Calipers grinding on rims

Hi,
  I would love some advise rebuilding the front suspension of 1989 Caddy with many new parts as pistons etc were seized. Ive ended up with the calipers hitting the rims, when the brakes are applied.

13"steel rims I thought were original

Discs are 236mm ? original size

So question for all you Gurus!!  Should I change the calipers/discs /pads down in size… is that even possible?

Or do I bite the bullet and use 14" rims and waste all the money Ive spent refurbishing my 13" rims with new tyres!!!

Which bit is catching?

Is it the caliper or the bit the brake pads hang on?

I can see a grinding line on the caliper. Is that you doing a bit of clearancing? Is it only when the brakes are applied?

Seems odd. I'd expect them to grind all the time.

I've had to run some 2mm spacers on the front when running 13" wheels on my Derby but the brakes caught all the time and then it was the hanger not the caliper.

Ian

So , it is the caliper castings catching the inside of the rims. you can see how close they are.
Yes I did a little grinding to see if it was just a casting irregularity!!

Very much when brakes are applied only I thought the caliper moves slightly on the slider bolts and then catches rims.

I like the idea of spacers, it could be a simple and cheap solution, but that  small gap will be very prone to stones getting caught?

Also you don't appear to have the anti-squeal springs on them which also limits the up and down chatter of the caliper in the mount, as it also appears that your rubber boots need to be replaced as well.

Are the calipers new after market? Have you still got originals to see if they rub? Noticed your offset is 45, aren't most something like 38.

I also thought the Golfs were a 38 offset , I know polos were 45.
However it may just be the later or the GTI's that came with the 38 offset.

Halfords used to do thin spacers, but if it's the caliper on the rim then they probably won't help. Although for a tenner might be worth trying?

As you say if the casting is a bit nasty then a bit of clearancing might do it.

But as Briano says, couple of bits to do.

Ian

I think those are the wrong calipers.

The appear too thick at the upper attachment…Pbucket is being the posterior the closest I can get is a backup.

Could I have the pads in the wrong way? Would that throw the caliper out towards the outside?
Ill post a few more pics as people are being very kind

I don't think the pads are the issue.
Wheel offset as mentioned above probably needs confirming. According to this, the wheels should have an ET 38 offset.
PCD Volkswagen Golf 1 (1974 - 1983 wheels | PCD, Offset, Center Bore, mounting and tire size data).html

A 45 offset as you have on those wheels will bring the wheel closer in by 7mm. I suspect that is the issue.

you could add a spacer to push the rim wheel out, but that would change the track width…

No it wouldnt, the track is underwidth with high et wheels ,, 7mm spacers would bring the wheels out to the correct track width. However i have never seen a set of 7mm width spacers, would probably get a 10mm set but they wouldnt be hub centric in that width which you should use.    Spacers are rubbish, get the correct wheels (wheels that dont rub) and be done with it…

abfmk1 said

No it wouldnt, the track is underwidth with high et wheels ,, 7mm spacers would bring the wheels out to the correct track width. However i have never seen a set of 7mm width spacers, would probably get a 10mm set but they wouldnt be hub centric in that width which you should use.    Spacers are rubbish, get the correct wheels (wheels that dont rub) and be done with it…

Of course! I stand corrected - that's what you get for trying to multi-task!

ET45 doesn't sound right to me. Can't say from looking whether that's a standard caliper either, but it looks well dodgy now its been ground down.

Had a quick look on a website listing wheel sizes/ETs etc and all 70s/80s 13 inch Polos and Golfs have ET35 or 38 so any idea what the ET45s off?

My 1980 Derby came with steel wheels 13 inch and with an ET of 45.

As far as I'm aware all mk1 polos came with ET45 wheels.

From the stock of steel wheels outside in the garden I've found all sort of sizes, widths and offsets. But nothing with that part number. Golf ones seems to have raised areas in the centre stamping for the chrome hub caps that were held on with clips. The polo ones don't have a raised area as the chrome hub caps twisted on and were held in place by the plastic bolt head covers, a seal and a bit of luck    

A lot of googling later: https://www.stevensvwspares.com/vw-scirocco+storm-steel-wheels/steel-wheel62

So maybe a set of Passat wheels?

Ian

I was looking at pack of lies US site. (see below)

Back in the day my brother bought some @1979 Polo wheels and tyres for his '81 Golf C as they looked exctly the same but when we tried fitting them they did catch the calipers but I seem to remember it clamped the dish of the wheel against the caliper rather than rubbing the inner of the rim.

I had '91 J reg Caddy and from memory the wheels look the same design as these, but obvs fitted OK

                   Model             BeetleCaddyGolfGolf CabrioletJettaPassatPoloSciroccoVanagon Polo
  Volkswagen  Polo  1979  Wheel fitment guidePlease, note: highlighted items are for OEM wheels

borednow said

My 1980 Derby came with steel wheels 13 inch and with an ET of 45.

As far as I'm aware all mk1 polos came with ET45 wheels.

From the stock of steel wheels outside in the garden I've found all sort of sizes, widths and offsets. But nothing with that part number. Golf ones seems to have raised areas in the centre stamping for the chrome hub caps that were held on with clips. The polo ones don't have a raised area as the chrome hub caps twisted on and were held in place by the plastic bolt head covers, a seal and a bit of luck   A lot of googling later: https://www.stevensvwspares.com/vw-scirocco+storm-steel-wheels/steel-wheel62

So maybe a set of Passat wheels?

Ian