Need advise on what to do here.
Printed From: West Coast Fieros
Category: Technical Topics Forum
Forum Name: Technical Questions and Discussions
Forum Description: Got a technical question about your fiero? ask it here.
URL: http://www.westcoastfieros.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=647
Printed Date: 22 April 2025 at 9:01pm
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Topic: Need advise on what to do here.
Posted By: kawana
Subject: Need advise on what to do here.
Date Posted: 26 May 2008 at 5:35pm
| Basically whats going on is that im buying new calipers and pads. I went to lordco and got some replacements, they were identical to my original calipers. Now, one of them had a defective bleeder valve and ever since i returned that one, i cant find one that is the same. Every place i go to gives me calipers that are not like the originals i had, but they all show me the same type. So im thinking the originals i had were the ones that were different. Is it possible they are 88 calipers? Can someone post multi-angle pictures of 87 and 88 calipers (whichever you have)... Im quite peeved right now lol.. one big headache. |
Replies:
Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 26 May 2008 at 7:25pm
|
88 calipers will ONLY fit on an '88. You can tell if someone swapped in an '88 cradle though. Looking at the drivers side straight on: Is the caliper on the left or right side (front or back) of the wheel? Early cars are at the front (left), 88's are on the rear (right). If you had an E-brake, nobody did the Grand-Am swap. If you got really lucky and someone did a Caddy or Lebaron swap... that's a whole new can of worms. |
Posted By: kawana
Date Posted: 26 May 2008 at 10:06pm
looks to be the 87 calipers, the drivers side rear is towards the front of the vehicle, heres some pics if it helps figure things out.   
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Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 27 May 2008 at 6:04am
|
Yup, thats an 87 caliper. Less the ebrake bracket. I'm not sure what the problem is??? |
Posted By: kawana
Date Posted: 27 May 2008 at 10:43am
| basically whats going on is that these are the same as my old ones, the new pads are the same as the old ones. The new pads and this caliper fit together perfectly. Now.. the problem is that with the new calipers ive been shown, the notches on the piston are not straight up and down, they are slightly angled to one side, which makes the pads not go in straight, so one side grinds against the side. When i asked, lordco said the pistons were rebuilt (which i assume is normal, given the age of our cars??), so i figured the piston was installed wrong (also, the piston did not retract when i hand turned the ebrake leaver.), problem is that i ordered one in at napa and it too had the piston on an angle. I have one more coming in to lordco, so im hoping this one isn't angled as well. I want to drive my car so bad lol :( |
Posted By: Roadfury
Date Posted: 28 May 2008 at 7:43am
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The two calipers are different, theirs a leftside caliper and right side caliper. different part numbers. is that the problem? ------------- 
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Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 28 May 2008 at 8:28am
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Ok... you know that the pistons rotate right???? There's a tool you get that turns the piston, that retracts it inwards. (the cheap one is a little silver cube with assorted pins sticking out) The Ebrake lever only pushes it out. You twist the piston in (though it should be in all the way already unless you moved the lever), then straighten up the notches so they point north/south. The pins on the backside of the pad then lock into those grooves. |
Posted By: kawana
Date Posted: 28 May 2008 at 10:47am
| ya i figured out that the piston rotates, where do i get this tool? Whats it called exactly? Could i just use some needle nose pliers to turn it? |
Posted By: kawana
Date Posted: 28 May 2008 at 1:13pm
| AH you gotta be kidding me... I just installed the new caliper, all fit fine. I go to hook up the hydolic line and the threads stripped like it was nothing, barely had it past finger tight. Im so sick of lordco at this point, im going somewhere else for the next one i think.. frig. |
Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 28 May 2008 at 1:52pm
|
DOH!! Yeah, had stripped threads on a lot of 'em. The aluminum is really soft, and after 25yrs they just give up. Go for one more... at least you know what you're looking for in a right/wrong part now! :) |
Posted By: kawana
Date Posted: 28 May 2008 at 3:16pm
| ya lol :P I gave up on lordco. I found a nice place called all-parts. At lorco i get a 30% RCMP discount through my dad, but the funny thing is that i paid $10 LESS at all-parts with no discount :P Gunna be here tomorrow at 10. Thing i hate the most is that i gotta wait till the following day each time i need to order a new caliper, so much wasted time :( |
Posted By: Capt Fiero
Date Posted: 28 May 2008 at 9:44pm
|
Yep All Parts Auto and Performance use to deal with them when I lived in Abby. Were not always chipper counter people but I usually got what I needed.
As for Lordco Pricing, they play that up really well, Telling everyone what a smoking deal you are getting. Unless I am personally Friends with the person behind the counter, I always call and get a 2nd quote from Napa and Performance Center in Langley. If it is a real high performance parts, I will call Mopac. For the record our "Napa" account usually has a discount 30% less than the club cost at Lordco. Now if I a friend at Lordco, they usually are able to go bag and beat Napa. So it leave room to wonder what or how Lordco deals there price to there customers. I use to work in the parts business, and at our shop, we could sell parts at 75% off of our asking price and still make money. ------------- Capt Fiero 88 Fiero GT 5spd V6 Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd. |