Brake Caliper Refub Advice

[Rohan951]

Hi Guys,

Need to get my brake calipers refurbed (plate lift). My usual indy said this could cost up to a grand (for all 4 - just a rough figure at this stage), but searching past posts I can see RPM provide a refurb service for £270/pair inc VAT.

So just wondering if this difference is down to the fact that there are different 'levels' of refurb...? Don't really know much about calipers to be honest, but again from reading past posts it appears that replacing the pistons can have a significant bearing on costs.

Also, any tips on what I should ask is included when I ring around for quotes?

Finally, if you can recommend any places (am based in Surrey), that could do a good job for a good value that would be great. (Would prefer to use my usual indy but if I can save a significant amount of dosh I could be persuaded to try some where else!)

Cheers

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Hi Rohan,

My car goes to RPM, and I'd not expect them to offer any lesser standard of service, particularly with things like brakes. It might be down to the fact that they do a lot, but £250 per corner sounds high to me.

 

[Alexw]

£250 a corner must be replacing everything - pistons, seals, plates etc and I'd expect them to be painted too! Its not a hard job yourself, the worst part is getting the bolts that hold the plates on - I went to a local place that welded a nut on each one then used that to get the bolt out - cost me something like £20 a caliper in total - they did have some mither with a few of them IIRC.

I did the rest myself, got a dremel with some abrasive bits to remove the corrosion, bought the plates etc from Promax I think it was plus any seals that needed replacing. If your going that way get yourself some decent brake spanners, they were worth it for getting the bleed nipples and brake lines off without rounding them.

Can't help with the suggestions but many people suggest RPM.

 

[Frenchy]

They are certainly makijng some serious dough at a grand, send them up here, and i will do them for £500 and still be in profit, seriusly any decent garage should be able to this if you supply the parts.
Even do a search on here and print it off and give it to the garage, it really is not that difficult as said a couple of little screws in the caliper holding the slider plates are a PITA, after taht everything is straightforward.
Jim.

 

[sulzeruk]

Hi Rohan, I can refurb them up here if you want to post them up. £250 a caliper is a bit of daylight robbery, you can get new calipers from Porsche for £700 a pair!
I will strip the caliper, remove the plates, change the seals, gritblast the bodies, paint and apply new decals. The pistons don't corrode as they are not made of metal, they are made from a composite! Plates usually only need changed if they have cracked through severe lift.
The calipers are really simple to strip, I weld a puddle onto the caliper plate screws, they come out every time. Just done four for a guy up here.
Alasdair

 

[rcsalmons]

ORIGINAL: sulzeruk

Hi Rohan, I can refurb them up here if you want to post them up. £250 a caliper is a bit of daylight robbery, you can get new calipers from Porsche for £700 a pair!
I will strip the caliper, remove the plates, change the seals, gritblast the bodies, paint and apply new decals. The pistons don't corrode as they are not made of metal, they are made from a composite! Plates usually only need changed if they have cracked through severe lift.
The calipers are really simple to strip, I weld a puddle onto the caliper plate screws, they come out every time. Just done four for a guy up here.
Alasdair

Are you sure? I have some corroded pistons here.

 

[sulzeruk]

The M030 ones I have just done were composite ones, very light but 2 still had chew marks round where the dust boots attached! These ones look alloy, I stand corrected!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200399151606&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
Alasdair

 

[Rohan951]

Thanks for the replies.

I'd love to be able to attempt this myself, but quite frankly I don't have the skills/knowledge. Pity none of you guys live near me. It would be a great to project to try with some local help!!

I think I will call RPM and double check with my usual indy. Need to find out exactly what they would do. Didn't realise that new ones cost £700 a pair...

Also saw an ad in Porsche Post for a company called Classicar Automotive. They seem to specialise in this sort of thing - will call them as well. Anyone used them?

Cheers.

 

[Alexw]

If they are the ones based in cheshire I rang them last year when I was doing the job - silly price like £250 a corner at the time!

