Looking to set up my track roadster with a pair of twin-spot Halibrand calipers up front and a pair of single-spot out back. Have enough stuff on hand now (thanks @couverkid!) to ***emble a decent pair of single spot calipers but looking for some info, etc. from those who have run these on the street. Looks like I have two pairs of different generation caliper components, so we'll start with the pics... Here are the two pairs of caliper housings I have on hand. The "aluminum" pair seem to be the most complete as they have the pistons, "backing plates", etc. A closer look at the "backing plates" and there seems to be a split bushing of some sort in addition to the sealing o-ring. Any idea to its purpose? The other set of piston ***emblies have the later "self biased and seal retainer for disc brakes" as evident on Ted Halibrand's 1964 Patent (#3,155,200). I'm thinking the later, spring-loaded, self-biased style would be best for the street but am looking for any advice based on real-world experience. Physically, they're nearly identical as far as height and bore is concerned... So, who has run these on the streets and what style piston ***embly did you use? How was the performance? Still looking for a set of rotors/hubs and a pair of two-spot calipers. Who's holding? Thanks!
The one thing I noticed are the words stamped on item 16, the cap that keeps the brake fluid in. You can see Airheart ******xsts Inc., maybe Airheart Machinists Inc? I don’t know anything about Halibrand calipers but apparently they had some influence there before they started producing their own calipers branded Airheart.
Any corrosion on the shank of the pistons will be abrasive to the o-rings. If the pistons need replacing I think those are hard coat anodized along with some of the other components as well.
Another consideration will be puck composition, I have Airheart’s on the front of my coupe and the rotors are 3/8” steel with aluminum hubs, PSI stuff from the 1970’s. When I bought the parts either the speed shop ordered the hardest pucks or Airheart just sent those. They were too harsh and ate up the rotors on a road trip to the SR Nationals. New rotors from Gene Scott at PSI and his softer pucks solved that issue. BITD Bell Auto Parts also sold Airheart kits for early Fords. Bell used Meehanite (I think that’s a sophisticated type of cast iron) rotors and I believe Halibrand rotors were Meehanite also.
The one person that can answer any and all questions on these brakes is Warren Gilliland. He was Bill Airheart's protégé. Warren recently retired from his company in Simi Valley, TBM, formerly The Brake Man. They may know how to contact him. That or he is on Facebook often and you may be able to reach him there. He helped me with my Halibrand lobsters and 175-4 when nobody else could. Airheart subcontracted to both Hurst and Halibrand for disc brakes. Good luck !
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