88' to 86' front calipers

[IMenriched]

got a 88" donor.
will the 88's caliper fit onto a 86'? (both are 4x4)

I noticed that the internal tangs of the front brake pads of the 88's are wider than that of the 86's. (not the spring type clips on the pads)...but the larger notches of the pad back that fit into the corresponding notches on the caliper.

seems that the 88' version would be stronger/less troublesome, because they are wider set and giving a better lever action against the caliper when brakes are applied??...just thinking out loud.

my thought was to swap out the 88' calipers to the 86' truck or isn't it much of a issue?

 

[mjonesjr]

The '88 calipers will fit, however you will need to get pads for the '88 calipers. The pads themselves are different.

 

[IMenriched]

The '88 calipers will fit, however you will need to get pads for the '88 calipers. The pads themselves are different.

duely noted
thanks

any improvements from the 86' caliper to the 88'?? or are the internals the same too?? piston...etc

 

[AllanD]

The calipers are internally the same, the issue with the '86 calipers is that the specific pads and brake flex lines and of course the calipers themselves are 1986 and 1987 (only through 02-87) oddballs and EVERYTHING is atleast three times as expensive.

my first brake upgrade was getting rid of those oddball calipers
(my truck was an 02-89 and one of the last '87s made with them)

Those '88 calipers are the same as all 1983-94 calipers EXCEPT for the '86-'87(02/87)
calipers.

But I've moved on....I'm using the '95-97 to piston setup

The real problem with the 1983-94 brakes is that the upper thrust
surface for the inboard pad wears and that wear creates a bevel
that causes the inner pad to drag, overheat and eventually warp the rotor.

AD