grinding brake calipers?

**ae10** · 16-12-2007, 02:43 PM

hi all,
i recently bought some new wheels for my 91 GT4 celica and they don't quite clear the front brakes. the wheels foul on that support plate thingy on the calipers. the wheel will turn, but is tight and catches in places. i only need about a mm more clearance at the most. how much, if any, material can i safely remove from the caliper support/anchor plate? if it is ok to remove some how should i do it? simply angle grind it down, slow and steady with a file...or some other way?

cheers

**Cuzzo** · 16-12-2007, 03:25 PM

just remember, things expand when they heat up. So you may need more than 1mm to clear

.

id advise to get other wheels. Spacers ftl.

**Duk** · 16-12-2007, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by cuzzo

just remember, things expand when they heat up. So you may need more than 1mm to clear

.

id advise to get other wheels. Spacers ftl.

I'd be more concerend with the rim flexing than having that much expansion from heat.

**EldarO** · 16-12-2007, 05:40 PM

lol @ pic.

**Grega** · 16-12-2007, 08:40 PM

different wheels FTW.
no way in hell would i be grinding calipers to suit new wheels, no chance.

**Sam_Q** · 17-12-2007, 12:04 AM

how much do you think you may need to remove if you end up with 1mm of clearence?

**oldcorollas** · 17-12-2007, 12:44 AM

Originally Posted by EldarO

lol @ pic.

Elmo, you are retarded.

the piece the arrow is pointing to has a purpose. the frame itself holds the brake pads. the brake pads slow the car. that frame has to withstand the entire braking force of the car..

ie.. deceleration of car goes from road, to tyres, to rims, to brake disc, to pads, to that frame, and from that frame to the strut...

you might be able to get away with it, but the potential probelms if you don't get away with it (ie, fatality), are serious.

as much as i hate to say it, you would be beter off with a 1mm or 2mm spacer to give you brake clearance.
combined with that, a locater ring to locate the rim on the hub will help to maintain integrity a little..
of course the answer is to get different wheels with a design that allows space for the calipers.... (the GT4 doesn't have 4 pots>??)

expansion and rim flex are not anywhere near as large a movement as the movement allowed by the bearing.

**Sam_Q** · 17-12-2007, 12:52 AM

I tottaly agree, I just wanted to find out how much he needed before I commented

**oldcorollas** · 17-12-2007, 01:05 AM

he mentioned"the wheel will turn, but is tight and catches in places. " so i figured it was basically fark all...

hmm... you could remove casting dags on the caliper part (ie, flash from the joining of mold halves from casting).. but i would not go removing any of the meat...

**Sam_Q** · 17-12-2007, 01:12 AM

Well on my pad support bracket the metal was an uneven shape and I did give it a once over with a flapper wheel before installing them. Depending on how much it "catches in some places" I really dont see the problem giving it a once over. But as you said corollas, dont take any serious amount off. I not beleive making the part that touches the wheel a little more flat will hurt it structually.

**EldarO** · 17-12-2007, 02:06 AM

Originally Posted by oldcorollas

Elmo, you are retarded.

i know this, thank you Mr. big important internet celebrity.

i was commenting on the size of the picture, nothing even remotely related to you, or anything technical.

hold up, let me move aside for your disproportionally large ego to walk past, oh great metallurgist man.

ok, now that you've had your little piss and moan, either take your issue with me to PM, or lighten up, and realise some of us like to have some fun.