Another Stupid Brake Question

gt350mike · 06-14-2007, 08:04 AM

I know I'm going to get flamed for asking this but I have searched for an answer and have found nothing.....Can I use the brake calipers from an 87 N/A on our 83 N/A car? I found different part numbers for an 83 caliber and an 84 caliber (I think the 84 thru 88 are the same), but I don't know what the difference is.

Thanks!

PS - Please keep the flaming to a minimum!

Icey1174 · 06-14-2007, 04:27 PM

I know the struts are different for sure. That means that the steering knuckle is differet for sure. Not sure if the mounting holes line up for the different calipers though.

gt350mike · 06-14-2007, 06:42 PM

I talked to the guys at 944online that they said that the early 83 models mounting holes are slightly different that the later 83 models through 88. I bought some Beck/Arnley rotors today (083-2019) and tried to put mount the 87 calibers on, but for some reason I could not get it to work. It seams like the caliper is too short when I try to mount it to the spindle. I compared the 87 caliper to the caliper that I pulled off the car and they appear to be the same, even both calipers had the same casting numbers (07 if I remember).
The past few days we done a lot to our project car; we changed out the instrument cluster, replaced the old anti-freeze along with the radiator hoses, and even got to learn a little bit about German speedometer cables when we replaced the old broken cable (never seen one mounted through the spindle and secured to the grease cap; very cleaver). But these brakes are a different story........I've changed brakes on all sorts of vehicles and this is the first one I've really had trouble with. If there are any tricks to putting on these brakes, I would greatly appreciate it!

jcommin · jcommin's Garage

I'm in the process of replacing brakes, rotors and brake lines on my 83. Calipers came off very easily. I cleaned and painted them silver. I bought Porsche brake pads off ebay and replaced the spring kit. Looks good so far. Removed the 'E' clip on the drivers side (don't lose that thing) and removed the cap. Loosened the 'nut' using a 6mm Allen wrench. You need to align the notch in the hub with the Allen screw to loosen up the nut. Once that is remove the hub caliber assembly comes off easily. So far so good.

I removed the rotor from the hub, cleaned up the hub and mounted the new rotor. It's interesting to note that the Germans use allot of wavy 'spring' washers instead of lock washers. I removed the brake plate, cleaned them up using a media blaster and painted them silver. The brake lines came off easily too.

I'm replacing the inboard seal on the rotor/hub assembly. My next stage is mounting everything back - tonight. I'll keep you posted and take pictures.

gt350mike · 06-15-2007, 06:52 PM

Thanks for your info......In the morning we're either going to head out to the PCA event at Barbers near Birmingham or fix the brakes. Either way I will be looking forward to seeing your photos!

jcommin · jcommin's Garage

Here are the pics of my from brakes from my 83.

replaced the rotors with Zimmerman cross drilled rotors
replaced the inboard bearing seal
replaced brake line with SS
cleaned up and painted caliper
new OE Porsche pads

The install easy. I painted the brake plate. I used a slide hammer to remove the seals and a small arbor press to press in the new seals. Remove the old rotor and installed the new ones. The rotor assembly went on easy. Put the bearing, washer and nut on. Aligned the cap for the speedo cable (German ingenuity, simple but effective) I put the E clip on and covered it with silicone.

I mounted the outboard pad to the caliper and bolted the caliper to the spindle. Using the pins, I aligned the outboard pad to the caliper. It sort of trues things up. Using a thin scraper I wedged the blade between the piston and rotor. Once you have some clearance , it was easy to push the piston back to provide the space for the inboard pad. Once everything was in place, I pushed the pins thru the caliper and secured them. Finally I connected the brake line. Except for bleeding the system, it's done.

Pics below

painted back plate

new rotor assembled

Mounted and secured to the spindle. Notice the E clip.

fuzzy close-up of the e clip

Finished assembly - notice the black silicone on the E clip

It's Miller time.

gt350mike · 06-16-2007, 11:45 AM

Jim.....Can you measure the thickness of your rotors? It appears that mine are too think.

BTW.....Anytime is Miller time!

mattdavis11 · 06-16-2007, 12:10 PM

With aftermarket pads sometimes it can appear that your rotors are too thick. I learned this lesson after replacing my pads and turning my rotors. I know you have more variables than I did. A shave with the belt sander to the backing plates of the pads was necesary in my case. I'm not sure if you are fitting them and clearance is the issue, just thought I put that out there.

Lose the e-clip all you want. I lost, or broke mine 5 years ago when I was changing the speedo cable. I have since had the same twist tie from a loaf of bread which has gotten me more mileage than repack and new a set of wheel bearings.

gt350mike · 06-16-2007, 02:49 PM

Thanks Matt.......if I loose my c-clip I will snatch one out of my wife's kitchen (I won't bother cleaning-up.....I'll just leave grease marks in the kitchen to torque the wife).

Regarding the pads, is that common to shave the pads down with a belt sander? Seems like a simple solution but I'm wondering how the altered pads will seat with a new rotor???

Thanks!

jcommin · jcommin's Garage

The pads are very thick. This blew me away because the original pads were sooooooooooo thin. The caliper is actually a 2 piece assembly, piston/cylinder and the pad holder, if you will. The holder is spring loaded onto the piston assembly and moves as the pads wear. As the pads wear the piston extends and the holder pulls in the outboard pad to maintain contact on the rotor.

I didn't think these pads would fit either. I honestly didn't sand them - sounds like a good idea.

I hate working on dirty parts. I used a can of brake cleaner and a wheel brush to remove all the grime and brake dust off the caliper assembly. I find it much enjoyable to put things back together. It also helped me understand how the things work.

I moved the holder out so that I could mount the outboard pad. When I mounted the caliper on the spindle, the caliper will center up on the rotor. As I looked at the piston position, I didn't think the inboard pad would fit. Once I pushed the piston back, almost flush to the housing, the inboard pad fell into place.