Rockauto got some 69-73 calipers in
- Thread starter 66l78rat
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CanCritter
Senior Member
they were out last time l was looking...they go fast..grabbim while you can folks
commando1
Old Man with a Hat
You'd think they'd crank up production.
I got a set from Rock Auto two weeks ago, and they had packaged B body calipers in the boxes for C bodies, so your delight might be short lived. They are apparently sending rebuilt calipers made by Centric, but like I said, the calipers won't work for C bodies. I called Centric to see if the casting numbers on the cores that were rebuilt and sent to me were correct as supplied by Rock Auto, and they confirmed they are the wrong ones.
One way to tell if the ones you get are wrong (boxed improperly by Rock Auto, not Centric) is whether the brake hose mounts to the caliper on a flat plane or on a slanting plane surface. If the surface is slanting, it is the B body caliper, and won't fit. The calipers are too narrow (won't fit over your rotor) and the brake hose will hit the spindle if you try to mount it. Centric is also the only supplier that I am currently aware of that is supplying a correct rotor for a 1969 - 1972 C body. Forget what Rock Auto says it has available for our C bodies, as whatever is listed, whether by Raybestos or Delphi, etc, won't work - only the Centric brand is correct.
I also found that OReilly's was supplying the wrong calipers for C bodies, also using B body castings just like Rock Auto was doing (they do look very similar). The difference with OReilly's brand "Brake Best" is they seem to use different castings for the calipers than the original Kelsey Hayes ones supplied to Chrysler. But they are accurate and their price can't be beat; and they work great and are quality pieces. When I called OReilly's headquarters, and sent them photos of the problems, they immediately agreed to their mistake and issued a recall for all of their C body calipers in the system and will supply the correct castings very soon. I actually ordered a set today since last week they were completely out of them due to the recall, but have now started trickling the correct ones back into stock. I will get them tomorrow and hopefully they will have the correct calipers available again. I will follow up when I get mine. I have used them in the past, and there is no better or less expensive way to go in terms of getting calipers that work great than Brake Best at OReilly's.
I might also add that the customer service at Centric is superb, as the guy on the line there was excellent and knew exactly what he was talking about. Their headquarters are located within 30 miles of where I live in the city of Industry, California. Quality parts as well.
The last few weeks have been frustrating for me, but I think we are climbing out of the abyss at present. Its weeks like these last few that make me wonder whether anyone can do anything right!!!
One way to tell if the ones you get are wrong (boxed improperly by Rock Auto, not Centric) is whether the brake hose mounts to the caliper on a flat plane or on a slanting plane surface. If the surface is slanting, it is the B body caliper, and won't fit. The calipers are too narrow (won't fit over your rotor) and the brake hose will hit the spindle if you try to mount it. Centric is also the only supplier that I am currently aware of that is supplying a correct rotor for a 1969 - 1972 C body. Forget what Rock Auto says it has available for our C bodies, as whatever is listed, whether by Raybestos or Delphi, etc, won't work - only the Centric brand is correct.
I also found that OReilly's was supplying the wrong calipers for C bodies, also using B body castings just like Rock Auto was doing (they do look very similar). The difference with OReilly's brand "Brake Best" is they seem to use different castings for the calipers than the original Kelsey Hayes ones supplied to Chrysler. But they are accurate and their price can't be beat; and they work great and are quality pieces. When I called OReilly's headquarters, and sent them photos of the problems, they immediately agreed to their mistake and issued a recall for all of their C body calipers in the system and will supply the correct castings very soon. I actually ordered a set today since last week they were completely out of them due to the recall, but have now started trickling the correct ones back into stock. I will get them tomorrow and hopefully they will have the correct calipers available again. I will follow up when I get mine. I have used them in the past, and there is no better or less expensive way to go in terms of getting calipers that work great than Brake Best at OReilly's.
I might also add that the customer service at Centric is superb, as the guy on the line there was excellent and knew exactly what he was talking about. Their headquarters are located within 30 miles of where I live in the city of Industry, California. Quality parts as well.
The last few weeks have been frustrating for me, but I think we are climbing out of the abyss at present. Its weeks like these last few that make me wonder whether anyone can do anything right!!!
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My understanding is the '73 style rotors and calipers are the same ones that MOPAR used on B Bodiies, pickups and vans in the early '70's when they standardized some of the brake parts across multiple vehicle lines. I wonder if you ordered parts for a '73 Dodge 1/2 ton pickup if you would get the correct parts from Rock Auto.
Given how narrow the calipers are from a B body, I would expect those calipers would be unacceptable for any C body or truck application. The rotors to fit such a narrow width would have to be way too thin IMO.
69-73??? The '73s are quite different than the '71s I have on my Newport. Are you saying they are offering calipers for all years?
69 - 73 C bodies use the same calipers and they are different than the B bodies although visually they look almost the same - but trust me, they are measureably different.
All that changed in 1973 for the C bodies was the rotor, wherein the hub was made more beefy, which in turn meant different bearings, seals etc.
sixpkrt
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FWIW, I had the same issue with Summit when I was doing the front disc's. They sent the same calipers that Rock Auto did which were the Raybestos #'s FRC4061 & FRC4062. Like Steve explained, you will not be able to get the pads to fit over the rotor because these caliper's are B Body, and are slightly narrower.
I had the original calipers rebuilt for under $100, and was done with ordering and returning parts from the online sources mentioned.
These are the caliper casting numbers on my 71 New Yorker...
MrMoparCHP
Old Man with a Hat
I thought they were 69-72 and 73 was one year only
Alan
Alan
I believe that statement is true for the rotors, but not the calipers.
When you see the KH on the calipers, those are the original ones generally since they were supplied by Kelsey Hayes I believe.
I went to pick up my order for two sets of calipers this afternoon, since the recall should be accomplished by now at OReilly's stores, and 3 of the 4 calipers were correct, and one was wrong. The store counter guy told me that they issue recall notices at OReilly's once and awhile, and when they get the notice, they will usually check their stock according to the instructions and if necessary, they will return the wrong/defective parts, but he said it depends on who in the store sees the notice of recall and whether the store manager wants to comply. So things might not be consistent for awhile.
I went ahead and ordered two more of the one I received that was still not correct, hoping at least one of them would be correct.
I am also having one of my sets rebuilt by a local shop to see how things turn out, and if good, I may just rebuild my original ones too, like Tim above.
I went ahead and ordered two more of the one I received that was still not correct, hoping at least one of them would be correct.
I am also having one of my sets rebuilt by a local shop to see how things turn out, and if good, I may just rebuild my original ones too, like Tim above.
70bigblockdodge
Old Man with a Hat
If they are Kelsey Hayes you would be foolish not to rebuild them yourself. Buy a new piston and a seal kit. Seal sits stationary in the groove, piston moves it's smooth shiney new surface on the seal as pads wear. They are as simple as can be. If your calipers are not severely rusted around dust boot it is no problem. If really rusty you can sand blast groove and lip and whole caliper careful with threads and bleeder taper.
How were you able to obtain the right side one, as Rock Auto seems to constantly say they are out of stock? Does their alert system actually produce results for you? If so, how long have you been waiting for an alert?
I have been waiting for an alert for at least 8 months! I had to "renew" my alert status around 2 months ago.They came from different sources,one from Ohio,other Tenn,I'm in Mi.Very happy with there appearance,hardware included,Rh core was $10 compared to $4 for lh.Separate shipping also.Total was $83
I might add that O'Reillys now has their inventory of these calipers straightened out it appears from my recent experience in ordering some. If you need the other side, RH, they will have them. I am not aware of anyone else that generally does.
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