Hi All,

Many years ago (2005) I bought a pair of reconditioned callipers from Ellistons (kit-parts.co.uk). On the basis that they were best kept wrapped up, I left them alone in the box, having given them a quick look over. I fitted one a while ago to sort out brake lines and have just gone to fit the other............

It doesn't fit.

On inspection, I have different calipers. When you offer it up to the mounts, it fouls on the disk and has Type 16 stamped on it...... This one almost looks like it is 2 made from halves from different calipers!

Here are some pictures to illustrate. As Ellistons seem to be no more (for many years), is there an 'easy' way to fix this issue or have I got to fork out for a new calliper/callipers

[img]
front [/img]
[img]
back] [/img]
[img]
fouls2 [/img]
[img]
fouls [/img]

[Edited on 24/10/14 by JC]

Referring to your bottom pic -

[img]
fouls [/img]

Unless the view is distorted by parallax effects, that old Girling(?) caliper seems to have been damaged. The outer half appears to be inclined inwards to the inner half. Moreover, there is a pad (or something) pre-fitted into the caliper, on the one side. Have you tried fitting caliper with no pads fitted?

It doesn't have any pads fitted

It really looks like 2 halfs of different calipers, the more I look at it

As you say, it doesn't seem to want to sit square...

Much tho' I hate to say it I think you would be best to give up on the 2nd caliper & obtain a replacement, it definitely looks like 2 halves of different spec calipers, & seems inclined at an angle which is never going to give square contact of the piston to pad &/or pad to disc - it looks a total botch TBH. You also have no easy way of telling without applying either fluid pressure or compressed air, whether the holes between one caliper half & the other line up correctly hydraulically!

If you already have the hoses for these & they are m10 x 1.0 threads (Cortina was also available in 3/8 x 24 up to around '85) make sure the new caliper has the same thread as existing or you will be into a replacement hose too!

2 basic types of 16 series callipers, P16 and M16, P being imperial brake fittings and imperial bolts, and the M being all metric, they were in production for about 30 years, so you can expect to find slight differences, they were used by many car makers, not only ford, the callipers should have 16 on them, the variations that I have come across over the years being early disc braked Fords, certainly used a smaller calliper designated the P14. these wont fit later brackets, The other designation I know of is the M18, found on Mk1 & 2 Granadas, vented and non vented, these will bolt onto Cortina and escort stub axles, they share the same piston size as the 16 series but have the huge advantage bigger pads, which are about the same pad CSA as the venerable princess caliper.
Should you have metric callipers, and Imperial struts, Landrover use conversion bolts to make the swap possible.

Thanks Ian for the info. I guess i will have to replace it with something - I'm not optimistic about it being accepted as an exchange item against another reconditioned caliper either! It might make a nice office desk ornament....

http://www.biggred.co.uk/

OK, so more curiousness.....

I tried swapping the calipers between the sides - fitting them upside down. Both calipers fit the drivers side, neither fit the passenger side. So, I swapped the hubs and disks over, same result, both fit drivers side, neither fit passenger side.

Is it possible that the (reconditioned) upright is distorted??!