Repair or replace rear calipers?

Yes, another MikeKnight thread asking for help. Because I'm a technical dunce. :whistle:

I'll be replacing my brakes soon and was wondering if it's better to overhaul old calipers or just buy new ones? I can get anodised new ones for around £55 a pop online to replace mine, if that's the better option. I ask because my handbrake is totally non-functional and I'm pretty certain the rear calipers are to blame, they've either failed completely or are locked.

Add to the fact I'll probably be doing my brakes at Adams.. I don't want to leave my car on his drive as I take the calipers home to clean and recondition and paint. That would just be rude.

On the other hand I don't want to spend another £100 if I can help it! :lol: Are these things hard to recondition?

MikeKnight;14832 wrote: Yes, another MikeKnight thread asking for help. Because I'm a technical dunce. :whistle:

I'll be replacing my brakes soon and was wondering if it's better to overhaul old calipers or just buy new ones? I can get anodised new ones for around £55 a pop online to replace mine, if that's the better option. I ask because my handbrake is totally non-functional and I'm pretty certain the rear calipers are to blame, they've either failed completely or are locked.

Add to the fact I'll probably be doing my brakes at Adams.. I don't want to leave my car on his drive as I take the calipers home to clean and recondition and paint. That would just be rude.

On the other hand I don't want to spend another £100 if I can help it! :lol: Are these things hard to recondition?

Any overhauling you can do is, at best a temporary solution. Bite the bullet and spend £100. I replaced both our rear calipers two years ago and have had no problem with the handbrake since. Been through 2 MOTs.

I believe the troublesome needle roller bearing within the caliper (that causes all the problem) is now replaced by a nylon sleeve and therefore unlikely to have the same problem.

Do I need new caliper carriers too?

I'm a bit confused as to what the carriers do. Shouldn't they come as part of the caliper?

No The carriers are reused. They actually bolt to the hub and the pads sit in them. Then the caliper is attached to the carrier by two sliding bolts.

Ah right-o.

I'll see if I can wrangle an early birthday present from someone. :lol:

David Aiketgate;14833 wrote: Any overhauling you can do is, at best a temporary solution. Bite the bullet and spend £100. I replaced both our rear calipers two years ago and have had no problem with the handbrake since. Been through 2 MOTs.

I believe the troublesome needle roller bearing within the caliper (that causes all the problem) is now replaced by a nylon sleeve and therefore unlikely to have the same problem.

i HATE thoes needles! taking my engine out i was stuck for a whole day on thoes dam things!

Adam-MGTF;14894 wrote: i HATE thoes needles! taking my engine out i was stuck for a whole day on thoes dam things!

I should have been touching wood when I posted about the rear calipers on our car.
Today, the handbrake went floppy and I felt that something on the brakes was dragging. Nice smell of hot brake pad dust, too.
I got out and got under, yep N/S handbrake lever stuck on! Luckily a quick tap with a spanner freed it until I could get home.

Jacked up the rear and disconnected the handbrake cables. Off side caliper - the lever is nice and free, snaps back into position. Nearside caliper - oh dear - sticks in whatever position you move it to.
'Oh gonads' says I. I took the caliper off and freed the mechanism as per my how to . Cleared out the gunk and replaced with nice high temp grease. Worked the lever until it was free and replaced the caliper. Bled it and reattached the cables, Job's a good 'un!

It now comes back to me that when I replaced the rear calipers, one was a reconditioned caliper, the other was an 'old stock' new one.

Guess which one has failed?

Well I've bought two reconditioned calipers that're gold anodised for corrosion resistance, but they're professionally reconditioned by a company who knows what they're doing and are pressure tested. They also come with 1 year warranty.

MikeKnight;14916 wrote: Well I've bought two reconditioned calipers that're gold anodised for corrosion resistance, but they're professionally reconditioned by a company who knows what they're doing and are pressure tested. They also come with 1 year warranty.

It is the 'New' one that has failed!

Oh dear. :lol:

MikeKnight;14916 wrote: Well I've bought two reconditioned calipers that're gold anodised for corrosion resistance, but they're professionally reconditioned by a company who knows what they're doing and are pressure tested. They also come with 1 year warranty.

What is the name of the company who supplied your "gold anodised" reconditioned rear callipers and how much did they cost, unsure if i need them at the moment as have not dismantled the rear suspension /brakes yet, but as the front was locked solid i expect the rears to be bad too (my F stood unused in the open for two years before i bought it)

Here you go Bryan: http://shop.instant-shop.com/JRT-Automotive/category1930649.html

You can get a refund of £11.50 (I think, somewhere around that amount) per caliper if you send them your old servicable calipers. That offer is good for 6 months after purchase of new calipers.