dusterdemon
Well-Known Member
Does anyone know of a source for stainless pistons for Kelsey Hayes calipers? (71 Demon) Thanks Warren
Kelsey Hayes Stainless Pistons?
- Thread starter dusterdemon
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None that I know of and I've looked. I'm $ure you could get $ome made.
Kendog 170
Let the boy go !
I couldn't find any.
Do Mustang KH have the same pistons and calipers?
1967 Ford Fairlane / Falcon Brake Caliper Rebuild kit w/ pistons (x2) | eBay
Do Mustang KH have the same pistons and calipers?
1967 Ford Fairlane / Falcon Brake Caliper Rebuild kit w/ pistons (x2) | eBay
they do. BUT, iirc, there are two different height pistons. early & late, i think.I couldn't find any.
Do Mustang KH have the same pistons and calipers?
1967 Ford Fairlane / Falcon Brake Caliper Rebuild kit w/ pistons (x2) | eBay
ETA: to clarify, the pistons are the same
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Not exactly, but close. The brake hoses attach differently, but I believe they use the same pistons.I couldn't find any.
Do Mustang KH have the same pistons and calipers?
1967 Ford Fairlane / Falcon Brake Caliper Rebuild kit w/ pistons (x2) | eBay
I was not aware of that, please elaborate.
Mustang calipers have the brake hose attach directly into the body of the caliper.
KH Mopar calipers, the brake hose attaches to a metal brake line.
KH Mopar calipers, the brake hose attaches to a metal brake line.
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Now as far as caliper pistons goes, let me give a bit of explanation here if i may.
I have been rebuilding these Kelsey Hayes, 4 piston calipers for probably 20+ years now, so i have seen it all.
I would say depending on who you purchase replacement pistons from, and who they are made by, 90% of them are going to be the same height, no matter what.
But in my years i have seen some pistons that are smaller in height, and once i ran across two new pistons that were somewhat taller in height.
I knew that when i was putting a pair of calipers back together during my rebuilding.
I put those two into one side of the caliper body.
Didn't think anything more about it.
Sold that rebuilt set up, here on this forum, and the guy that i sold it to, got back with me saying he couldn't get the caliper over the rotor.
Well, with me thinking about it, new pistons, new pads, new rotors, all probably made to different tolerances and specifications.
Told him to get some 80 grit sandpaper and sand down that pad side on a flat surface till he could get the caliper onto the new rotor.
Worked well, telling me he got everything back together.
Just something to tell you about in the way of pistons.
And Mopar, and Ford Kelsey Hayes calipers do use the same pistons.
So if you want to buy replacement pistons from a Ford vendor, if the price is right, go for it.
I have in the past.
BUT, let me edit this here a bit if i may.
Official 1965 Kelsey Hayes, Ford or Mopar calipers are different internally, in how they use pistons, and then the seal kit.
They have a different machined piston to accept a different piston seal kit.
So pistons, and then rebuild kits, are unique to that year.
Jim V.
hemi71x
I have been rebuilding these Kelsey Hayes, 4 piston calipers for probably 20+ years now, so i have seen it all.
I would say depending on who you purchase replacement pistons from, and who they are made by, 90% of them are going to be the same height, no matter what.
But in my years i have seen some pistons that are smaller in height, and once i ran across two new pistons that were somewhat taller in height.
I knew that when i was putting a pair of calipers back together during my rebuilding.
I put those two into one side of the caliper body.
Didn't think anything more about it.
Sold that rebuilt set up, here on this forum, and the guy that i sold it to, got back with me saying he couldn't get the caliper over the rotor.
Well, with me thinking about it, new pistons, new pads, new rotors, all probably made to different tolerances and specifications.
Told him to get some 80 grit sandpaper and sand down that pad side on a flat surface till he could get the caliper onto the new rotor.
Worked well, telling me he got everything back together.
Just something to tell you about in the way of pistons.
And Mopar, and Ford Kelsey Hayes calipers do use the same pistons.
So if you want to buy replacement pistons from a Ford vendor, if the price is right, go for it.
I have in the past.
BUT, let me edit this here a bit if i may.
Official 1965 Kelsey Hayes, Ford or Mopar calipers are different internally, in how they use pistons, and then the seal kit.
