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View Full Version : No micrometer--what else can i use to measure brakes?

88carrera
11-09-2006, 02:45 PM
I need to measure my front discs and I can't find a micrometer to save my life. Does anyone have a suggestion on what I can use in place of one while I search for one online?

Also does anyone know of a micrometer that I can order that is cheap? I don't want anything fancy since I'll use it one every few years.
wludavid
11-09-2006, 02:54 PM
Just search on Amazon. They have several under $30.
wludavid
11-09-2006, 03:02 PM
My dad buys reloading equipment from midway.com. He has a Frankford Arsenal Caliper that measure to thousandths that he likes. If you need ten-thousandths precision, there's this for $38. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=257288

There a few other cheaper alternatives on there too.
KFJ
11-09-2006, 03:06 PM
Have you tried Harbor Freight? They had a micrometer last time I was there and there's one in Gaithersburg.
cmartin
11-09-2006, 03:14 PM
A caliper actually gives a more accurate measurement, but both will work.
Dr K
11-09-2006, 03:59 PM
I bought a digital micrometer at HF, on sale, for about $10 this summer (it might have been $8). It works, but I suspect there are better ones out there. That said, I also have a use for it every 2 years or so...

They don't have one that cheap right now, but close: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Category.taf?CategoryID=551&pricetype=

Peter
Jazzbass
11-09-2006, 04:09 PM
x3 or 4 on Harbor Freight. Behind Lake Forest mall in Gaithersburg. Lots of Micrometers and digital calipers under $20. Get a micrometer for brakes, a caliper can't really be used since it hits the lip on the outside of the rotor.
smdubovsky
11-09-2006, 04:15 PM
A caliper actually gives a more accurate measurement, but both will work.

A micrometer is actually the more accurate device, often to beyond a tenth of a thousandth. (Just because a caliper reads those digits doesn't mean theyre "significant" - the spec book that comes w/ it even says so;).

Problem w/ calipers is that they cant measure over the lip of a 1/2 worn rotor. A mic has no problem w/ the reach. In day to day use, a caliper is about 10x more handy though. The $15 chinese ones work well enough.

SMD
________
Honda z-series (http://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Honda_Z-series)
cmartin
11-09-2006, 04:54 PM
Wow, I botched that. I confused the two, Micrometer is the better tool for sure.
jbailey930
11-09-2006, 04:54 PM
local Sears or Ace hardware has one if you need it now. I can loan you one if you can meet in Reston, Sterling or Tyson
Dave O
11-09-2006, 04:55 PM
If you want to drive to Brookeville (near Olney) you can borrow mine. :-)
Lupin..the..3rd
11-09-2006, 04:57 PM
I've got one you can borrow as well, I'm in DC.
}{arlequin
11-09-2006, 04:59 PM
just feel it w/ your hands... if you feel a bit of a lip, it's ok.
if you feel it and it's a little 'bigg-ish', you've got two more weekends
if it's surprising how big the lip is, time for new rotors. :)
wludavid
11-09-2006, 05:13 PM
just feel it w/ your hands... if you feel a bit of a lip, it's ok.
if you feel it and it's a little 'bigg-ish', you've got two more weekends
if it's surprising how big the lip is, time for new rotors. :)
What about if you can't take the brake caliper off because it gets stuck on the lip? Do I need new rotors in that case? :p

Yes, this has happened to me. :oops:
}{arlequin
11-09-2006, 05:18 PM
i figure there *has to* be a way to spread the pads some to clear the lip... not sure how the beemer calipers are but on the ones that came w/ my car, worse case scenario would be to remove the pad retaining pin and then pull off the caliper itself while the pads 'stay' on the rotor...
wludavid
11-09-2006, 05:30 PM
Yeah, I just spread the calipers with a c-clamp to the back side of the pad and then pulled it off.
type954
11-09-2006, 05:35 PM
calipers should be available at Lowes or home depot and sears, i know they have them at my store. possibly could put a washer on each face of the rotor to get over the lip, use the caliper to measure thickness, subtract the thicknesses of the 2 washers for the thickness of the rotor. depends on how accurate you are trying to get.
BobNovas
11-09-2006, 05:35 PM
Check the flea markets - I bought a really nice vernier caliper at the flea market at the Shady Groove Metro station a couple years ago for pennies.
Dr K
11-09-2006, 06:01 PM
I can loan you mine if you're not near those places in VA (I'm in Potomac). :)

Peter
Vicegrip
11-09-2006, 10:12 PM
You can grind the inside face on a $20 HF verner type caliper removing about 1/8th from each face except for the last 1/8th inch near the tips. Instant cheap caliper mike and faster than a standard mike