Wilwood caliper D52

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

78454

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2023
Posts
9
Reaction score
14
Location
california
First Name
Jess
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
Bonanza C20
Engine Size
454
Hello, I’m new to this form and joined because I’m having issues with my new Wilwood D52 “direct bolt on” calipers.

Here’s the issue. The calipers fit with the rotor and the pads off the truck/ spindle. However, with the rotor and the pads on nothing lines up. If I leave the rotor on without the pads the caliper will bolt in place.
So now I’m thinking of cutting or shaving the spindle to make more room for the brake pads.

Has anyone had this issue? I’m kind of uncomfortable with cutting the stock spindles. If not I guess I might just put the stock calipers back on.
 

Attachments

  • 91647D64-0894-405E-9F5B-688374A7E88F.jpeg
    91647D64-0894-405E-9F5B-688374A7E88F.jpeg
    85.9 KB · Views: 90
  • 76FF2474-4C98-4340-A2A5-396FCDAD7801.jpeg
    76FF2474-4C98-4340-A2A5-396FCDAD7801.jpeg
    108.1 KB · Views: 82
  • 47DCE1B3-B28A-4450-9ADF-01272DF496CF.jpeg
    47DCE1B3-B28A-4450-9ADF-01272DF496CF.jpeg
    122.7 KB · Views: 92

Radiohead

That guy on the Columbia
Joined
Mar 17, 2022
Posts
2,480
Reaction score
8,092
Location
Low Earth Orbit where it's safer
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
MCMLXXIX
Truck Model
C-20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
454 crazy cubes, or 7.4 luscious litres
Have you shown any of this to Wilwood for their opinion? Because that's who I would be asking first.
 

SirRobyn0

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Posts
6,755
Reaction score
11,402
Location
In the woods in Western Washington
First Name
Rob
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
305
Call Wilwood's support. FYI, we did our last Wilwood conversion about 2 years ago on a 66 Barracuda and it will be our last. To many fitment issues, not just that vehicle but others we had done previously, all of them were a pain in the neck. No I would not shave the spindles either I would be totally uncomfortable with that.
 

78454

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2023
Posts
9
Reaction score
14
Location
california
First Name
Jess
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
Bonanza C20
Engine Size
454
Yes I called wilwood tech support and sent them a video. All they said is “it should fit”
 

SquareRoot

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2017
Posts
4,187
Reaction score
8,003
Location
Arizona
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
85
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Usually an LS swap is the answer, but hold off on that for now. Are your spindles stock? Are there left/right side specific calipers and/or brake pads?
 

78454

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2023
Posts
9
Reaction score
14
Location
california
First Name
Jess
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
Bonanza C20
Engine Size
454
Yes, stock spindles and the rotors are left and right. The wilwood calipers are universal sides. Can be used on both sides
 

SirRobyn0

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Posts
6,755
Reaction score
11,402
Location
In the woods in Western Washington
First Name
Rob
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
305
Yes I called wilwood tech support and sent them a video. All they said is “it should fit”
I was hoping you'd have better luck with their support than we did at the shop... I agree with @Radiohead I'd return them, but I've let them waste far to much of my time.
 

Radiohead

That guy on the Columbia
Joined
Mar 17, 2022
Posts
2,480
Reaction score
8,092
Location
Low Earth Orbit where it's safer
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
MCMLXXIX
Truck Model
C-20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
454 crazy cubes, or 7.4 luscious litres
Yes, stock spindles and the rotors are left and right. The wilwood calipers are universal sides. Can be used on both sides
Ahh, another example of universal fit.

Fits nothing in this universe.
 

Radiohead

That guy on the Columbia
Joined
Mar 17, 2022
Posts
2,480
Reaction score
8,092
Location
Low Earth Orbit where it's safer
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
MCMLXXIX
Truck Model
C-20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
454 crazy cubes, or 7.4 luscious litres
Hey Jess, is this really what I see? Does the bolt hole misalignment not allow the pin to go in all the way?
You must be registered for see images attach
 

78454

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2023
Posts
9
Reaction score
14
Location
california
First Name
Jess
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
Bonanza C20
Engine Size
454
That’s right! And the lower bolt won’t fit at all.
 

Radiohead

That guy on the Columbia
Joined
Mar 17, 2022
Posts
2,480
Reaction score
8,092
Location
Low Earth Orbit where it's safer
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
MCMLXXIX
Truck Model
C-20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
454 crazy cubes, or 7.4 luscious litres
Quality control must be on break that day.

I wondered if that powder coating was too thick somewhere. Are the rubber bushings seated properly in their grooves?

I ask, because it seems really hard to screw up a square body caliper. Is this a single pot caliper? I ask because brother put two pot calipers from wilwood on and I never heard a complaint yet. Not to say that a defect casting didn't made it all the way out, post covid everything is a gamble in the quality department.

However, be nice to them and see if they will warranty it or just flat refund you.
 

78454

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2023
Posts
9
Reaction score
14
Location
california
First Name
Jess
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
Bonanza C20
Engine Size
454
Here’s the caliper bolted. Do you think the pad is getting held up on the spindle with the brake pad?
 

Attachments

  • 4865B2B0-533A-463E-983C-800CDFA2D88E.jpeg
    4865B2B0-533A-463E-983C-800CDFA2D88E.jpeg
    155.3 KB · Views: 80
  • FC56B251-E74C-47AF-A0AB-25EFF53725A0.jpeg
    FC56B251-E74C-47AF-A0AB-25EFF53725A0.jpeg
    137.6 KB · Views: 79
  • D803D23D-225C-4D92-8494-A093A4E5D4BB.jpeg
    D803D23D-225C-4D92-8494-A093A4E5D4BB.jpeg
    100 KB · Views: 75

Redfish

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2021
Posts
2,626
Reaction score
14,188
Location
Prairieville, LA
First Name
Andrew
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V1500
Engine Size
350/5.7
What rotors are those? That is definitely not a factory rotor setup, did those come as a package from Wilwood? The rotors could be your whole problem.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
44,081
Posts
949,006
Members
36,158
Latest member
nobodyawesome
Top