Scarce OEM calipers??

[bbscamp]

I"m was at the local auto parts place...and it seems that the 73+ A body calipers (4068 4067) are getting harder to come buy.  The parts guy said that cores are in short supply.  Anyhow....I don't want to start a stampede...but did anyone else run into this?   RockAuto only had 1 left side caliper in stock.....but they offer a rebuild service, not an exchange.  Some other mfr. are charging $65 for the stinkin core!!!!

I know a rebuild kit is only $5 ...but usually the piston is bad too...and thats expensive.  The A1 Cardone rebuilt are only $13 pluw $5 core.  cheep....but again...getting scarce.

Just an observation.....

[318_Magnum]

Haven't noticed, but then again I haven't been looking. That sucks if they are.

[jamesdart]

i know used conversions are going for 300 on the 'bay. i think that is totally rediculous. when i bought my calipers in 2000, no one had them in stock, it was a next day order kind of thing.  they were cheap at the time, but look at it this way, how often do you see  a car on the road that actually has those calipers on it? i guess qkcuda was right when he said the stuff is getting harder to come by an dhe bought that disc kit that uses later model gm stuff or something like that.

[318_Magnum]

I read about that conversion James. I was actually thinking about it for a while, but I dont want any Chebbie crapola in my car...

[guzzimike]

Wow..!

About a year ago, I bought a set of OEM 1973 Calipers at a local car parts store for about $23.00 each ( and with no core charge)....They were delivered one day after ordering.

I'd better go and order another set to keep as spares before they go through the roof..

[vitamindart]

yeah but they shouldn't be that scarce as they used them in f bodys (volare,aspen ect) and there are tons of those around i wonder if its getting to be kike the old cadilac cimmeron(spelling ?) and the caviler the same part for the caddy was twice the price even though it was the same part
they just figured caddy owners would pay more

[bbscamp]

The F body calipers have a slightly larger bore.  They also use the phenolic piston rather than the steel one.   I'm sure you could use the larger bore caliper too, as all the other dimensions are the same.

[moparrr07]

i am using 73 charger 11 3/4 calipers- with the larger bore than the a body- slider style

larger bore = less pedal effort and more braking power- no real negative effects

rebuild calipers complete only cost me $23 a piece and have had very good luck with 3k miles on them so far, bought the pads to match with a 73 charger

by the way, i can stop from 60 in 105 ft., thats better than what a new vette is rated at- its all about the front tires

[guzzimike]

i am using 73 charger 11 3/4 calipers- with the larger bore than the a body- slider style

larger bore = less pedal effort and more braking power- no real negative effects

rebuild calipers complete only cost me $23 a piece and have had very good luck with 3k miles on them so far, bought the pads to match with a 73 charger

by the way, i can stop from 60 in 105 ft., thats better than what a new vette is rated at- its all about the front tires

Ok, so does this mean that since I currently have 1973 Duster Calipers/ disks on my '68 Dart, I can also retrofit and use 1973 Charger Calipers..?

[440WIP]

Honestly, I don't believe there's anything to panic about in regards to supply. As in anything else lately the price will go up - but really, how often do you change your calipers? On my company cars, we go through a lot of rotors, compared to a set of calipers, per car. On the cars that are built and driven here, calipers should last another lifetime - there just isn't enough mileage being put on them. That of course doesn't take into account variables like driving style, storage preparation (i.e. parked in a snow bank for the winter or a climate controlled shop), etc.  - but in general I really believe that they should last a long time. It is really quite surprising how much NOS stuff is still left, even after 30 plus years, compared to a simple brake caliper that can be rebuilt.
Daryl

[qkcuda]

The main reason I went for the ECI kit was the fact that it worked with my drum brake spindles, and the price.  I also am a sucker for anything that looks well engineered, and that billet aluminum hub did it.     The availability on the chevy caliper and disc was a side benefit.  I have since discovered that there are a lot of aftermarket parts available for the GM "metric" brakes.  I guess they use them in a lot of circle track applications.   I could buy new direct replacement aluminum  calipers, which weigh about 9 pounds a piece less than the stockers.  Not much point now with my steel wheels, but maybe some day.  You guys are really going to be PO'd when you see my new combination valve setup.

