Katz the Free Man (78 300SD that we were given who wonderfully fills the roles of Father-in-Law hauler and back up daily driver since my Miata is down with a toasted clutch) started making seriously unhappy dragging brake noises earlier this week.

Confirmed the driver's side front caliper is frozen solid. Nobody local has replacements in stock. Order one from Napa, gets in today, I blow off afternoon's work stuff and pick it up.

Go to put it on, no joy. Right part, but.... the two halves of the caliper aren't parallel. Out of whack enough that ain't no way it's gonna go on (outside half is hitting the hub).

Lay the old and new alongside each other, and sure enough - there's no measurable difference in the side-to-side gap at the top, but there's 0.21" difference at the bottom of the gap.

Grr. Grumble. Fuss.

Only way I can see this happening is if the mating surfaces between the two halves were "cleaned up" during the re-man process and one (or both) weren't jigged properly leaving the mating surfaces askew.

Napa has ordered a replacement..... best bet is I'm parts-less until Tuesday.

Did I say grrr?

__________________
1961 220b: first project car - sold.
2000 CLK 430: first modern Benz - sold.
2001 CLK 55: OMG the torque!!! - sold
1972 280SE 4.5: Baby Gustav
1991 300TE 4Matic: Gretel the Snow Bunny - sold
1978 300SD: Katz the Free Man - given away
1980 Redhead: Darling Wife