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Front disc/calliper install gone wrong?

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Andy Andy\'s Adventures

2,820 posts · joined Nov 2002 ·

#743274
Hi,
Still putting my '73 fasty back together after going through everything.

I have replaced the front wheel bearings as well as had the callipers re-built, and a general clean up of the front end.

On re-assembly the disc does not sit in the centre of the calliper.
The callipers were re-built at a brake shop, but I can't see how wrong assembly could cause the problem, and the mount face on the calliper and front end are nice and clean.
I have double checked the bearings are the same size (width) as the ones removed, and ensured the bearings are fully home inside hte hub, as well as going all the way onto the axle.
With everything checked and installed, the disc has ~1mm clearence on the outside to the calliper, and ~8mm on the inside.
The strange thing is it's identical on both sides.

Has anyone seen this before, and any hints on what could cause the misalignment?

Thanks for your help.

1500S Custom Title Time!

1,418 posts · joined Mar 2005 ·

#743287
Are you absolutely sure you have pressed the cups fully home on the inner bearing.

DH

Andy Andy\'s Adventures

2,820 posts · joined Nov 2002 ·

#743294
Yep,
That's the first thing I thought it might be. Spent a full afternoon trying to find why.

With the bearing I even measured the depth to the stop in the disc and bearing width, and measured how deep it was pressed in to be absolutely sure there was no burr etc holding it out a bit. It's a long way out though, so I thought any problem would be easy to find.

cesiumfrog Seriously Crusin Dubber

161 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#743302
maybe the grease seal on the inside of the hub is holding it up?

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#743310
Andy wrote:Hi,
Still putting my '73 fasty back together after going through everything.

I have replaced the front wheel bearings as well as had the callipers re-built, and a general clean up of the front end.

On re-assembly the disc does not sit in the centre of the calliper.
The callipers were re-built at a brake shop, but I can't see how wrong assembly could cause the problem, and the mount face on the calliper and front end are nice and clean.
I have double checked the bearings are the same size (width) as the ones removed, and ensured the bearings are fully home inside hte hub, as well as going all the way onto the axle.
With everything checked and installed, the disc has ~1mm clearence on the outside to the calliper, and ~8mm on the inside.
The strange thing is it's identical on both sides.

Has anyone seen this before, and any hints on what could cause the misalignment?

Thanks for your help.


Hi Andy

the thickness of the bearings won't tell You if they are correct of not...
the bearing numbers need to be the SAME as what came out of them...

the cups can be the same thickness but still be different..
and non metric cups & cones can be matched with other Cups or Cones...

but on re-reading Your description.. again

do You mean the brake pads have different gaps??
between the disc and the brake pads??

any chance of a photo...??

if the bearings are seated OK..
and the wheels spin OK...
once you apply the brakes... the pads will fill the gaps...
as disc brake calipers are self adjusting...


I've never really taken any notice of the gaps as the pads close up as soon as the brakes are applied..
whether the gaps were equal to start with... I don't know...

cheers

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#743323
When the place "" over hauled the calipers "" did they make sure both pistions were removed and free traveling

maybe one is stuck and they didnt remove it

did u get back the your origional calipers
I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#743389
vw54 wrote:When the place "" over hauled the calipers "" did they make sure both pistions were removed and free traveling

maybe one is stuck and they didnt remove it

did u get back the your original calipers

thats hard to believe...

thats what brake places do....

they pull them apart and overhaul the calipers...

stuck pistons should be their speciallty..!!

IMHO LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#743390
Hi

Is the split in calliper lining up with centre of the disk or are you using the position position as a reference?

Steve

clinker42 Officially Full-On Dubber

381 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·

#743395
Are they a sliding calipers with one piston or do they have two pistons, one on each pad. If they are the sliding style caliper then you can just even it up yourself

Andy Andy\'s Adventures

2,820 posts · joined Nov 2002 ·

#743449
Thanks for that, I did try installing them with the seal removed, no change 🙁
cesiumfrog wrote:maybe the grease seal on the inside of the hub is holding it up?

Andy Andy\'s Adventures

2,820 posts · joined Nov 2002 ·

#743453
Thanks Dave, they are a reputable joint, and have done all of my brakes for last 5-10 years. Yes I got originals back, and all pistons move freely (they were free when I put the min for re-build also)

Just to answer a few other questions, the callipers are fixed, one piston each side. Yes the pistons will balance up the difference, but when I need to fit new pads, I don;t think it will fit on one side.
The gap I'm looking at is between the disc and calliper itself. I will get a pic soon.

Lee, what I measured was the thickness of hte assembled bearing, so the distance between the two faces that sit against axle and hub. Brearings came out of a kit for VW's, but I will check the numbers.

Different gaps are to inside of calliper, not pads.

Lee, Dave has a valid point though, type 3 callpiers are a little more complicated than older style VW callipers, so I'm sure plenty of places would take short cuts if they could!!! I always double check everything is good when I get them back.

Thanks again for the help.

vw54 wrote:When the place "" over hauled the calipers "" did they make sure both pistions were removed and free traveling

maybe one is stuck and they didnt remove it

did u get back the your origional calipers

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#743458
where does the disk sit in accordance with the caliper 'gap'?

too far out, or inward towards the centre of the car?
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#743487
I carnt remember is there a spacer on the stub axle or is it fixed ???

did you leave this off
I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

1500S Custom Title Time!

1,418 posts · joined Mar 2005 ·

#743573
vw54 wrote:I carnt remember is there a spacer on the stub axle or is it fixed ???

did you leave this off
Maybe this'll help. Did you put item 54 on?? Maybe on back to front and the radius on the stub is against a sharp edge rather than a chamfer.