They have a different machined piston to accept a different piston seal kit.
So pistons, and then rebuild kits, are unique to that year.
Jim V.
hemi71x
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I have NEVER heard of, or seen stainless steel pistons for these Kelsey Hayes calipers.
Maybe they are manufactured, maybe not, but i just don't know.
May i ask why, stainless steel pistons are of importance to you, other than the standard metal quality?
Firstblood
Well-Known Member
My 65 Dart had Kelsey Hayes disc upgrade when I bought it, calipers were shot but the 8 pistons are stainless steel.
I bought replacement cardone/ Kelsey Hayes calipers and was going to put the stainless pistons in but they were a few thousands smaller than what was in the new calipers.
So, I left the steel ones in.
SSBC brakes makes new Kelsey Hayes calipers from original prints.
They also have stainless pistons option, but I don't see them listed separate on their site.
Maybe call and see if they sell just the pistons.
I bought replacement cardone/ Kelsey Hayes calipers and was going to put the stainless pistons in but they were a few thousands smaller than what was in the new calipers.
So, I left the steel ones in.
SSBC brakes makes new Kelsey Hayes calipers from original prints.
They also have stainless pistons option, but I don't see them listed separate on their site.
Maybe call and see if they sell just the pistons.
If you officially had 1965 year Kelsey Hayes calipers, you wouldn't have been able to use those pistons in a newer year caliper body anyway.
The piston bores are machined differently to accept the piston seal.
Kelsey Hayes got smart after 65, in simplifying up the manufacturing, machining process, of those calipers.
Firstblood
Well-Known Member
I believe the donor for my front brakes were from a 70-72 dart.
Mattax
Just the facts, ma'am
Someone was making and selling st st pistons. I bought a set of calipers with them already installed but the pistons alone were available from several retailers. This was around 2014.
The advantage was (for me) the only times a caliper would hang up was when a piston got rusty. I try to change fluid every spring but it still would happen to one now and then, so that's why I went for them. I think I still have a couple of chrome plated pistons from NAPA.
The advantage was (for me) the only times a caliper would hang up was when a piston got rusty. I try to change fluid every spring but it still would happen to one now and then, so that's why I went for them. I think I still have a couple of chrome plated pistons from NAPA.
Ok.
Then you would have been able to swap pistons around.
Question...
I recall my dad saying one time the KH had a design flaw. Iirc the piston o ring was on the piston which allowed the cyl wall to get corroded if the seal leaked. Vs if the o ring was in the bore the cyl wall it would be protected and the piston would be the first thing to get corroded but it's replaceable.
An I remembering this correctly?
Secondly, there was a company in Florida IIRC that used to sleeve KH calipers with SS sleeves.
4spdragtop
Well-Known Member
Pistons have to be pit free/smooth. Pits on cyl wall are ok. Seals are in cylinders.
scatpackbee
Well-Known Member
I bought a set of SSBC stainless steel pistons from Jegs about 15 years ago.
If I remember correctly they are the shorter 1965-1966 style Mustang pistons
The Mopar calipers come with the taller 1967 Mustang height style pistons.
Either height pistons will work in the Mopar Kelsey Hayes calipers.
In fact, Roger's A Body Garage on YouTube claims that some original Mopar calipers that he’s taken apart have both short and long pistons installed in the calipers.
He talks about it at 10:30 into the video.
Below is applicable to Mustang calipers.
If I remember correctly they are the shorter 1965-1966 style Mustang pistons
The Mopar calipers come with the taller 1967 Mustang height style pistons.
Either height pistons will work in the Mopar Kelsey Hayes calipers.
In fact, Roger's A Body Garage on YouTube claims that some original Mopar calipers that he’s taken apart have both short and long pistons installed in the calipers.
He talks about it at 10:30 into the video.
Below is applicable to Mustang calipers.
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If you do find a vendor for stainless steel pistons, what do you think your gonna be paying, dollar wise, for each one?
$20.00 $$$$$ bucks, or so, each one?
Your gonna have some money invested in a pair of KH calipers.
Then there's rebuild kits, but those aren't expensive to buy.
Good luck, hope it works out well for you.
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