Are Front Brake Caliper Brackets Chiral?

[ColourRestorer]

I’m beginning to wonder whether I’m going slightly mad.

Whilst rebuilding my engine, I have removed various other components, including the front subframe, to have them blasted and re-painted.

The list includes the front brake caliper mounting brackets, which I was just about to refit when it occurred to me that they might be chiral (i.e. handed).

Having looked on the web, according to catcar and all the usual parts suppliers, the brackets do indeed have different part numbers for left and right items.

However, having studied my brackets at length, and measured them, I can find absolutely no difference between the two. Moreover both brackets seem to be symmetrical from end-to-end IYSWIM. i.e. if they have a 'top' or a 'bottom' it's not immediately obvious. It occurred to me that perhaps one has a drilling to accommodate something like a pad wear sensor cable clip, but I can't find anything like that.

Notwithstanding the part numbers, does anyone know whether they really are different side-to-side? Or am I chasing a ghost?

Many thanks

[knobby1]

I’m beginning to wonder whether I’m going slightly mad.

Whilst rebuilding my engine, I have removed various other components, including the front subframe, to have them blasted and re-painted.

The list includes the front brake caliper mounting brackets, which I was just about to refit when it occurred to me that they might be chiral (i.e. handed).

Having looked on the web, according to catcar and all the usual parts suppliers, the brackets do indeed have different part numbers for left and right items.

However, having studied my brackets at length, and measured them, I can find absolutely no difference between the two. Moreover both brackets seem to be symmetrical from end-to-end IYSWIM. i.e. if they have a 'top' or a 'bottom' it's not immediately obvious. It occurred to me that perhaps one has a drilling to accommodate something like a pad wear sensor cable clip, but I can't find anything like that.

Notwithstanding the part numbers, does anyone know whether they really are different side-to-side? Or am I chasing a ghost?

Many thanks

They are indeed "sided".

Lord Knobrot

[ColourRestorer]

They are indeed "sided".

Lord Knobrot

Thanks, but can you explain in what way they differ from side to side, because my pair appear identical in every dimension?

[andz327]

Try and fit them

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[ColourRestorer]

Try and fit them

I have, and both fit perfectly either way round.

I also checked the diameter of the slide pin holes because the lower hole takes the pin with the rubber sleeve, whereas the upper takes the plain pin, but there is no difference.

[andz327]

Do they have the Ford logo on them??

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[ColourRestorer]

Do they have the Ford logo on them??

Yes, both brackets have both the Ford logo, and the word "Bosch" on the casting, so I assume that they're original fitment.

[andz327]

Ok do you think the Ford logo would be fitted upside-down ???

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[ColourRestorer]

Ok do you think the Ford logo would be fitted upside-down ???

I like the way you're thinking, but since both components have the Ford logo cast in the same place and orientation, then on one side the Ford logo is the correct way up and the "Bosch" word is inverted, and when fitted on the other side of the vehicle the reverse is true: i.e. Ford logo inverted and Bosch the correct way up.

Since starting this thread, I've now expanded my search ambit of parts suppliers and found a couple of companies who are selling a part which they claim cross references to both Ford part numbers, left and right. Hence I'm beginning to suspect that maybe Ford started off with a left and right component, and then some bean counter calculated that overall it was cheaper to simply produce and stock one standard part.

[andz327]

Should change yer name tae Sherlock

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[andz327]

Never heard of chiral before??

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[metalworker0]

Should change yer name tae Sherlock

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no............ chirlock

I've never heard of it either

its a chemistry term according to this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chirality

all the best.mark

[andz327]

Hahaha no sh!t chirlock
That'll be how I haven't heard of it I missed Lord Kelvin's lecture...... you know the one he done in 1893

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[dumper]

Just tried chiral on apple translate and it says Romanian is not supported so yes he could be from Romania

[andz327]

Just tried chiral on apple translate and it says Romanian is not supported so yes he could be from Romania

Lord Kelvin used the term in his lecture dumper were you not there mucker back in 1893 when he spoke during Robert Doyle's second lecture

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