DH

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dangerous 23 Windows of Awesome

5,901 posts · joined Jan 2005 ·

#743577
Item 54 is the oil seal.
Late stubs have a one piece seal ring with the stub.

But YES, some replacement bearings do not have a large enough radius
to clear the radius on the stub axle.(even with the correct part number.
westi wrote:That's mad Alan.

1500S Custom Title Time!

1,418 posts · joined Mar 2005 ·

#743591
dangerous wrote:Item 54 is the oil seal.
Late stubs have a one piece seal ring with the stub.

But YES, some replacement bearings do not have a large enough radius
to clear the radius on the stub axle.(even with the correct part number.
I should have looked at the parts list on the other side of the page Dave!! Still half asleep. Haven't had a disk brake one since 2000 and the memory has dimmed on the front setup!

By the way, did you get the new milling machine?

DH

Andy Andy\'s Adventures

2,820 posts · joined Nov 2002 ·

#743634
Hey,
Thanks again for all the help. Checked the bearings, and yes they have a large enough radius to sit flat.

I think I will pull it all out again on the week end, maybe there is a burr either on the axle of in the hub I have missed that stops it sitting as far home as they should. The discs are near the end of there life, so most likely have been on/off a few times and had bearings replaced a few times also, so anything is possible,

I have tried over tightening the bearings a little, but that's not enough to make it move.

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#743649
Hi

Your able to get the adjuster on, I think that rules out the bearings not seating correctly.

Steve

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#743657
its been a long time since I had a late model type 3

I think the calipers and pads were different...

are they ATE brand??

Sounds like the bearings are the problem...

tightening the axle nut usually seats the bearings OK

You said the bearings were in a kit..
I was going to ask whether the cups and cones were in the same packet/box? like LM11749/10 a common bearing kit.
not sure whether you have L45449 - L45410 cups & cones..

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

clinker42 Officially Full-On Dubber

381 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·

#743789
Guys

The adjuster nut, how much thread should stick out of the adjuster nut, that would be a quick way for him to check if its the bearings, if they are seated correctly then the adjuster nut should be roughly the same on every model. I know they are cast items and will vary a little, but shouldn't be that much that he couldn't check that way.

It really couldnt be the seal or an incorrect bearing, think about this, if you put on the seal and then the disc and dont get the seal into the disc, then it will move the whole disc assembly out by the thickness of the seal, that way the adjuster nut would only be half on.

Andy, are you sure the bearing cups are fully driven home, some of em do take a heavy hand to get in, if the cup isnt home then that could be an issue. Then when you assemble, are you putting the inner bearing in place and then fitting the seal to the disc, then pushing it home. Another thing I would try is unbolting the dust cover and fitting the disc and seal on and seeing if the seal is running where it should be, probably even a little wear ring where the old seal was running. If that is all the way home and you have thread poking out of your adjuster nut then it would have to be in the calipers. I doubt if the bearings had a different offset on one and the other had the exact amount of offset but the other way, doesnt seem possible.

A quick fix would be to just space your caliper with some washers, but would only do that if I really knew the bearings and disc where correct, If the stuff come off then it should go back on hey.

Trev

Andy Andy\'s Adventures

2,820 posts · joined Nov 2002 ·

#743823
Lee,
Yes '73 type 3 had larger callipers and pads, mine are still ATE.
Bearings are a kit assembled at a local bearing shop, so bearings are koyo and ntn. (I bought them years ago and never used them)
Thanks for the numbers, I will check.

Trev,
The nut seems to go mostly. I will have to get some pictures up to help explain it all. They are only out by ~3mm, so I guess enough to see on the nut engagement.

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#743826
Hi
Do You think the calipers had been machined??

only other thing is if one of the bearing cups had gone off centre

but You can usually see that
and hear it when they hit home...

I doubt if they could go 3mm off centre....

so, are You saying the calipers are too far away from the disc?

a diagram would really help here.... lol

Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#748924
Andy

did u work out what was wrong with yet ???
I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

Andy Andy\'s Adventures

2,820 posts · joined Nov 2002 ·

#749035
Hey all, sorry for the delay in replying, been busy at work.
I have taken a heap of photo's I will get up soon, and have had the discs on and off a number of times measureing, checking, even re-fitted old bearings!!
It all came back to the same issue.
What my thoughts now are the discs must not be original ot a '73.

I have a few old discs I will drag out and measure up to see if there is a difference in the offset on the disc for a '73. I know callipers and pads are different to earlier models, so I guess the discs could be as well.

Lee, callpiers certainly don;t look machined, and I measured everything to ensure they go fully home. With the old bearings installed the problem is still there.

Thanks again for all your help!

MickH Hairy Gutted Sloth

3,389 posts · joined Sep 2003 ·

#749048
The discs are different on earlier to later models from memory....
tssnq.com.au

Andy Andy\'s Adventures

2,820 posts · joined Nov 2002 ·

#756909
OK,
Still no closer to getting this one sorted.
Finally got around to looking at some old parts lying around. As best I can tell the discs are the same for a '71, '73 type 3 and also the same as a '73 beetle.
That is measuing diameter and distance from the disc to the face the wheel bolts to. I did not bother measuring where the bearing sits in all.
The only thing that was different for all of these cars was the beetle had a slightly smaller callipers!

I did not measure calliper offsets though.

I guess I will find out when I fit new discs as the current ones are close to minimum thichness.

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#756915
All type 1 and 3 discs are the same.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#756933
All type 1 and 3 discs are the same.
yep all same something must be in arse bout face
I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

Andy Andy\'s Adventures

2,820 posts · joined Nov 2002 ·

#757119
OK, I'll have to pull it all out again 🙁
Am working hard on the motor at the moment, so this is on hold currently.