Sticky brake calipers - repair kits any good?

S

Sae

Senior member
Hey guys, got sticky hand brake caliper on my DD - Honda EP3, I only noticed it today when it was applying a fair it of pressure after handbrake being released it was still grinding, rear hub was eminating a lot of heat :(

Anyway, quick visit to ATS for a checkover as they were only garages open and they recommended getting a new caliper... will give me a call with quote but looking at ballpark £150-£200 including labour for fitting... sheeeez.

However, found some caliper repair kits on webbay like these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-CIV...2.0+Type-R&hash=item4d1d431c75#ht_6123wt_1350

Anyone done any brake rebuilds here? Or would you expect garages to offer a brake rebuild/refurb service? Obviously would prefer to get both rears refurbed rather than fork out for new caliper sets, but what is more reliable/safer?

Any experiences on above welcome, cheers
 
Unsure what the repair kit consists of but might be worth looking on e-bay for any refurbished calipers. My experience of seized or binding calipers is they can be freed up fine by being dismantled and cleaned up but found they tend seize up again. I had a front caliper seize on the Z3 last year and although there were plenty of recon calipers on e-bay decided to get a new replacement in the end.

Tim.
 
My experience is refurb kits are good money chasing bad. You may well replace the seals and piston, but the bores are still the same scared mess.
I do accept that if it had a leaking seal then it might just work, but seized is not a seal issue, but more likely dirt/corrosion.

Bite the bullet and get a refurbed unit or even a breaker and fit that yourself.
 
Cheers guys, will go down the route of replacing, and then see if the faulty caliper can be refurbed.
Better to be safe than sorry, I'm thinking should replace the pair of rear calipers to be ultra safe.
 
Sae said:
Cheers guys, will go down the route of replacing, and then see if the faulty caliper can be refurbed.
Better to be safe than sorry, I'm thinking should replace the pair of rear calipers to be ultra safe.
Click to expand...


I don't think it necessary to replace calipers in pairs, so long as the other one has no obvious issues. For sure pads and disks as pairs.
 
cj10jeeper said:
Sae said:
Cheers guys, will go down the route of replacing, and then see if the faulty caliper can be refurbed.
Better to be safe than sorry, I'm thinking should replace the pair of rear calipers to be ultra safe.
Click to expand...


I don't think it necessary to replace calipers in pairs, so long as the other one has no obvious issues. For sure pads and disks as pairs.
Click to expand...

Hmm, the cars done 120k miles, so I'm thinking that the other side may go soon, to which a new set of pads will also be required again, so thinking about this as a proactive cost cutting replacement. I can see if the old set of calipers can be refurbed and if so then sell as a refurbed pair/set...maybe?
 
For sure as preventative maintenance and sell the old ones or even part ex for the new that some companies require.
 
cj10jeeper said:
For sure as preventative maintenance and sell the old ones or even part ex for the new that some companies require.
Click to expand...

Cheers, going to look into this route :thumbsup:
 
Btw, update went with a set of refurb calipers from wannaparts.co.uk
After returning/refund for my old set works out at about £140 for a pair of rear calipers. I think thats a result considering honda one was asking £450 for one original caliper :o
But will only really know true value once fitted - this weekend - fingers crossed.
 
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