1966 Brake calipers

[Guest]

Hello everyone.

I'm Fabien, from France.
I'm driving a 1966 FORD Thunderbird Town hardtop coupe with the 390 engine.
I begun the restoration a few month ago and I have a little problem with my brake calipers.
I want to rebuild the calipers. But I have two different types of dust boots.

Driver side there are rings to hold the boot on the caliper.
Passenger side no rings but a grove.

There are the photos from the two types.




If someone now why I have this difference on my car ?
Or if someone can help me ?

Thanking you in advance.
Best regards.

[simplyconnected]

Your caliper castings look very bad. One looks like someone tried to repair it. Both are missing pistons, but the bores are terrible. In the USA, we exchange them for rebuilt calipers.

I suggest you buy two rebuilt calipers and send yours back as 'core deposits'. ROCK AUTO.com sells these with pads (loaded) for US$74 per side with core deposit of US$55 for each side.

Click on the link and look up your car. All the prices are listed.
I hope this helps. - Dave

[Guest]

Hi,

Thank you for your answer and for the website.

I have all the pistons.
I've extracted the pistons to clean the complete caliper.

That's the caliper castings after cleaning.




and here the pistons



But I can't explain the difference between the two calipers.

On your calipers is there a ring to hold the dust boots or a little grove ?

Grove :


Ring :


Thanking you in advance.

[simplyconnected]

The '66 Thunderbird caliper has two pistons. Sometimes it is smart to look at the repair kit, just to see what is inside:
This picture is from Rockauto.com. It shows the square rubber bands and the dust boots.

After taking the piston out, inspect the casting for rust pits or voids in the iron. Carefully inspect the piston. Both must be smooth and straight before assembly.

If everything looks good, lubricate all your parts in brake fluid, and neatly tuck the square rubber seal into the deepest groove. Then slide the boot on the piston and carefully offer the boot and piston to the caliper opening. With the boot hanging down past the piston, tuck the boot edge inside the top groove of the caliper and slowly enter the piston to 'lock' the boot in place as the piston slides past the boot in the top caliper groove.

So, both grooves are inside the caliper, one for the rubber band (seal) and one for the dust/water boot. Again, make sure your metal parts are smooth and straight. If they are not, they will tear your seals. Hope this helps. - Dave

[Guest]

Great thanks for this help.

Now it is clear for me.
I will order Two caliper rebuild kit.


Have a nice day, and a nice ride on your T-bird.

Bye.
Best regards.

[Guest]

Hi,

just to show you, my caliper castings after new surface treatment.
Looks much better than before !!

Pistons bores fesh polished.

I've just to buy two rebuild kit, two caliper lines and new bleeder screws.





Have a nice day.
Best regards.

[KULTULZ]

FORD of that period used KH 4-Piston fixed calipers. It is possible the car has a mismatched set of calipers, usually from a rebuilder not matching components properly. Do both caliper housings have the same Casting I.D. Nos.?

[Guest]

Sorry for this late answer.

Had internet problems.
I Will look castings ID today.

Thank you.