K10 front calipers don't fit back on with new pads

[Spalding]

I have a 85 Chevy K10 I recently put new brake pads in the calipers but now the calipers will not fit back onto the rotor anybody had this problem I got them on but they are so tight that they don't allow the wheel to spin

 

[1973c10]

Welcome aboard

did you push the piston all the way in
will they turn with the wheel on

 

[Spalding]

Yes I even bought new calipers just to see if it's something with the old ones but same problem the wheel will turn they are so tight the roter gets hot and smokes

 

[waynew]

I had this exact same problem, new calipers and pads too. I ended up taking the grinder to the pads to remove a little material. Problem solved. The only other thing I could think of doing was to shop for different pads that were a little thinner.

 

[SirRobyn0]

Well I have run into this at shop before. Is there any possibility you got the wrong pads? Could it already have had the incorrect rotors from a previous install. If u have a way to measure the thickness of the brake rotors start with that. Take that reading to the parts house and tell them what the problem and ask them to bring out any optional pad types, rotors, or calipers. There are only 4 possibilities, pad problem, caliper problem, rotor problem or no offence an installation error. Is this happening on both sides or just on one side?

 

[Spalding]

I thought about grinding them but didn't know if I was just going to ruin the new pads thanks I will take a grinder to them this weekend .

 

[Spalding]

It is happening on both sides

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

Did the new calipers fit even slightly better when you first installed them? If so, it might be worth getting new flexible brake hoses. Bad hoses can act as a check valve or a plug and make any caliper piston either extend and stay that way or have serious issues when you go to retract the piston(s).

 

[bucket]

Still the same rotors as before? 1.25" thick?

Could they be the incorrect calipers? C10's with light duty brakes have 1" thick rotors. The calipers look and bolt up the same as the calipers for 1.25" rotors, just slightly wider obviously.

 

[Spalding]

I got new calipers same problem as old ones I'm thinking the owner before me could have maybe put wrong roters

 

[bedwards]

I had a set on another vehicle that I had to run through a milling machine to get them to fit.

Chinesium

 

[SirRobyn0]

Whatever you do I'd strongly discourage grinding them. Think about this, if you grind the pads, how are you going to get them perfectly flat and level, and unevenness will adversely affect braking possibly to the point of being dangerous. Plus what you'll breath in during the process even if they are asbestos free there's all kinds of heavy metals that are terrible for you to inhale. I've been a mechanic for nearly 25 years and I've never once ground brake pads or machined rotors to make them fit. Remember your safety and the people around you depend on your brakes functioning as they should. Someone else mentioned two different rotor thicknesses, and you say you have the thinker rotors, perhaps that's the issue. If you don't want to talk to the people in the parts store, look it up online at the parts company of your choice.

 

[MrMarty51]

Have the rotors turned.

 

[Spalding]

I'm not going to grind them I put the old brakes back in for now going to look into the calipers

 

[Spalding]

I'm not going to grind them I put the old brakes back in for now going to look into the calipers