View Full Version : Self refurbing/fixing rear calipers?
Hi guys,
As per my other brake disc thread, I might need to have a go at fixing my rear calipers, as I really don't want to fork out £180 for these parts. If I have to, I have to, but I'd prefer not to lol.
How many have done it before (with and without a refit kit). I won't have any kit, so if anyone has any pics of the internal workings that would be awesome :)
Are they much more difficult than 4-pots for example? (I have refurbed with new parts some before).
Matthew
you will end up buying new ones, a screw/bolt/bleed nipple will snap off inside em, they are usually fecked
ive got new ones all round on mine now
Ok, looks like it will be much cheaper to get them from GSF. (only 62.50 each, at least online), then fit them myself. Will prob do that instead of paying £250-300 for the same job.
Matthew
white16valver
08-02-2008, 13:58
Is there a guide to fitting them already in the Guides section?
If not then you should get handy with a camera for when I need to do it ;) lol :P
I refurbed mine, kits are about £45 a side iirc, its with £35 or £45 i think
If it's £45 a side, then i'll just get the reconned calipers, save me screwing them up and failing the MOT.
Apart from the guide, is it pretty straight forward swap for the rear calipers?
Matthew
Hardest part is the bleeding
Really? Bleeding is dead easy and only takes a few minutes... the part I find the hardest so far is trying to get the right angled pin back in :(
(obviously you were saying it is a pee easy job just in case you didn't think I got it :))
However, do I have to disconnect the handbrake cable in any specific place? Or "Where is the best place to disconnect the cable?"
Matthew
Take hand brake off and reomve end of cable, then drive the collar out with a punch, if they've been on ages this will prolly destroy them and you'll need new cables.
If you are struggling getting the angle retaining bit in, use a file and chamfer(sp) the end so it acts like a wedge getting it in
Yup I taper the ends otherwise its pretty much impossible (without tapering the pads themselves which seems overkill).
Just the bit about handbrake stuff that concerns me. hmm.. will have a looksee.
Matthew
BristolSam16v
08-02-2008, 20:42
I would put money on the handbrake cables beng seized in the calipers. Cables are cheap anyway just over £10 a side.
Got 2 calipers brand new/totally refurbed off ebay for £45+p&p, looks like they are now £55 + £9.95 p&p
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CITROEN-SAXO-N-S-LH-REAR-CALIPER-NEW-UNIT_W0QQitemZ200198635733QQihZ010QQcategoryZ10376 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
clio uses the same calipers as saxo and a lot of other cars.
wow good link! Cheapest I found Reconned were £62.50 so will prob get two of these! Are you certain these are the correct type (The ones in that listing above for the saxo?)
Matthew
BristolSam16v
09-02-2008, 11:00
Yup here is one of the ones I bought:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200159545889&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123
Bought two of them both fitted to the valver at the mo so def the right ones.
Fab, thanks Sam :)
Matthew
Awesome, just bought 2 of those rears :) Unfortunately at £55.95 + £9.95 postage each, but still cheaper than anywhere else.
GSF were doing them at £62.50 but wanted a £20 surcharge per caliper until they got your old ones back, which isn't bad but I doubt they will be as good as these, and also it means I can have a go and try and fix the old ones.
Matthew
BristolSam16v
11-02-2008, 20:08
Just added it up on GSF, its £30 surcharge for 1 side and £20 for the other :? plus VAT on the surcharge, both calipers, and delivery, it works out at £205.63 :shock:
Blimey!! I thought it was only £62.50 each side (rears) and £20 surcharge till you gave them back, so £205 is shocking!
I decided to ebay mainly as I had £36 already sitting doing nothing in my paypal account and about £4 in credit on my credit card, so the calipers only really cost me about £91 which I thought was brilliant really.
Matthew
It is, the surcharge gets refunded when you return your old items
What about the VAT, bet they don't refund that as such. (happy to charge you the vat on top of the £40-£50 per pair surcharge, but just give you the actual surcharge back. :(
Matthew
BristolSam16v
12-02-2008, 12:25
When I bought an alternator from eurocarparts they charged VAT on the surcharge and refunded it back with the VAT inc as well.
