Rebuild Calipers - DIY? or Buy Rebuilt?
 

Hello,

I've seen a lot of threads regarding this process--with very few people saying that it was easy and that they had no issues rebuilding their brake calipers.

Some post that it just makes sense to order rebuilt calipers and not have to deal with the headaches associated with the DIY rebuild process.

Can anyone share your thoughts on which is easier/better and why, please?

I haven't looked for rebuilt caliper prices, but the rebuild kits our host sells are inexpensive.

This is for my 1985 911 Carrera.

Thanks.

Lawrence

If you have the time and are willing to get down and dirty, rebuilding brake caliper for our car is not much of headache.

I'm about to rebuild four calipers in my '78 ER suspension and Carrera brake upgrade.

I'll post lots of pics, but having rebuilt a number of motorcycle calipers, it's not bad. The only problem I've come across is finding pitted caliper pistons and then having to source a new pair. This just adds unforeseen time to the rebuild, whereas buying refurbished calipers is just a quick swap.

I did my own because I am broke and cheap.
If I could afford it, I would DEFINITELY pay the pros for this job.

I agree with rnln, not really that hard. I did my rear calipers last winter, and it just took a little time. I had never done a caliper rebuild before. Mind you, this was NOT splitting the caliper halves, just remove and replace the piston seals. The part that took so long was cleaning the piston bore in the caliper. There was a lot of gunk caked on the inside of the bore that took some pretty good work with a scrubee type pad to get off. Once done and a back together, put in new fluid and bleed. It would be a good time to replace the rubber lines if they have not been checked/replaced for a few years.

HTH,
Craig

I did mine for the first time over the holidays. I was a little hesitant to tackle at first. Would do again in a heartbeat after doing once. Comments below.

1). After lots of reading here about tips / tricks, found the process to be easier than expected.

2). Two things were a little troublesome but not deal breakers looking back. The caliper bolts were a bear to break loose. Wasn't expecting that. The dust boot covers are a little fiddly to seat but bending down a few of the metal tabs made it easier.

3). I got a WHOLE LOT DIRTIER than expected. My hands still have traces of brake grime.

I spent a day taking everything apart and maybe another day to clean and put it all back together. Really was pretty straightforward. No "oh crap, what did I get myself into" moments. Even getting the piston orientation correct in the calipers was easy. Brakes are silent for me now (squealed like a pig before).

Worth doing too... one of my rear pistons was binding and all the dust boots were mangled. Brakes feel way better now.

I rebuilt my own calipers without too much problems but after seeing this video of the proceedures at PMB, this is the route I will go next time. I say this simply because my brakes are still gray and old looking and the re-plating that they do makes it worth the cost to me (I think they charge about $300 per pair for a complete restoration but you would have to check their site)


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DIY rebuild but only after pulling the pistons and confirming the condition of the piston's cylinder bore and the pistons themselves. Any doubts at all and go to reman.

Almost any parts shop can get you remans less expensively then some Porsche vendor.

I read a lot of threads here about rebuilding calipers and almost all said not to split the caliper halves if they aren't leaking. After seeing that video, I'm not real sure what the reservations would be as long as you have the correct O rings and a torque wrench.

There really isn't that much to doing a rebuild. I did my M's. I am certainly glad I didn't need pistons. I think the pistons I sourced were more than whole rebuilt units.

You wasted a LOT of time needlessly.

"pig sqealing" is mostly due to the lack of chamferring both the leading and trailing edges of the brake pads. Your new pads undoubtedly came chamferred but when they begin to squeal just take a file....

How did I waste time?

My labor is free, my rear caliper had a frozen piston, the boots were all torn and I had odd braking symptoms. Rebuilding the calipers, new MC, new pads, new hoses and lots of bleeding gave me a great (and more confident) brake system.

I'm rebuilding the calipers of my SC right now and it's been pretty straight forward. I ordered my seal kits from Eric at PMB which include the seals that go between the halves. Eric is a good resource and is very willing to talk over the phone and answer your questions. He's the source!

From my experience:
If you want them replated like new, have Eric at PMB do them.
If you don't mind a painted finish, rebuild them yourself.

Anyone have theirs zinc plated while they are apart? Any issues with this??

If I can do it, anybody can. I rebuilt brakes on two cars, a 70 and an 88. Sticking pistons and mangled boots. New lines pads etc. Painted with caliper paint. Lots of bleeding, the brakes that is. Gives you a satisfied feeling and you know more about your car. Compressed air is your friend but use with care. You can do it.

In the video, PMB zinc plates while the halves are sepreated.

I did mine and just repainted them with gold high-temp paint. They came out really nice looking and functioning. As Craig states above, you likely will need to clean out a lot of gunk in the piston chamber. I had to.

Also... I used a grease gun and a zert adapter on the bleeder to pump the piston out. I can explain how I did this in more detail if you wind up with a stuck piston like I did. Works like a charm.

I did mine about 6 mts ago. A dirty job but not a hard one. I used air to remove the pistons and to make the job very easy i installed speed bleeders.

They are the duck's guts! I wish they'd make them for other vehicles.

Like in lots of different sizes? Speed Bleeder Sizes

:-)

andy