Trouble Finding Replacement Ribe Caliper Bolts

[rollandburn]

Hi, I'm having a tough time finding the black Ribe nuts/bolts to join wide "A"-type caliper halves together (4 each). The calipers are fully disassembled and split, going for plating next week... I had to cut off two bolts and figure I might as well replace them all which has proved easier said than done! Unfortunately downtown Toronto's Porsche dealership has exhausted both myself and their expertise guessing at various "mounting" bolts they see in the PET.

The car is a 1985 Carrera with what I'm pretty sure are wide "A" type calipers (there are two ~1cm spacers between the halves)... does anyone know the Porsche part numbers or the specs for these 2 sets of 8 bolts with Ribe heads in case I have to buy from a 3rd party fasteners company?


Thanks!

[Joe Bob]

Try Eric Shea, he's on the Pelican board. www.pmbperformance.com

[djpateman]

I looked for years, internationally even, and the best I could come up with was to have them made. The cheapest route is probably to purchase a spare core just for the parts. Eric may have some, but generally that means he has to scrap some cores also.

[Jonny042]

I think Eric's site mentions they are unobtanium. They are M9, IIRC (or is it M7?) not exactly commonplace.

[Joe Bob]

Well if there is a need maybe he could step in, have some made and be America's sole supplier.....

[rollandburn]

Eric was more help in 3 mins than anyone I've spoken to in the past 3 hrs. So there are a few options... none of which would make a concours lover happy (which isn't me so i'm not too bothered).

In short, good luck finding original replacement nut/bolts at 9mm x 75mm w/ 1 thread pitch with Ribe head. Options are...

1. drill out bolt holes to 3/8, hardware readily available
2. buy another caliper and scavenge the bolts
3. go to 3rd party fasterner company, they might have

Strange I called Brafasco and they said, "No 9mm... not possible, there are 8mm and 10mm"... Ugh, haha... I'll keep working on it.

[universeman]

Good luck finding them, if you do find a source, buy them all, and then you can sell them for $20 a piece! ;-D

[LM3929]

I have a set of 85 Carrera caliper cores that may be not worth overhauling if they aren't worth fixing I could sell you the bolts.

lorne m.

[pors1968]

Ill check i think i have these if you still need them pm me it free

[Phoenix-MN]

I went through this as well, 9mm bolts are impossible to find. But you can buy 9mm taps and dies. I took a 10mm bolt and turned it down on a lathe and then ran a 9mm die over it. It doesn't have the ribe head but it fits the caliper without drilling

[djpateman]

Originally Posted by rollandburn

In short, good luck finding original replacement nut/bolts at 9mm x 75mm w/ 1 thread pitch with Ribe head. Options are...

1. drill out bolt holes to 3/8, hardware readily available
2. buy another caliper and scavenge the bolts
3. go to 3rd party fasterner company, they might have

Strange I called Brafasco and they said, "No 9mm... not possible, there are 8mm and 10mm"... Ugh, haha... I'll keep working on it.

Just what I said. Either 7mm or 9mm long lengths AND the 9.6? strength are almost impossible to find; Ribe or otherwise. Ribe is not common, but a Allen key head is as good and much easier to obtain. Even so, it seems custom made or salvage from scrap calipers are the best options. Nice solution making your own from 10mm bolt; were there thread remnants left after machining?

Having dealt with Eric on other projects I have an accurate idea what he would say.

[Jack Stands]

Sounds like drilling for 3/8" Allen head bolts would be a very viable solution if concours isn't a concern. As long as the calipers are apart, a drill press should be all you need. It would be interesting to know why Ate specified the robe bolts in the first place!

[donporfi]

Is it possible to use these bolts ?
https://www.belmetric.com/9mm-metric-hex-bolts-c-506_1027/bh9x125x75f-hex-bolt-109-p-5591.html?zenid=uevqbqvlhsf1a97em4dsao4184

[trond]

you have to wonder what Helmut was thinking when he specified M9 bolts with Ribe heads..... must have been in a foul mood that day

[gtc]

Originally Posted by donporfi

Is it possible to use these bolts ?
https://www.belmetric.com/9mm-metric-hex-bolts-c-506_1027/bh9x125x75f-hex-bolt-109-p-5591.html?zenid=uevqbqvlhsf1a97em4dsao4184

I doubt there is enough clearance for the head.

[rollandburn]

A fellow pelican graciously offered to send me nuts/bolts at no cost. What a win, thanks universe and pors1968!


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[KTL]

There are so many junk calipers/cores sitting around in people's spare parts collections, these should be rather easy to come by. I have a set of Carrera 3.2 that were seized quite well and I had to grease gun the pistons out of the calipers. Pistons and calipers were in pretty bad shape from years of rusting. So I took them apart and saved the nuts & bolts, along with the spacers. Anybody who needs the nuts & bolts or wants the spacers, let me know.

[howiee]

Looks like I'm in need of a few front and rear Ribe bolts for my re-build too. If anyone has some and they are willing to part with them, please let me know.

If not, I'll go the drill out and bigger bolt route.

Cheers

[Jesse16]

Only a .020" difference 9mm to 3/8". That sounds like the sensible solution for anything but concours. A short headed standard hex/allen would be extremely similar.

[KTL]

Originally Posted by KTL

There are so many junk calipers/cores sitting around in people's spare parts collections, these should be rather easy to come by. I have a set of Carrera 3.2 that were seized quite well and I had to grease gun the pistons out of the calipers. Pistons and calipers were in pretty bad shape from years of rusting. So I took them apart and saved the nuts & bolts, along with the spacers. Anybody who needs the nuts & bolts or wants the spacers, let me know.

Just wanted to update this thread with confirmation that my spare caliper nuts & bolts I mention above were sold. Someone recently asked me if I still had them after he had read this thread.