Not taken as a jab. I have attempted to rebuild the caliper on my 98 civic. It was sticky before rebuild, and sticky after. There are a couple places you can get calipers and rebuild parts up here, FLAPS as some call them (Favorite Local Autoparts Stores). All of the calipers you can get at these places are rebuilt. However, they are rebuilt using inferior materials to OE spec. Fasteners that rust in no time, pins out of spec or not true. The rebuild kit you can get from Acklands is of the same quality.blink32 wrote:This is my point. Who is not recommending rebuilding calipers? The mechanics selling you their parts and services? Of course they recommend replacing it. Liability and more $$$. The less time it takes them to get the job in and out the more $$$ they make overall. Not to mention the mark-up on the parts.disallow wrote: OK... well let me clarify... rebuilding a seized caliper is not recommended because:
1. You don't know what parts, or to what extent, are warped.
2. If its really seized, trying to rebuild will be similar to other exercises in futility.
3. Its cheaper to buy a complete new/rebuilt caliper anyways.
It's quite easy to identify failed parts. But you don't even need to. In a rebuild everything except the caliper is replaced anyways because it will be assumed those parts are damaged and are cheap enough. Determining if a caliper is warped is only as far away as a true flat measuring tool.
The only time a rebuild will turn into an exercise in futility is when the operator does not complete the work properly. That I will agree with.
I don't see how a hand full of of dust boots, two guides, two bolts, a seal and piston is more expensive than a whole reman-caliper (unless you get the parts via a dealer). At a quoted price of $125 each caliper I can go down to Grainger and get everything I need for far less than that. But I will concede that the average person no longer has the drive to do this and will take the easy way out.
It all goes back to the operator. You don't do the work properly your seals will not seat and your work will be worthless. But that's why tools are made and procedures are meant to be followed. This is not a jab at you but have you ever rebuilt a caliper or brake cylinder? I ask because you make good points but they reek of urban legend more than practice. I have rebuilt brake cylinders and calipers with out issue that are in use on the roads now. It is ridiculously easy.
After my experience with my civic, I am pretty stuck on buying OE replacements. If there are OE rebuilds available, I would buy them, but I have learnt my lesson on AM rebuilds, and AM rebuild kits.
Also, the average DIYer does not have the proper tools to do a caliper rebuild.