My '83 is a 4 lug V8 car that needs some new calipers. I can't find the original build date so I was unsure if it was pre 11/82 or post 11/82 since they used different calipers according to parts stores etc. So I finally found some photos of the calipers online and decided to see if I could match mine to one of the photos. Seems the pre 11/82 calipers have roughly rectangular holes at the top of the casting whereas the newer post 11/82 units have rounded holes on one end of the castings. Also the older pre 11/82 unit photos show raised round and half round casting marks on the piston housing side with cast letters and numbers as well. The newer post 11/82 caliper photos don't show any of those easy to spot casting features. So I ordered some reman AutoZone units that matched what I have installed - namely the pre 11/82 calipers with raised casting letters etc. They look the same as the originals and bolt right in BUT they fit very loosely when dropping them into the spindle leaving about an 1/8" gap on both sides between the spindle and the caliper castings. The original calipers had no gaps and were snug enough they had to be coaxed out with a screwdriver etc. So these new calipers only have the wimpy retainer bolts and plastic sleeves inside the caliper to take the load when the caliper tries to spin in the direction of the brake disc upon applying the brakes. This seems way wrong since the caliper will likely rotate 1/8" taking up the gap until it makes contact with the spindle casting edge. Seems dangerous to me.
The car has passed through many hands and could possibly have different spindles / different calipers than stock I suppose - '84 stuff maybe? Or the post 11/82 calipers might be the correct ones for this car - but the pictures of them look quite different than what was on the car? So if anyone has dealt with this before or has wisdom to pass along I sure could use the help. I am close to finally getting her back on the road and this is one of the last "major" mechanical issues to overcome (I think).
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