So you're lookng at circa £150 from GSF + cost of sending both of your rear calipers back which isn't going to be cheap, unless you have a store near you of course.
Yeah, I have a store in Valley Road, Plympton (Plymouth, Devon) which is near me so it wasn't a problem. At the end of the day it came down to price unfortunately rather than service etc.
Matthew
Just a follow up really. Received my calipers from "parts-centre-uk" on ebay. He sent calipers 48 hour via parcel force and they turned up next. They are very shiny, lol. Comes with the fitting grease and instructions on fitting.
I'm gonna get the calipers fitted by the garage as I can't afford to screw up really considering I really need my MOT done. Roll on Friday and should all be done :)
Anyway, top recommendation for parts-centre-uk. I would defo use him again.
Matthew
BristolSam16v
13-02-2008, 13:23
Yup got mine pretty much the next day! Only thing with these one's is they don't have the pad retaining screws but its not like you need them anyway.
Have you looked to see if the handbrake cables are seized in the calipers?
No, to be honest I haven't checked. The guys at the garage went into some depth about the problem, and I'm inclined to believe them on this occasion.
Also, the pad retaining clips and springs came with my calipers thankfully.
Matthew
BristolSam16v
13-02-2008, 17:49
Yeah make sure he fits the clips right. So are you getting new cables as well then?
white16valver
13-02-2008, 18:19
You really might as well as they're only a tenner a side!
BristolSam16v
13-02-2008, 20:24
You really might as well as they're only a tenner a side!
exactly and guaranteed to be seized in.
I will make sure he has done it right :)
To be honest, I don't know which cables they are replacing, (are there 2 or 3?), but he said it was very stretched. If it is only about £10 to £20 more I will get them all done as that seems sensible. It making hell of a noise and has done ever since it was MOT'd by the previous garage (and Mercedes dealership!), and has never worked without wrenching it on.
With all the new bits the car is getting it will be a sad day when I eventually sell it :(
Matthew
BristolSam16v
14-02-2008, 14:42
Yeah 2 cables 1 on each side, they are around £14, probably be quicker to cut the old ones when taking the caliper off than trying to punch them out.
In that case, I'll make sure they just replace both :) Thanks Sam.
Was tempted to fit new rear discs, but they are pretty expensive items and mine were actually ok. Maybe next time.
Matthew
Great... supplier managed to send the drum version of the handbrake cables the first time instead of the rear caliper version, and the correct set haven't turned up yet. Looking like I won't get my car back till Monday now :(
Matthew
white16valver
15-02-2008, 20:12
damn :(
You have my sort of luck... lol
Will find out later what the deal is with the bill and handbrake etc. Luckily I have my wifes card with me today lol.
Matthew
white16valver
18-02-2008, 12:58
Good luck! :lol:
Realised I forgot to ask for the calipers back. Will try my best as I want to take some photo's when I take them apart etc.
Matthew
In very close matching the words of the guy at the garage:
"In all honesty, I charged you more for labour because you bought your own parts, and when I give a quote I factor in making a profit on the parts".
That's says to me that they wanted to make X amount of me and didn't really mind how they did it.
£176 !!! I supplied the rear calipers. They supplied the handbrake cables the a £4 exhaust rear rubber mount and the labour.
Seriously fecked off right now. That basically means there was no point in me buying my own calipers as I couldn't afford them from that place originally. Considering I work in the building next to them with just over 500 professional IT people, you can bet they'll be an email going around this week making a real gleaming recommendation for the garage next door :x We also have a 'recommend' page on our intranet for things like this.
£4--------> 1 x Exhaust Mount
£26-------> 2 x handbrakes cables
£120-----> Labour (how handy such a nice round figure).
£26.25---> VAT
Total £176.25
I mainly went back to have the job done there as I figured being a small business they'd appreciate the business, and the mechanic seemed to know his stuff. If I'd had the money originally I would have just let them do the job, and not worried. I had said I couldn't afford it so would have to rebook for when my wife got paid.
The guy even said "Your brakes will be much more snappy now with those new rear calipers, be careful". I got in the car and my gosh, the brake pedal was nearly too the floor before the brakes started to engage! Before with basically just my front brakes and my "14% efficiency" rear brakes, I was stopping fantastically with not half the pedal. As most of the work is done by the front brakes, I wondering if they even bled the system! I'll be buying some fluid on the way home and redoing the rears as that is shocking.
