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Bendix 4 piston caliper issues - need help

M

millicon

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Hi all - I'm having some issues with my '68 Charger R/T front brakes. It has the original 4 piston Bendix set-up and like everyone else's they are leaking.

My plan is to replace with the A-1 Cardone calipers (being re-sold by pretty much everyone), Year One rotors and Centric pads while I had the originals restored as to not loose too much summer drive time. I'm having problems all over the place and no one seems to have any answers. I'm hoping that there might be some communal knowledge that might help get the car back on the road.

First, issues with A-1 Cardone calipers that I bought:
1. No tapped holes in the bolts for the mounting bracket - replaced bolts with originals for now. Any one know of a place to buy new ones? I don't want to weld on nuts. I'm getting quotes from some specialty/custom fastener shops here in Metro Detroit -but it would be nice to just buy some.

2. The calipers are not handed (they're all rights). Therefore, the left side bleeder is on the bottom and you can't use the bracket and hard line. You also can't just swap the bleeder to the other hole (the sealing surface for the hard line isn't the same as the one for the bleeder). So, I'm stuck. How have you guys handled this? (Make custom hard line with the bleeder as-is? Get them remachined to swap the bleeder? Just swap them as-is and hope for the best?)

Then, there's the question of who still rebuilds the originals. Seems like many places that used to do them have stopped. Any suggestions?
 
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What exactly is leaking? The calipar pistons or the O rings between the two halves.
 
The seal around the pistons - but it's more than just seals will fix - looks like they need seals, pistons and likely sleeved. The only hesitation I have doing it myself is to get the bore clean while maintaining the correct profile.
 
Hi I will be Installing the 4 piston setup in the next several months I have obtained cores and doing the swap so it is interesting that you bring this topic up I ran outside and checked my cores left and right are the same just swap the bleeder position for the brake line position you should be fine the bolts however you will have to reuse the old ones take one out replace and torque it then proceed to the next without disturbing anything I checked those holes and they are the same for the line and the bleeder
 
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millicon said:
The seal around the pistons - but it's more than just seals will fix - looks like they need seals, pistons and likely sleeved. The only hesitation I have doing it myself is to get the bore clean while maintaining the correct profile.
Click to expand...
If i remember correctly there is not a real bore as such just a chamber. The piston seal sets in the caliper is does the piston dust cover. The piston slides threw. The caliper has to be parted to remove the pistons.
 
There are a lot of places out there who sleeve and rebuild calipers. Just check around. Some places like White Post restoration have a lifetime warranty but the price is usually higher. If you do get them rebuilt, make sure they put stainless steel sleeves in as that will generally solve the problem with them rusting in the bores which causes the leaks.
 
A-1 Cardone is the bottomofthe barrel --their price may be appealing -- but "you get what you pay for" and that's if you get them -- because there are all kinds
of problems with that, too...............
Ihave N.O.S. ++ Asbestos ++Brake pads -- and as pricey as those rotors are -- you would be CRAZY to use anything else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I alsohave the Master Cylinder, Brake Hoses, Brake Rotors!!!! ---- and rebuilding service on the calipers.......
 
I emailed and spoke with A1 Cardone they claim they are stainless sleeved
 
mobileparts said:
A-1 Cardone is the bottomofthe barrel --their price may be appealing -- but "you get what you pay for" and that's if you get them -- because there are all kinds
of problems with that, too...............
Ihave N.O.S. ++ Asbestos ++Brake pads -- and as pricey as those rotors are -- you would be CRAZY to use anything else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I alsohave the Master Cylinder, Brake Hoses, Brake Rotors!!!! ---- and rebuilding service on the calipers.......
Click to expand...
I seen no mention of Chrysler parts there. Whats the deal?
 
mobileparts said:
A-1 Cardone is the bottomofthe barrel --their price may be appealing -- but "you get what you pay for" and that's if you get them -- because there are all kinds
of problems with that, too...............
Ihave N.O.S. ++ Asbestos ++Brake pads -- and as pricey as those rotors are -- you would be CRAZY to use anything else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I alsohave the Master Cylinder, Brake Hoses, Brake Rotors!!!! ---- and rebuilding service on the calipers.......
Click to expand...

In case you were wondering, I didn't /want/ A1 Cardone. They're not my first choice; but, that's actually what Year One (and almost everyone else) is reselling. Centric's rebuilds have been out of stock for quite some time (according to Centric). Also, the reproduction calipers are just a stopgap until I get the originals rebuilt.
 
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I'm surprised that no one has made a casting of these and made new ones like they did with the master cylinders about 10 years or so ago.
 
