Replacing brake calipers and such

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Thu 12 Feb 2009 11:21
Replacing brake calipers and such - gordonbennet
I notice over on technical that a 4 year old MB needed a new front brake caliper.

Don't know about you lot, but apart from when a bleed screw has broken off in the caliper body i've never had to replace a front caliper yet.
I've overhauled and resealed a few, and had to clean up plenty of grunge and lubricate many, especially the sliding parts of single piston calipers.

Even rears, the only ones that were problematic were those swinging calipers fitted outboard on Ford mk4 Zodiacs (did they follow onto Granada?) where they got all the weather but the same caliper was trouble free on the Rover P6 where they were inboard (thanks goodness, it was a pita just changing the pads)

Why would a 4 year old good quality car need such parts?
Is it shoddy or too long interval servicing where such things are never cleaned or lubricated, or are these parts not as well made as years ago?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 12 Feb 2009 11:25
Replacing brake calipers and such - adverse camber
Possibly down to cost?

I replaced a caliper on the volvo not so long ago because of a little corrosion on thepiston - the boot had slpit.

When I looked at the cost of a repair kit and compared to the cost of a new caliper it was easy to choose a new caliper.
I can see that if using a dealer then the labour cost of overhaul may tip the balance.

I haven't read the technical post though so dont know what they said.

Edited by adverse camber on 12/02/2009 at 11:25

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 12 Feb 2009 12:01
Replacing brake calipers and such - martint123
Labour rates at a main dealer can make a replacement much cheaper than a rebuild.

When we home fiddlers fix things like this we never seem to price in the time taken and blood spilt.

Edited by martint123 on 12/02/2009 at 12:01

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

From which small car to buy at which price point to the best UK-built cars, our Top 10s have the lot. Click now for your shortlist.

Unsure of what to buy? Our Top 10s are here to help you....

If you cover no more than 100 miles per day and have easy access to a charging point at home or work, then an EV is ideal for you.

Is an electric car right for me?