Learn by doing, that exactly what I did- theres a couple of how-tos knocking about, I think I have them saved on my PC - I'll have a look when I get in

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: Rohan951
I'd love to be able to attempt this myself, but quite frankly I don't have the skills/knowledge.

I didn't have the skills or knowledge before I first did it either.

I did when I had finished tho! []

Seriously, it's not hard. And doesn't require much in the way of tools. (I didn't even have a workshop when I did mine - just an old table and a socket set.) As long as the bolt heads in the calipers aren't corroded to bu99ery then it is not a difficult job at all. Go systematically, think about every step before you do it, don't proceed unless you are confident about what you are trying to achieve, and the job'll be done before you know it.


Oli.

 

[morris944s2john]

When I did the calipers on my S2 a few years ago, I had to replace two of the pistons, they seem to be made from aluminium alloy.

An yes, the job isn't that hard. The most difficult part is removing the calliper boltrs wheich are loctited on and then removing the plate bolts, but you can use a welder and some Irwin bolt grips.

 

[Chris_911]

Try Bigg Red - I've just had some 911 calipers re-done by them in their black polymer coating. IIRC £170 for the pair.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

An yes, the job isn't that hard. The most difficult part is removing the calliper boltrs wheich are loctited on and then removing the plate bolts, but you can use a welder and some Irwin bolt grips.

That does suggest to me that it's not a job for someone who's got no experience. I've never held a welder (why does that sound soooooo wrong? []), let alone learnt how to use it safely. [&o]

 

[DivineE]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

That does suggest to me that it's not a job for someone who's got no experience. I've never held a welder (why does that sound soooooo wrong? []), let alone learnt how to use it safely. [&o]

Me neither I use a crème brullee torch borrowed from the kitchen for my metal heating needs[] works just as well and much safer for home diy[]

 

[morris944s2john]

Paul Wrote "That does suggest to me that it's not a job for someone who's got no experience. I've never held a welder (why does that sound soooooo wrong? ), let alone learnt how to use it safely. "

You don't know what you're missing! I really like welding, it is a very satisfying process, and gas welding is even nicer than mig.

Point taken though, having re-built cars and done much of my DIY servicing for 20 years I guess I'm fairly experienced so it does seem easy. But you have to start somewhere!

 

[Frenchy]

Pay a garage to get the slider plate bolts out the rest is easy peasy with some guidance available on here or on various websites.

 

[craig2105]

I'm with Rohan and Paul here. These are primary safety items and if you don't really know what you are looking at, there is surely strong potential for disaster!

I had to deal with a plate lift issue but thankfully had the backup of my highly exerienced garage owning mate to show me what to look for and how to do the first one. But then it all went horribly wrong when the bleed screw came out thread and all. One ruined caliper... []

 

[944Fripp]

I think I've got quite a plate lift problem at the moment, makes a right racket and I've decided that I need to take the calliper off and refurb it. I was thinking of doing it myself but seeing as there are no Haynes manuals available for my S2 and some of you guys are not sure about it I may have to go to a pro. Also the fact that it's my everyday car means the quicker the better!

Are any of you guys who do know how to do it based in or around Sheffield?! There are plenty of beers in it for you and happy to pay for the work but just want to know how to do it myself too!! I have a small workshop at work that I can use but just lack the knowledge! Very frustrating!

 

[Chrishazle]

There's a new post today on 968uk - plate lift update - photos before and after of front calipers (968 obviously!) refurbed, cost just over £400 for the pair. Worth a look!
http://www.porsche968uk.co.uk/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=7399 is the link - but I think you have to be registered with 968uk to view it.

 

[zcacogp]

Hmmm. SOunds like an interesting post Chris, but you do need to register to view it (you're right). And you need to buy some window stickers to register. Which sounds a little odd, and means I won't be bothering ...

(Never seen a forum with a rule like that before.)


Oli.