Brake Caliper Kit

Britches wrote:
Only question I still have is do you recommend ever a caliper kit

Yes, recommend in terms of having done a few caliper rebuilds (hold onto that word, "rebuild") for myself, and considered doing that on a recent problem but got remanufactured (notice, different word) instead.

Rebuild: I clean the Caliper and Piston up as well as I can. Most important parts to clean are

1. The Caliper Bore AND the grooves that hold the Square Cross Section O-Ring that holds the pressure and the surface the Dust Seal presses into. New O-Ring and Seal from Kit

2. The Surface of the Piston where it passes through the Square Section O-Ring and of course anything keeping it from sliding freely in the Bore.

Remanufacture: Sandblasted Caliper with O-Ring and Seal mounting areas professionally inspected and cleaned/surfaced. New soft parts as above plus NEW Piston, new bleeder screw and new sealing washers (threads and surfaces cleaned and inspected)

They aren't hard to do but there are tricks and associated risks removing and installing the Piston even if Caliper and Piston are both good.

I paid a mechanic to rebuild a pair of front calipers. Installed and one leaked, big time. Dismantled and found one of the Square Rings cut in two places. That's right, came out in two pieces. That doesn't seal very well. Bought a kit and installed it myself. There you have my training in caliper rebuilds. I think I rebuilt one other pair because the kits were available and reman calipers were not.

Can you do it and will it work? Yes and Probably.

Worth the time and risk? Probably not, and No.

TIP: Replace (or rebuild if you decide to) BOTH Front Calipers and replace both Front Brake Hoses.

TIP: Be sure the Caliper Slide hardware and surfaces are clean and lubed with High Temp Lubricant. Auto supply has in little ketchup packs. Get the kind for ceramic pads even if you aren't using ceramic.

OH... Keep track of Left and Right. Calipers and Hoses are probably different per side.