Is the metal shield necessary on front disc brakes

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Ballaratcastle

Well-known member
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May 29, 2018
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Location
New Zealand
My Car
1973 Mustang Convertible. Just imported from the USA as an unfinished project.
[url=https://ibb.co/gXU4Qy][img]https://preview.ibb.co/f0tW5y/Mustang.jpg[/img][/url]
I have replaced the old calipers on my car but when I took the old calipers off only one side had the metal shield thing attached to the caliper. (not the disc shield) 

I am not sure what they actually do and if I need to buy a replacement one or can go without on both sides. Also I have been trying to find a diagram break down of the parts as I have seen on some photos of the calipers the bolts that hold them to the bracket have a long skinny rod that pokes through but on the photos is shows some extra cap or cover thing. Mine didnt have them. I presume the calipers may have been taken off during the partial resto in the USA but not put back on properly after and the parts are missing. Would anyone have a photo of the front disc bolts or assembly pieces needed. 

Cheers

Steve

 
I have replaced the old calipers on my car but when I took the old calipers off only one side had the metal shield thing attached to the caliper. (not the disc shield) 

I am not sure what they actually do and if I need to buy a replacement one or can go without on both sides. Also I have been trying to find a diagram break down of the parts as I have seen on some photos of the calipers the bolts that hold them to the bracket have a long skinny rod that pokes through but on the photos is shows some extra cap or cover thing. Mine didnt have them. I presume the calipers may have been taken off during the partial resto in the USA but not put back on properly after and the parts are missing. Would anyone have a photo of the front disc bolts or assembly pieces needed. 

Cheers

Steve
Hi from a fellow N. Z.'er ( now Aussi ) I had a similar problem with these plates all bent out of shape.  You can get what I recall is known as a " disc brake re-build kit ". It will ( should ) have the two cover plates plus all new bolts, the rubber anti - rattle grommets and some other bits I can't remember. It's not expensive and will give you all new stuff.  Try that Mustang Centre in Ch. Ch. ( used to be in Auck but sold out to these guys ) I have a September  Petrolhead  mag which has a 'phone number of 03 3813 289. 

If you don't have any success, come back and I'll point you to a couple of Aussi suppliers with stock code numbers, prices etc.

Good work on this job of yours.  Nearly as challenging as Fabrice.

PKJ

 
The caliper shield is  the "caliper stabilizer" and is part of the system. Keeps the caliper from banging around on rough roads among other things. As noted, it's part of a kit, Here's the listing on Rock auto for reference.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=3055839&cc=1132692&jsn=549

Pins are the caliper guide pins, and slide into the rubber boot on the caliper.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=3056715&cc=1132692&jsn=553

I added those two items to my cart and shipping to NZ 8011 was $9.99



 
I have replaced the old calipers on my car but when I took the old calipers off only one side had the metal shield thing attached to the caliper. (not the disc shield) 

I am not sure what they actually do and if I need to buy a replacement one or can go without on both sides. Also I have been trying to find a diagram break down of the parts as I have seen on some photos of the calipers the bolts that hold them to the bracket have a long skinny rod that pokes through but on the photos is shows some extra cap or cover thing. Mine didnt have them. I presume the calipers may have been taken off during the partial resto in the USA but not put back on properly after and the parts are missing. Would anyone have a photo of the front disc bolts or assembly pieces needed. 

Cheers

Steve
Hi from a fellow N. Z.'er ( now Aussi ) I had a similar problem with these plates all bent out of shape.  You can get what I recall is known as a " disc brake re-build kit ". It will ( should ) have the two cover plates plus all new bolts, the rubber anti - rattle grommets and some other bits I can't remember. It's not expensive and will give you all new stuff.  Try that Mustang Centre in Ch. Ch. ( used to be in Auck but sold out to these guys ) I have a September  Petrolhead  mag which has a 'phone number of 03 3813 289. 

If you don't have any success, come back and I'll point you to a couple of Aussi suppliers with stock code numbers, prices etc.

Good work on this job of yours.  Nearly as challenging as Fabrice.

PKJ
Cheers mate

I had only priced one part (trunk drop panel) previously through the CHCH crowd but for a $14 USD part they wanted $100 nzd plus freight so got it sent to a colleagues hotel  in the US and he chucked it in his suitcase. I'll price the kit from there but I see Hemikiller has posted some links to Rock Auto so I'll see what the US prices are. Thanks for replying to my post. Yep first car project do am floundering a bit trying to get it ready and complied before Beach Hop end of March. Hopefully engine startup end of this week. Cheers Steve

 
The caliper shield is  the "caliper stabilizer" and is part of the system. Keeps the caliper from banging around on rough roads among other things. As noted, it's part of a kit, Here's the listing on Rock auto for reference.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=3055839&cc=1132692&jsn=549

Pins are the caliper guide pins, and slide into the rubber boot on the caliper.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=3056715&cc=1132692&jsn=553

I added those two items to my cart and shipping to NZ 8011 was $9.99

Awesome thsnks. No I know what to look for. Yes those rubber boots are definately missing .thank you for the links

 
I have replaced the old calipers on my car but when I took the old calipers off only one side had the metal shield thing attached to the caliper. (not the disc shield) 

I am not sure what they actually do and if I need to buy a replacement one or can go without on both sides. Also I have been trying to find a diagram break down of the parts as I have seen on some photos of the calipers the bolts that hold them to the bracket have a long skinny rod that pokes through but on the photos is shows some extra cap or cover thing. Mine didnt have them. I presume the calipers may have been taken off during the partial resto in the USA but not put back on properly after and the parts are missing. Would anyone have a photo of the front disc bolts or assembly pieces needed. 

