GSF Brake Calipers left to right conversion

GSF have calipers against which I can return the old ones for a refund, but they only have left hand ones remaining.
Can I buy 2 left's and rotate the piston in one to make a right hand one? Or is there more to it than that.

https://www.gsfcarparts.com/za002521

 

The caliper fixing holes at the top and bottom are for different bolts AFAIR. Shoulder bolt in one, threaded bolt in the other, so they are handed.

No.

I believe that distinction doesnt apply to late Brazilian buses, where the calipers are not handed in that way to save money I suppose. This adds to confusion/risk of buying the wrong part when buying calipers in a hurry. Thats why you can find (one big/one small) Left, (one small/one big) Right and Brazilian (two small holes)..

(I didnt bother with exchange, I just bought the single caliper I needed from somebody who had the correct handed part when I knackered one)

 

Thanks @mikedjames.
Ah, yes now you mention it one bolt is shanked nd one threaded.
Just weighing up against refurbished, as seals/piston and expoxy paint adds up.

 

There are many other sellers of reasonably priced calipers.

 

Darn! Just checked the 2 I was keeping to refurb and they're both left ones, thought I had a pair.

 

When push comes to shove, if they have 2x bleed nipples you could fit a left on the right and I doubt you'd ever know the difference. I suspect plenty people have done exactly that.

 

I had always assumed that was the purpose of the two bleed nipples. Were the old calipers handed? Don't think they were.

 

The bolt holes are slightly different sizes, but otherwise the bleed nipples are symmetrical.
I expect somebody with a milling machine or a meaty pillar drill could clearance for the shoulder bolt and convert one to "universal".
I wouldnt swap over to just two high tensile bolts because..
The shoulder bolt works better to stop it moving about as you brake and elastically stretch the bolt as the caliper leans on the bolt. The threaded bolt in the same hole would be able to move around more.
Both bolts also clamp it in place.
The shoulder bolt is the functional ancestor of the sliding pins in a modern brake caliper.

 

Swap bolt positions, they are the same thread.

 

Think I’d be inclined just to buy the correct ones . They wouldn’t be listed as handed if identical

 

I lent @CollyP an offside caliper which we fitted to the near side , single bleed screw so bled off the van and popped it on . Worked fine until he bought a pair from GSF for the bargainous sum of 50 quid a side so replaced both ....

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

From memory, the top one's a proper bolt with a solid/dowel section to take the braking force. The bottom one's just a set screw, as I recall.

 

With the appropriate holes in the caliper, the steering knuckle won't care. My reasoning is one tight fitting bolt because two would likely cause tolerance alignment issues but does it really matter which one? I would not use two set screws though for obvious reasons.

 

Top bolt takes all the force as the caliper wants to rotate anticlockwise when you put the brakes on.

 

Did @Lasty handle your nipples? Be honest. These things happen.

 

What happens in the shed stays in the shed ....


Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

It was a single nipple and sided for an offside fitment meaning when it was fitted the nipple was at the bottom and couldn't be bled so we bled it first then bolted the caliper into place . Obviously not perfect but your caliper was seized and something had to go on there otherwise it would have been still down the shed .
If you're stuck in the desert etc etc etc ...

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

There you go ...
These are the ones @CollyP bought , no offside listed but certainly not 120 quid . There are two types fitted to bays , Bendix and Lockheed.(?) You need to know what caliper you have and these are the most common...


EDIT ... they have offside fitment listed

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

ATE and Girling originally