Sticking caliper options

Relentless81

Relentless81

Relentless81

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Joined
18 May 2010
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The car is booked in for a service next month and I know its going to be mentioned that one of the calipers is sticking, its already been free'd up once so I'm wondering what my options are

I dont fancy forking out for a new caliper as the brakes are rubbish and one of the only things I dislike about the car

What do people usually do in this situation, can a caliper be properly refurbished?

Can I upgrade both front calipers to something more interesting if so what kind of monies would I be looking at?

Thanks for any advice
 
Eurocarparts have 25% off at the moment, i've just bagged two new rear pagid calipers for a great price, might be worth having a look.

Other than that get some good blanks installed and proper pads, will be night and day better.
 
Yes you can upgrade your brakes. What kind of braking system you want and how much you willing to spend. It can range from bigger brakes from a hotter model (mk3 polo gt solid discs to mk2 golf gti/ polo g40 wider calipers for vented discs) to a custom brakeing system spec, like on a race car.
 
www.brakesint.co.uk sell calipers on a trade in basis, think my rear left me about £60 out of pocket, I had the exact same model back, but in what looked like brand new condition. Fronts were cheaper.

I'll 100% be doing this again for my next bad caliper. Not worth the ball ache of doing it myself tbh..
 
^Looks like a weird site, Wanapart, but I've used it about 3 or 4 times in the past, excellent service!
 
Thanks for the suggestions

What is considered as a good blank and pads? EBC? Would be nice to keep the brake dust down, a lot of people on the owners club seem to go for MTEC discs and Mintex pads, not sure why as I dont really here of them anywhere else
 
Be aware that if you are using this as an opportunity to upgrade, most part factors will be selling you a new/refurbished caliper on an exchange basis.

These exchanges generally have to be be like-for-like, and if that's the case you won't be able to use your current calipers as exchange.

I had this recently with Brakes International, who would not accept my 1.6 calipers as exchange for 1.9 calipers (and rightly so I suppose)
I got around it by purchasing refurbished calipers outright (no exchange) via Ebay which was still cheaper.
 
Lopéz said:
Speaking of which - ECP sell via a sister company/site which is called Car Parts 4 Less - which stocks identical items but generally a lot cheaper. I got a new heater matrix from there recently for £12 which ECP wanted £18 for.
Click to expand...

Interesting info, thanks, I have an EPC 2miles from work so it's ideal, however they usually turn out to be expensive without a discount code.

I've had everything from cambelt kits to thermostats off them recently so discount codes have saved quite a wedge in the process.
 
eBay were doing cheap Honda calipers. I had to get a new rear for mine as it was sticking.

Was car is yorus again
 
Take it off the disc, remove the pads, pump the peddle VERY slowly until the pistons are a little bit further out, get brake cleaner with cotton buds.. clean them.

I do it on the bike twice a year, it's like having new brakes.
 
The alternative is to replace the seals and potentially replace the piston. If you need to go all the way then it might not be much cheaper than an exchange caliper (if at all). Unfortunately you can only tell of the piston is pitted once you have it out of the caliper itself, for this reason if nothing else this is a doing option rather than having a garage do it. I suspect the labour would be double that of just unbolting an old caliper and replacing then bleeding the system - which you'll have to do anyway. If the piston is damaged there id no point in just replacing the seals, will only tear again
 
Decided what I'll if it needs replacing which is more than likely, I think I'll do an exchange via Brakes International or similar and if the pads/discs are low enough I'll get them done at the same time in exchange for something a little more interesting than standard

Does anyone know if Brakes International fit on site, it doesnt say on their website and I'm assuming they're just a disti, I'll give them a call tomorrow
 
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