Thank you all for your help so far -

My concern on swapping the bleeder is that the sealing surface in the 2 holes isn't the same. The holes are identical on both calipers I received and they are sold as right or left so I am guessing they are all like this. One is machined for an DIN/ISO Bubble flare (just a single 45deg chamfer) and the other (which had the bleeder in it) has a secondary chamfer in the center of an unknown degree. This means that the seal on the the hole with the secondary chamfer is not a complete seal. The system will be more prone to leaks and galling/damage to the flare is more likely to occur because of the increased localized stresses.

That being said, it'll probably seal the first time and that's probably what I'll do so I can drive the car instead of looking at it in the garage. I'll just have to inspect regularly and have replacement hard line ready until I get the original set-up back on the car.

For the rebuilders, I was hoping someone else had the Bendix's done recently and could possibly provide a recommendation. I've heard a lot of stories and I was looking for someone who had some familiarity with these calipers. Now that it's after the holiday, I'll be calling around to a few places to see what I may be able to find.
 
I rebuilt mine about 15 years ago. At that time calipers were well over the $300 range with a core deposit of half that. I elected to install kits that were available locally at the time at about $7.50 per side for seals do not remember what pistons cost was. Only regret was not using composit pistons which was something new at the time. Instead went with the stainless steel original replacements. It was not caliper bore rust that took the originals out but piston rust which chews the seals up.
 
The originals that I have inspected are the same for both sides both holes are the same not just the thread. As for rebuilders seems like they have dried up and gone away less than a small handful exist. Your best bet for a rebuilder is Goldline brakes in Seattle lifetime warranty as long as you follow his guidelines about 5 week turn around for the pair, 300 ea. I have the same problem I spoke to this man over the phone yesterday Anybody that actually knows that there is someone out there please list.
 
gtxno1 said:
The originals that I have inspected are the same for both sides both holes are the same not just the thread
Click to expand...

Maybe I just need another cup of coffee - but I may have lost you. I think you're saying that there is no secondary chamfer in one of the holes on your new calipers, right?

And you're right, most of the rebuilders seem to have disappeared or aren't doing that work anymore. I'll check out Goldline today along with calipersonline and White Post to see what they say. Thanks!
 
I did not send mine out yet just looking at originals they are the same left and right I inspected them carefully. Also called Cardone this morning they are stainless sleeved
 
gtx: 910470847 said:
I did not send mine out yet just looking at originals they are the same left and right I inspected them carefully. Also called Cardone this morning they are stainless sleeved
Click to expand...
Gotcha, it must have been too early! My originals are all the same as well - all 45deg single chamfers. The new ones have the extra chamfer on the bleeder hole.
 
exxxxxxxxxxactly -- the smartest move is to get originals rebuilt ---- by someone other than a mass rebuilder -- like a-1 cardone ---- who is not geared to do
custom R & R ing --- and has FREQUENTLY been responsible for ----- LOSING ----- the original cores.....
Anybody who is smart -- because I am responding to several responses in this thread --- they need to be C U S T O M rebuilt / re-sleeved and not get
"thrown into a massive pile"................ but if you are one of those -- who is governed Solely by the price, price, price ---- GOOD LUCK with that method.....
Those who are smart can read between the lines of what I've written....................... I am willing to help ONLY the smart people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
To the one person who said "there is no mention of Chrysler" ---- look at the gentleman who started the thread -- right there in Number ! -- it is listed that he
has a 1968 Dodge Charger RT...............
But then , my answer applies to everyone --- because I personally service the Eldorado / Toronado & Buicks / Caddys / Chevys in the GM World ......
and the Lincolns & TBirds & Top of the Line Mustang/ Cougars in the Ford World --- and yes, the Rambler / AMC world who had the early primitive
4 - piston calipers & corresponding set ups on the AMXes, the Rambler SCrambler, the "Machine", the Ambassador, and even the little Marlins.......
So ------------------ my answer -------- is for the world, and that's who I service.................
 
mobileparts said:
To the one person who said "there is no mention of Chrysler" ---- look at the gentleman who started the thread -- right there in Number ! -- it is listed that he
has a 1968 Dodge Charger RT...............
But then , my answer applies to everyone --- because I personally service the Eldorado / Toronado & Buicks / Caddys / Chevys in the GM World ......
and the Lincolns & TBirds & Top of the Line Mustang/ Cougars in the Ford World --- and yes, the Rambler / AMC world who had the early primitive
4 - piston calipers & corresponding set ups on the AMXes, the Rambler SCrambler, the "Machine", the Ambassador, and even the little Marlins.......
So ------------------ my answer -------- is for the world, and that's who I service.................
Click to expand...
Not to be a buthead please read your last post. I stated thier was no metion of Chrysler brake parts.
Are you insinuating these calipers are not common to just Chrysler and that they can be ordered for a different brand and still fuction and fit properly? If so that information would be of value.
 
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