sothpaw2

Hi Everyone,

Was replacing my caliper guide pins this weekend & the ones I received from the dealer (who's been good about getting the right parts in the past) are not exactly the same as what came with the car. In the rear, they are maybe 1" shorter in length so don't reach as far into the caliper brackets. The head is also a hex (I like better).

In the front, the length is the same but the head is now rounded w/a 16mm flat (identical to what I found OEM from the back calipers!!)

Does this sound right? Will the rear ones still work properly?

Thanks reading!

waddisme

Why were you changing them? Is this something that needs to be done periodically?

davidfarmer

I know the front design changed, as you describe, sometime during the C5 production run. You never know which size you need without checking.

However, those rears I would take back. I don't know for sure, but I'd personally stick to the length that came on the car.

froggy47

I would not put a short pin in, no way.

I reuse mine unless they show wear. Zero problems.

MungoZ06

Andy ... on my '03 the fronts are 18mm flat on the pins; the rear pins are 16mm flats.
I haven't compared lengths between the two, but I'm guessing the fronts are longer.
FWIW

geerookie

Sothpaw2,
Sorry I didn't get back to you. I have been out of town for work for 9 days and then at the track Sat. and Sun.
What you're describing doesn't sound right.
As far as I know all C5's are the same and use the same part number.
The front and rear pins are the same length. Mine have always had the 16mm flats and all the replacements have the same.
One time I went to NAPA to get some pins because Gene was out and the ones they listed for the rears were shorter, so I didn't buy them.
The pins should all be the longer ones.
I confirmed on the invoice that the GM part number is 12530697 for all 8.
I just installed them about 3 weeks ago and they fit/work perfect.

96CollectorSport

I also installed 8 of the pins listed above and all 8 had the 16mm heads, but the length was the same as the pins for the fronts as the rears (these were taken off of an 02 Z06). So now they all have 16mm heads which makes it easier when swapping pads, and I have to say the ones that were in there were definatly worn, the new pins made a huge differance.

sothpaw2

Changing just as a precaution to prevent pad taper. Not sure if my old ones were really an issue--the rear pads on RR were not tapered and only the inner pad on the LR was tapered. I am told by those w/more experience here that they do wear out and should be changed once-twice a season (I'm only doing 6 days/yr so once probably more than sufficient). Not sure what wear to look for? I doubt they will stretch noticably. For sure mine didn't have lubricant left like they should.

Thanks for the replies--I will have to try & find some locally or re-use the old ones. Dealer swears 12530698 is for the rear even though of course I have him 12530697 as what I wanted for all corners. Would have to ship them back so probably will just throw them away.

Would Autozone have these things or Do I have to go to an AC Delco place?

sothpaw2

What would the wear look like? For sure on the rears I only had 1 out of 4 tapered pads and no lubricant so the old ones might be ok.

96CollectorSport

I just compaired the old pins to the new ones and felt a bunch of slop with the old pins in. I know it's not technical but obviously if you can feel it that's a bad thing!

MungoZ06

The different part numbers the dealer gave are consistent with the parts manual for an '02Z.

sothpaw2

I have a feeling that the length doesn't really matter in that I can see the shorter pin reaches far into the mounting bracket; just not quite as far as the 12530697 pin. But if everyone is using the 697 everywhere, I guess I'll just try to source 4 more locally & put them in again. It's mess w/ all that lube though.

geerookie

Get a hold of Gene Culley @ GM Parts House
gculley@gmpartshouse.com

www.gmpartshouse.com

610.862.0550 x 172