Brake caliper service

obezyana

My front brake on my e46 is sticking so I'm looking to repair the seals in the caliper but I can't seem to find anyone in Ireland who can supply what I need, it seems that for the most part a lot of mechanics/dealers just replace the whole caliper when there is no need so my question is why is their a practice on replacing the caliper when servicing the caliper is a cheaper option?

George Dalton

Most of the time when a caliper is seized there will be corrosion on the piston which means that replacing the seals is a temporary measure at best (or an accident waiting to happen at worst)

Also replacing seals in a caliper is much more time consuming than simply replacing the caliper so when you factor the extra time into the cost of the job the savings aren't actually all that much.

In my opinion reconditioned calipers are actually pretty good value.

obezyana

George Dalton wrote: »

Most of the time when a caliper is seized there will be corrosion on the piston which means that replacing the seals is a temporary measure at best (or an accident waiting to happen at worst)

Also replacing seals in a caliper is much more time consuming than simply replacing the caliper so when you factor the extra time into the cost of the job the savings aren't actually all that much.

In my opinion reconditioned calipers are actually pretty good value.

Yeah it can be time consuming alright I priced a repair kit with a new piston and it came in at 60 euro and I got a price for a new caliper from the brother for who works in a parts shop for a reconditioned caliper and it was 120 so it's a lot cheaper to service it. I know it goes without saying if the caliper is not in good shape then it should be replaced.

sean1141

Its ok to try a repair kit yourself if you can do the work but if you have to pay someone that's where it gets expensive

challengemaster

E46's are prone to it, happens them all eventually. Probably why most people are so quick to replace...

obezyana

I'll do it no probs so yeah I'll be making a decent saving ill do both at the same time while I'm at it

So how come it's not something that is widely done in Ireland even getting the kit here seems to be a no no? So is it purely down to mechanics thinking it's not worth the time or effort so the whole caliper is just replaced.

George Dalton

€60 for a few bits of rubber vs €120 for a professionally rebuilt caliper? I know which I would be choosing.

Fitting the new caliper is about half the work, a fraction of the hassle and gives a more guaranteed (safe and reliable) end result. That is why garages use them.

obezyana

George Dalton wrote: »

€60 for a few bits of rubber vs €120 for a professionally rebuilt caliper? I know which I would be choosing.

Fitting the new caliper is about half the work, a fraction of the hassle and gives a more guaranteed (safe and reliable) end result. That is why garages use them.

A new piston is included in that.

sean1141

A replacement caliper is bolt off, bolt on and bleed the system.
Repairing the caliper takes a lot more time and will most likely work out more expensive for the customer when labour is taken into account

obezyana

sean1141 wrote: »

A replacement caliper is bolt off, bolt on and bleed the system.
Repairing the caliper takes a lot more time and will most likely work out more expensive for the customer when labour is taken into account

Yeah that's true alright, a friend of mine who is Polish said it's common practice in Poland to just give the brake caliper a service as it works out a lot cheaper over there than getting a new caliper. I'll be doing it myself so it won't cost me labour I tend to work for myself for free

biko

If you have time and inclination give it a go. It's not the easiest diy but not the most difficult either.
Plenty of vids on YT on how to recondition them.

obezyana

biko wrote: »

If you have time and inclination give it a go. It's not the easiest diy but not the most difficult either.
Plenty of vids on YT on how to recondition them.

.


I'd have no probs doing i like spending my free time taking my car apart and servicing it I'm kinda OCD about it even when I clean the carpet I take out the seats so I can get every nook and cranny

Iv a sad life really

CJhaughey

If you are over a certain age you can probably remember reconditioning brake cylinders with a hone, this is no longer done in mainstream repair work.
Brake calipers are pretty much the same these days.
Brakeparts.co.uk sell reconditioned Budweg calipers for 50 ea with your old caliper which is pretty cheap for brake calipers

Interslice

I've a nick in one of the dust seals on a front caliper. It's a bit sticky but not too bad. I reckon the pistons gone but after reading this would the caliper cylinder by fecked aswell? Debating what way to go about sorting it. Don't want to waste money on a seal kit if the calipers gone too.

Hal1

All the above is true and the sensible choice but if you want to get a nice shiney set of calipers try biggred in the uk. They offer Polymer coating, Gold & Silver Electroplate, Standard Silver, Black, Grey & Gold. They also do the refurb kits. They also give cash back when you send them you're old calipers.

obezyana

Interslice wrote: »

I've a nick in one of the dust seals on a front caliper. It's a bit sticky but not too bad. I reckon the pistons gone but after reading this would the caliper cylinder by fecked aswell? Debating what way to go about sorting it. Don't want to waste money on a seal kit if the calipers gone too.

If the seal is gone a while I'd reckon there is rust and dirt in the caliper then I reckon it would be better to get a new/reconditioned caliper. The only way to find out for sure is to take it apart and check the conditon of the piston and caliper itself.

Interslice

obezyana wrote: »

If the seal is gone a while I'd reckon there is rust and dirt in the caliper then I reckon it would be better to get a new/reconditioned caliper. The only way to find out for sure is to take it apart and check the conditon of the piston and caliper itself.

Probably right. I might try a pick one up from a scrapper and refurb it myself so I'm not off the road. Other **** to do first anyway. Sorry for the hijack .

challengemaster

You should take pictures of the refurb process and put them up after, it'd be interesting