[Jim_Lusk]

You can get the F-body (same as 76 a-body) caliper with the steel piston. The core charge around here has been $1 on the 76 caliper and $10 on the 73 for several years now.

[bbscamp]

Wow... cheeeeeep.  Not here on the east coast!   Rockauto is the cheapest at $13 plus $5 for the core.   Napa is ~$24 plus $11 for the core.  I guess it all depends on the remanufacturers.
Jim, you mention that you can get the steel piston F body ones, rather than the phenolic.  OK...but the bore is going to be larger than the 73Dart type.

On the 73 Dart that we just pulled down....it had steel pistons on both calipers, but one was the large bore, the other the small bore.  I never drove it, but I'm sure it pulled on braking!!

[Jim_Lusk]

Just spec calipers for a 76 Dart and you should get what you need.

[flyboy01]

I"m was at the local auto parts place...and it seems that the 73+ A body calipers (4068 4067) are getting harder to come buy.  The parts guy said that cores are in short supply.  Anyhow....I don't want to start a stampede...but did anyone else run into this?   RockAuto only had 1 left side caliper in stock.....but they offer a rebuild service, not an exchange.  Some other mfr. are charging $65 for the stinkin core!!!!

I know a rebuild kit is only $5 ...but usually the piston is bad too...and thats expensive.  The A1 Cardone rebuilt are only $13 pluw $5 core.  cheep....but again...getting scarce.

Just an observation.....

Back in January I got a set through Pep-boys, they shipped them from Nevada to my Local Pep-boys, but when they came, the left one was different, even the piston was different size, I had them send it back and get me a matched pair, which they did. I never did return the cores yet, because I have not installed the new ones yet. But hearing that they are hard to get, I may just see if I can sell these to someone in need instead of returning them for cores. There is nothing wrong with mine, except that they sat for 12 years and need new seals an I figured that it would be better to buy factory rebuilds rather than doing it myself. I will sell them to anyone for the core fee + shipping.

[jamesdart]

so whats wrong with going to the large piston bore? im almost positive i have 2 different pistons sizes on mine and it doesnt pull. i was in a rush so i figured id try it and buy another caliper to match one of them, as i also lost the reciept and painted them by the time i noticed they looked different. if you can get a bigger piston size for cheaper, whats the drawback?

[flyboy01]

Does anyone know the measurements on the different bores? The ones I have look freaking huge, they are about as big as Honda pistons.

[bbscamp]

The only way to see  the bore is to pull the dust boot off the end of the caliper piston.  The piston lip OD is the same all the way down the piston.  There is ~ 1/8" between the 2 bore sizes...which translates into quite a bit of area.

[joesnow]

I just bought some slider a body type3 weaks ago at advanced auto. had them in a day. the price was like $26 $5 core.I found a whole bunch of old cores at a local J-yard.If someone really wants them let me know.I didn't see kelser=hays.But I wasn't really looking.

[moparrr07]

i think the stock 73 a body is like 1.625 and the bigger ones a 1.750- i might be wrong, those are just off the top of my head

[evstraus]

I too have had a hard time finding them in Washington State.  NAPA... sorry, Schucks...uhuhuhuh what?.... sorry,  So I tried Les Schwab, its a great tire company I think only here on the west cost and into the mid west.  After checking with a few of there suppliers they found that Reybestos has them, but it seemed to be some sort of hassle to get a set of them?  Eric 

[abodyjoe]

we did jamies car last summer and had no problem...     advanced auto had them the next day and they were cheap...

[St.Louis-Dart]

these worked great, i think 8 new pistons seals & boots was 40.00 bucks,thay were easy to rebuild too 

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[Jim_Lusk]

Yes, the K-H brakes are easy to rebuild, but there are difficulties going to big bolt pattern, which is what a lot of folks want.