At least I have an MOT, although I am throughly peeved.
Matthew
I should have done it myself and not bothered actually honouring anything I said, and just let them adjust the lights (that I doubt they have even touched), and just let them charge me labour for that.
Actual garage is in Plymouth PL6. If people actually want to know so they can avoid it, I will post the name. I've considered it, but for the moment I will hold fire.
Matthew
white16valver
18-02-2008, 15:45
Pffft
Name and shame, mate, name and shame...
I understand that they have to make a profit but that's what the labour charge's for, surely?
Robbing cunts :x
Might be worth ringing your local Trading Standards to see what they say, but they'll probably just blame you for not confirming the quote with your own calipers :roll:
Sorry to hear it was so much though :( Wounder when someone takes advantage :(
I'm sure a sign on the main road into Plymouth would help as well, as it is right next to it, and people wouldn't know it's there otherwise, and sure they won't bother afterwards :D
Matthew
white16valver
18-02-2008, 17:28
LoL
Something like "This garage adds labour charges until it thinks it's charged you enough"
:wink:
lol, I like it :)
On the plus side, I made sure I asked for my calipers back!
Matthew
BristolSam16v
19-02-2008, 14:19
So how many hours labour did they charge you for?? And forget bleeding the brakes yourself, Id be straight back there asking what they think they're playing at, they charged you enough!
Too pee'd off with them to bother, rather do it myself like I should have done in the first place. I don't trust them to do **** all after what they have pulled.
Matthew
cliowilly2
19-02-2008, 19:08
i used to work in a garage n my boss used to charge a bit extra if you supplied your own parts 2!! tight old sod he was!! but i'd of defo gone straight back and complained about the brakes, how has it passed an mot like that?? did they just need bleeding??
BristolSam16v
19-02-2008, 20:49
Yup I had a 'new' rear caliper fitted on mine couple years back when I didn't know how to do it myself.
When I changed them the other month the 'new' one they had fitted was compeltely fubar'd, took the rubber seal off the back and it was full of shit all the grease was gone, no wonder the handbrake didnt work. Looks like they fitted the wrong handbrake cable as well!
mike16valver
29-02-2008, 17:45
They are even more pricey now. :evil:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200191902647&ssPageName=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_PR4_PCN_BIX_Stores&refitem=200198635733&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&refwidgettype=osi_widget&_trksid=p284.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DSI%26its%3DI%252BIA%26itu%3DIA%25 2BUCI%26otn%3D4%26ps%3D42
wudn't of minded a set of these.
BristolSam16v
29-02-2008, 19:57
Just had a little search, here's a pair listed for £47.95+postage a side!
RH:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CITROEN-SAXO-ZX-O-S-RH-REAR-CALIPER-NEW-UNIT_W0QQitemZ200202833866QQihZ010QQcategoryZ10376 QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem
LH:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CITROEN-SAXO-ZX-N-S-LH-REAR-CALIPER-NEW-UNIT_W0QQitemZ160212083736QQihZ006QQcategoryZ10376 QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem
;)
BristolSam16v
29-02-2008, 19:58
Obviously have to edit the link so it says "c i t r o e n" rather than "citroen"
Swervin_Mervin
29-02-2008, 21:56
Get your arse down a scrappers and dig about on all the pugs/ citroens and renaults.
BristolSam16v
29-02-2008, 23:57
Get your arse down a scrappers and dig about on all the pugs/ citroens and renaults.
chances are they will be at least half shagged though! for £50ish you might as well buy new ones...
Swervin_Mervin
01-03-2008, 00:47
They made Citroen Xsaras until very, very recently. Oh and where are you getting new ones for £50? I could only ever get refurbs for that.
BristolSam16v
01-03-2008, 03:49
Oh right, wasn't sure how new they made xsaras? anyway the link above is for new calipers not re-conditioned (according to the ebay ad)...
Ooo.. this reminds me. Must take a look at the calipers in my boot to see how they are put together and take some pics for you guys :)
Matthew
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