Shaving LS400 BBK Caliper Questions
03-14-21, 01:26 PM
#1
Driver School Candidate
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Shaving LS400 BBK Caliper Questions
First, I know they are not to be shaved so please don't preach. Working on an SC430 that had LS400 calipers swapped on. The idiot chose to grind down the caliper to clear the tie rod nut. I bought the car, added RCA's to clear the calipers. Don't think he ground down enough to ruin the calipers so hoping for the best there.
My issue now, with 15mm spacers, I clear the spokes by less than a credit card. It clears, but it's a Bee's d*ck worth of space in there.
I am not adding a 3mm spacer on top of the 15mm, nor will I jump up to 20mm spacers. Wheels are already out as far as I can take it with the 15mm's. Closest contact point is the leading edge of the beauty hump on the face of the calipers as the spokes taper in towards the hubs. My question is this.
How much clearance would be safe? We plan to clean up and repaint the calipers when we know we are good. My thought is to just lightly shave down the beauty hump's leading edge, remove previous paint job that is globbed on them, then lightly shave/taper the beauty humps to gain some clearance. Would not remove the humps, just smooth out that leading edge a little so I have 1mm-1.5mm of light showing between the caliper and spokes. I know it is frowned upon, but I am talking about very little material being removed. I've seen the calipers sanded down and polished before and imagine that process takes off about as much material as I am considering doing. 1mm spacers are not an option so it is take a tad off the calipers, or even the back of the spokes, which I don't want to do to new wheels! Thoughts?
My issue now, with 15mm spacers, I clear the spokes by less than a credit card. It clears, but it's a Bee's d*ck worth of space in there.
I am not adding a 3mm spacer on top of the 15mm, nor will I jump up to 20mm spacers. Wheels are already out as far as I can take it with the 15mm's. Closest contact point is the leading edge of the beauty hump on the face of the calipers as the spokes taper in towards the hubs. My question is this.
How much clearance would be safe? We plan to clean up and repaint the calipers when we know we are good. My thought is to just lightly shave down the beauty hump's leading edge, remove previous paint job that is globbed on them, then lightly shave/taper the beauty humps to gain some clearance. Would not remove the humps, just smooth out that leading edge a little so I have 1mm-1.5mm of light showing between the caliper and spokes. I know it is frowned upon, but I am talking about very little material being removed. I've seen the calipers sanded down and polished before and imagine that process takes off about as much material as I am considering doing. 1mm spacers are not an option so it is take a tad off the calipers, or even the back of the spokes, which I don't want to do to new wheels! Thoughts?
03-17-21, 12:43 PM
#2
haha this brings be back to when i tried squeezing these 20s on my LS.
i was able to run these wheel and could NOT slip 2 sheets of paper between the caliper and rim, however 1 sheet did clear and it was perfectly fine to run on! sounds crazy but it was fine as you can see (no rub marks on the caliper)!
keep in mind that while test fitting it seems like a paper will not clear. you have to fully seat the wheel to the hub by fully tightening the lugs, all of them. then you can test for clearance as i have outlined.
you can shave down the calipers to an extent but go too deep and you can open the internal cavities and cause leaks which is obviously dangerous. i don't know how deep it too deep so be careful if you go that route.
i was able to run these wheel and could NOT slip 2 sheets of paper between the caliper and rim, however 1 sheet did clear and it was perfectly fine to run on! sounds crazy but it was fine as you can see (no rub marks on the caliper)!
keep in mind that while test fitting it seems like a paper will not clear. you have to fully seat the wheel to the hub by fully tightening the lugs, all of them. then you can test for clearance as i have outlined.
you can shave down the calipers to an extent but go too deep and you can open the internal cavities and cause leaks which is obviously dangerous. i don't know how deep it too deep so be careful if you go that route.
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