I recently attempted to rebuild my original rear brake calipers (5 lug vented rotor type) before deciding they were too pitted from rust.

I did do a dry assembly prior to disposing of them. I put one together with all 'R' marked parts (caliper body, parking brake shaft, parking brake lever pieces). Doing it this way resulted in the piston actually receding deeper into the caliper when the parking brake lever is pulled.

I purchased a used set of calipers from a forum member and they were set up with the R marked parking brake shaft in the L caliper with L marked lever pieces, and the L marked shaft in the R caliper with R marked lever pieces. In this configuration, the piston does protrude further out of the caliper when pulling the parking brake lever.

Is this normal? Can someone with known working calipers on hand check this out?

 

Anyone have a rear caliper lying around and want to check this for me? Does the letter on the end of the parking shaft lever (visible in the nut hole) match the letter on the caliper body and all the other parts?

 

Mine are opposite. L in a R caliper. R in a L caliper.

 

Thanks!