$59.99! Rebuilt calipers! Why not for 911's?

[MotoSook]

I love it. I found myself rebuilding the front brake system on my sister's Toyota 4-Runner over the weekend. The pad backing plate and rotors were already intimate...so it was new rotors and pads, repack wheel bearings, etc,...

We'll the pad wear was rather unusual so I figured one of the caliper had a stuck pistons..yep!

I just got off the phone with Pep Boys, and I can pick up a 4-piston rebuilt caliper for $59.99 with a core exchange. (the pad area on that sucker is huge...I think bigger than the 951 calipers/pads I have on my work bench..I'll have to check, but how about the GruppeB Toyota brake caliper upgrade on a 911? )

Why the heck can't someone do this for us? I have rebuilt the calipers on my Bastard before. and it's not too bad. But! Sometimes, like when you find out the week of a DE that you need to rebuild a caliper, it would be nice to have a caliper sent, I pop it in and pack up the old one..all in less than an hour. DONE!

I like working in the garage more than most guys I know, but I would like that kind of convenience sometimes. I know our 911's are not like the numerous imports or domestics out there, but surely there must be a butt load of M and A calipers out there that could be rebuilt and packaged so that they could be sent out for a swap with a core charge.

I think I just found something I can do if I ever get fired from my job for posting on this BBS too much.

[Vipergrün]

Vertex Auto has a caliper program like that. They just charge you the core cost until they receive it, then credit you. IIRC, it was like $99.00 for an SC or Carrera front caliper with exchange..

[Rot 911]

All about supply and demand. Lots more demand for Toyota parts than Porsche.

[JasonF]

I had some issues with a caliper on my 993 and my mechanic told me "on the record" that Porsche no longer recommends rebuilding brake calipers (kinda like having to replace a punctured tire with a brand new tire)...Off the record, he rebuilt it and the caliper works fine...

[MotoSook]

I checked their site after I posted the thread, but I still think it's obscene to charge 99 bucks for a rebuilt caliper when the soft goods cost them 6-10 bucks! Someone with a bench set up to rebuild calipers could do it in less than an hour each. Oh well, I guess that's why I do all my own work...(note to self: accept the inflated parts and service prices for 911's and just b!tch about it to the BBS)

[Rot 911]

By the way Souk, that lawyer joke was totally uncalled for and I demand an immediate apology or I sue!

[rob justice]

Over here its no problem at all - my rebuilt exchange calipers were Ł32.00 each - works out at approx $55!!!!
There arrived looking brand new - complete with test certs and guarantee - didn't even have to get my hands mucky

[MotoSook]

Kurt, be careful. I know a few old ladys in your town

I'm not saying that one can't rebuild one's calipers, just that it would be nice to get a rebuilt unit to swap when you don't want to nor have the time to rebuild it. And I want it cheap! CHEAP!

Tthere is a huge margin in that $99 rebuilt unit from you know who...at $99, more people are likely to rebuilt there calipers themselves using $12 worth of parts...now, wouldn't you pay $59.99 for a rebuilt unit?

Oh well, I guess the $99 rebuilt is gonna have to do in a pinch

[MotoSook]

Originally posted by rob justice
Over here its no problem at all - my rebuilt exchange calipers were Ł32.00 each - works out at approx $55!!!!
There arrived looking brand new - complete with test certs and guarantee - didn't even have to get my hands mucky

THATS WHY I'M SCREAMING!

Once you've tackled the task of a caliper rebuild, the later rebuilds are just a PITA. For $59 (x2) and 1/2-1.0 hour of work, you could have a fresh set of calipers....

When you rebuilt it yourself, you can run into a stuck piston, rust, gunk, gop, grease, groddy stuff..an busted knuckle wrestling with a cocked piston, etc...

Give me that "looking brand new" caliper for 59 bucks any day!!!!

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rob justice]

Souk - this is great - for once things are cheaper over here - usually we're getting ripped off over here big style.
I forgot to mention - the exchange caliper bodies were zinc? coated as per new and fitted with new seals, pistons, bolts and bleed nipple.
From what I could see - the only exchange part was the caliper body.

[MotoSook]

Rob, you guys suck But I know what you mean about you guys getting ripped off. That's what you get for wearings plaid skirts >.LOL (sorry, I couldn't resist).

[RickM]

Originally posted by Souk
Tthere is a huge margin in that $99 rebuilt unit from you know who...at $99, more people are likely to rebuilt there calipers themselves using $12 worth of parts...now, wouldn't you pay $59.99 for a rebuilt unit?

Last year I went to Pep Boys for a rebuilt caliper for my brother's '99 Honda Accord....$89.

[TRE Cup]

We've tried rebuilts in the past , for the financially challenged, and have had mixed results. If you can put up with failed dust seals and mediocre performance from time to time, okay. Otherwise new is the best way to go, or rebuild it yourself with quality ATE parts. Make sure you don't have any damaged parts after you take them apart and inspect them

[MotoSook]

Really! Tell me there was a 40 dollar core chage in there Rick....

[MotoSook]

Dave, you're taking some of my heat away man..give a guy something to vent about already But I see your point. But But, isn't a core charge dependent on a rebuildable core. If I one were to send in a caliper with a busted ear or a piston that was fused to the caliper by corrosion..surely, that is not a rebuildable core and the customer should accept it..else we'll send the goon squard out and break their legs..right?

[thrown_hammer]

I am all for the four piston Toyota upgrade kit Souk......Throw them in with my SOUKARBS!

[MotoSook]

I could play around with machining the steel Toyota calipers much cheaper than the alloy calipers I have on the bench

Actually, I was over at Ray's last weekend and noticed an ATE 4-piston caliper (well Ray mentioned it) might also be another solution...the bastard way...yet, still within the family

[RickM]

Originally posted by Souk
Really! Tell me there was a 40 dollar core chage in there Rick....

I'm pretty sure that it was $89 after core "rebate".

[TRE Cup]

souk
you are correct about rebuildable cores- the rebuilder has to get something that he can rebuild and sell to the next person. The rebuilders typically buy calipers from junk yards for $5 each- this w/o inspecting them too closely. Their reasoning is out of every 10 calipers, 7-8 are rebuildable. So the #s are in their favor that way. When rebuilders have low volume items- such as doing only 10-20 calipers at a time, their pricing goes up. add in the usual cost of doing business, shelf cost, and liability insurance gives you some understanding why a shop would charge 40-60% higher doing 10-20 Porsche calipers, rather than 200 toyotas at a time. Also i am sure seal kits cost more for the P cars as well

[RickM]

I think this can work the other way as well...when demand is very high.

The last generation Accord has caliper problems that occur often. Demand for used (core) units is high, therefore the price goes up.