Front nearside brake calliper needing replacement

[itguy]

Hi everyone

My front nearside brake calliper has seized again. I've freed it off once before and cleaned it up but it's obviously needing a major overhaul so I'm going to just replace it.

I've looked around at what they cost and they start on eBay at about £40 and gsf / eurocarparts are at around £100 with about £20-30 back when you give them your old one in exchange.

Anyone got experience of the eBay ones or others?

 

[Ewazix]

I bought my front callipers from Brakes International aka brakeparts.co.uk who replace all moving bits and properly pressure test them. They have been on for 18 months with no problems and were cheaper than ECB for example. The surcharge deposit was refunded OK even though my old ones were rotten!

Don't bother buying slide pins separately (like I did) as new ones come with the calliper and add VAT to Prices
http://brakeparts.co.uk/#page=vehicle&pageSection=model&mancode=BMW&brand=BMW&model=Z4

 

[weegeoff]

Buy a repair kit and some hydraulic oil take your calliper off. pads off. AT THIS POINT LOOSON YOUR BRAKE PIPE make sure you can move it. have a small G clamp or mole grips ready fill up your reservoir, Put your calliper in a bowl or on a old towel. Blow the piston out by pumping the brake NOT to hard Try to get someone to give you a hand for this bit. Clamp the pipe NOW take the brake pipe off you will have to turn the calliper holding the pipe with a spanner. Get rid of all the old rubber seals . Take the piston and clean it up try to get rid of the rusty bits Putting it back to gather is a bit fiddly. Put the rubber ring in the barrel, moisten the barrel with hydraulic, put the gaiter on the piston at the end you are going to put in the barrel. This is were it gets a bit hard The piston has to go in STRAIGHT and you have to put the seal in at the same time. You will need a vice or a large G clamp. You will have to keep looking to make sure the piston is straight DO NOT FORCE IT If it is not straight it will jam and you WILL need a new calliper Once it is all the way in You can now put the brake pipe on by screwing the calliper to the pipe do not try to tighten all the way up Now fit calliper back on the car etc tighten the brake pipe remove clamp ,bleed, That's it [I think} If I have missed anything some will say.

 

[Rory]

Ive just bought a front nearside caliper this weekend funnily enough. Was from Euro car parts , they do Pagid ones so Im happy with that brand.

Should hopefully get it on this week. I wouldn't buy any cheapo ebay ones, its only a few quid more for a brand name you can trust.

 

[Ewazix]

Sometimes they aren't worth refurbing yourself,





A short video I did a while ago, not professional but gives a good idea (watch it twice once without sound as there is a lot of info)
http://youtu.be/JfidrJ6vhN0

 

[ESP]

Sometimes they aren't worth refurbing yourself,





A short video I did a while ago, not professional but gives a good idea (watch it twice once without sound as there is a lot of info)
http://youtu.be/JfidrJ6vhN0

If you stripped that down im sure the internals would be shiney and smooth still. Just needs a wire brushing, and new seals, then a lick of Halfords caliper spray. Its a cheap and easy diy job. 12month on the reconned ones will look like the old ones on the outside.

 

[Ewazix]

Sometimes they aren't worth refurbing yourself,





A short video I did a while ago, not professional but gives a good idea (watch it twice once without sound as there is a lot of info)
http://youtu.be/JfidrJ6vhN0

If you stripped that down im sure the internals would be shiney and smooth still. Just needs a wire brushing, and new seals, then a lick of Halfords caliper spray. Its a cheap and easy diy job. 12month on the reconned ones will look like the old ones on the outside.

You are right to say that it's worth inspecting the interior surface of the calliper and condition of the piston, I've re-built callipers in the past as you suggest. Unfortunately as can be seen the piston was badly pitted and beyond safe restoration. The cost of a new piston, fitting kit and slide pins was more than a fully refurbished calliper, plus I get a shiny calliper which a year on has not corroded, but it's sorned over winter so avoided the deadly salt!

 

[ESP]

Very true.
Iv done a few also. Halfords want £35 for a refurb kit last year, but I found someone on ebay that did them for £12 so I did mine myself.
You do get covered in brake dust and shite that stains hands and it's not a great saving as u say exchange callipers are not much more.

I just enjoyed the satisfaction of doing it myself, but in hindsight if I have to do it again I might get new ones.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sammysquid]

I just changed my near side due to it sticking.
I went for ECP, there is a 25% discount code which made the caliper £82? and then the £24 surcharge back make it £58ish? I didn't think it was worth refurb myself at that price - I had read on other forums of 3 series owners that they are known for sticking and tends to be recurring theme!