear caliper.

Thanks for the help!

[Quicksilver]

Don't worry about right or left. Worry about the gauge going on the side towards the rotation and the wider end goes in.

[hcoles]

another way to look at it..and keep oriented

think of the pad as a water ski, you want more weight on the back, therefore the raised part of the piston is put on the trailing side of the pad

[dave 911]

Thanks for the help guys. The piston was installed incorrectly for all these years - go figure....

[hcoles]

I've had them spin on me, I think more than once

[dave 911]

Originally Posted by hcoles

I've had them spin on me, I think more than once

And here I was thinking that the boys at ATE had a few too many Lowenbraus at the Biergarden before their shift back in '76 .