Cheers

Steve
Hi from a fellow N. Z.'er ( now Aussi ) I had a similar problem with these plates all bent out of shape.  You can get what I recall is known as a " disc brake re-build kit ". It will ( should ) have the two cover plates plus all new bolts, the rubber anti - rattle grommets and some other bits I can't remember. It's not expensive and will give you all new stuff.  Try that Mustang Centre in Ch. Ch. ( used to be in Auck but sold out to these guys ) I have a September  Petrolhead  mag which has a 'phone number of 03 3813 289. 

If you don't have any success, come back and I'll point you to a couple of Aussi suppliers with stock code numbers, prices etc.

Good work on this job of yours.  Nearly as challenging as Fabrice.

PKJ
Cheers mate

I had only priced one part (trunk drop panel) previously through the CHCH crowd but for a $14 USD part they wanted $100 nzd plus freight so got it sent to a colleagues hotel  in the US and he chucked it in his suitcase. I'll price the kit from there but I see Hemikiller has posted some links to Rock Auto so I'll see what the US prices are. Thanks for replying to my post. Yep first car project do am floundering a bit trying to get it ready and complied before Beach Hop end of March. Hopefully engine startup end of this week. Cheers Steve
Absolutely  - do your homework.  For your info: Brisbane source has price of AU $ 99.00 for two complete sets ( both sides ) but " no stock " at this time.  Could change tomorrow if next container arrives.  Sydney supplier has price of AU $39.15 per side but no image to check components although he does include a Ford part number.  Both call them " disc brake hardware kit ".

Understand the US prices versus arrival at your door.  I allow factor of 3 ( US $100 = AU $300 ) by the time I get it.  AU $ + postage may help ?

All the best.

PKJ

 
Have just ordered the kit and two sets of bolts from Rock Auto for only $33 usd (includes postage) so that's awesome. Hemi Killer was correct the freight was only $9.99

I do have the old bolts but as new ones were only $2.50 a set and have the fresh loc tite on them.

Thanks so much guys. I had been searching the replacement parts on CJ Pony but wsa having no luck. 

Cheers

Steve

 
Here is a pic with that shield on an actual caliper.

Just curious... did you have any braking issues when you didnt have that shield on place? Like dragging brake pads or similar.

Only reason I ask is that I'm redoing my brakes and in looking at the how the caliper operates it seems like that shield is really a necessary part of the whole caliper.

As the piston pushes the brake shoe against the rotor, you can see the shield flex so that when the piston retracts, the brake shoe is pulled away from the rotor. Granted the slide pins are lubed properly to allow that movement to happen smoothly.

20181025_154557.jpg

Here are the caliper pins and rubber insulators.

Brakes_2.jpg

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi Stevo.

No the car was just a rolling shell. Dash in but no motor. Old rotors and brake calipers were on but when I had to replace the whole front assembly I just unbolted the calipers without paying attention as the rubber boot things (what you circled) were missing and the bolts were caked in grease and brake dust. I just noticed one of the shields wasn't on one of the calipers. They had all the clips on though.

Cheers

Steve

 
Hi Steve

Looks like you have already ordered your caliper parts. I had mine rebuilt by a Perth brake rebuilder and they are the same parts as our local Falcon XY/XA with the Kelsey Hays calipers. Disc pads and rotors also same but some disc rotors come with the earlier falcon bearing cups but you just knock these out and install XA falcon ones.

 
Hi Steve

Looks like you have already ordered your caliper parts. I had mine rebuilt by a Perth brake rebuilder and they are the same parts as our local Falcon XY/XA with the Kelsey Hays calipers. Disc pads and rotors also same but some disc rotors come with the earlier falcon bearing cups but you just knock these out and install XA falcon ones.
Hi

Yes the complete set is way cheaper from the US even with our low $$ than buying even Aussie falcon parts here. 

I was given a set of new XA rotors as the owner had tried them on his 60s mustang and they didn't fit. I checked them against my old rotors and took them to a bearings wholesale company who measured everything and supplied the new bearings. I have put them on the car recently,however the split pin would not fit when the stainless cover went over the nut. They would just fit without this cover/keeper. The calipers were a tight squeeze to fit too and I had to rubber mallet them onto the disc so I am a little worried when the rubber grommets/covers are added if they will still fit. I had the nuts machined down slightly so the split pin would fit with the stainless keeper attached.

 
Are the savings from "free" rotors worth taking risks by modifying brake system parts to use them? Risks of damaging your car, or more importantly damaging yourself?

 
When I got my 73 vert the PO had put new brake pads and shoes on but parked it for 17 years. So I took all apart and rebuilt the calipers and ordered one of the kits that gives you new pins, clips, boots for guide pins, the metal shield and new screws for it. The only issue I had was that they sent metric bolts so I used the old ones. I just ordered off ebay. Parts house had them but like double the cost.

Like some have stated I would not alter any of the brake system. Ford did not put anything on a vehicle that did not have a function or need. The would beat us up over pennies on parts as a supplier.





 
Hi guys. As mentioned I took the rotors to a bearing specialist who took all the measurements and they were the same size and took the identical bearings The new Mustang calipers from the USA not the Aussie falcon ones. The calipers do fit but are tight due to new pads. And I've ordered the new kit from the US as well. If the calipers won't fit with the new rubber boots kit it will be new rotors.

 
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