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ricomartinez · Joined: 22 Oct 2003 Posts: 63 Location: Prattville, AL

I need to rebuild my brake system. Already have the master cyl issue taken care of. I figure my calipers need addressing too. I've noticed I can get either rebuild them myself for about $15-20 for the front rebuild kit, or I can buy rebuilt calipers for about $100 for the fronts (I'll get around to the rears later). Can anyone speak from experience whether or not it seems better to rebuild myself or buy rebuilts? Also, the calipers come "loaded", "unloaded", or "semi-loaded". Can anyone explain this? Thanks.

gohim · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 4459 Location: Rialto, CA

Rebuilding the brake calipers is a simple procedure.

Remove the caliper from the car, pop out the piston using compressed air (I use a bicycle pump). Clean and inspect the parts, lubricate, and replace the piston seal and boot. Then you reinstall the piston, and set the angle of the machined cut on the contact face of the piston (to the brake pad) to "toe-in" the brake pads.

Loaded calipers include all of the parts that fit on or into the caliper (caliper, brake pads, and brake pad hardware). This is not the way to go if your hardware is still good (replacement hardware costs about $50 for two calipers from Porsche), and you are reusing your existing brake pads, or already have new pads. You also get "mystery pads on "loaded calipers" which means you need to buy two.

Unloaded calipers may not include the caliper frame (which I actually consider to be part of the capiers, but who am I?). No brake pads or brake pad hardware included.

Semi-Loaded? What's that? Maybe you get the caliper frame?

Rebuilding a pair of front brake calipers could cost you $30-$40 for two seal kits, $50 for the brake hardware kit, and $30-$80 for a set of front pads.

That's less than if you bought loaded rebuilt calipers with mystery pads, and harware from who knows where, assembled by who knows (who gets paid $.25 an hour).

If I were you, before I decided what to do, I would remove the calipers, and disassemble them to see if they are candidates for rebuilding. If the pistons or cylinder walls are bad, and the calipers are not worth rebuilding, get the rebuilts. BUT TAKE THEM APART TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE PROPERLY REBUILT BEFORE YOU PUT THEM ON YOUR CAR.

ricomartinez · Joined: 22 Oct 2003 Posts: 63 Location: Prattville, AL

Gotcha, thanks. Just needed some more info from experience. Leaning toward doing myself, but currently have relatively more money than time. But if rebuilds are suspect, I know I can get a rebuild kit for the front seals for about $15-20. I was just worried about whether my calipers are rebuildable. If they aren't, the car will be down for about a week waiting for parts. But if rebuilt calipers from Autozone or Partsamerica aren't a sure thing for the approx $100 for fronts, then I'd rather chance rebuilding on my own first. Thanks again.

Ozzie · Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 9:47 am Post subject:

Also use rubber grease or brake fluid to lubricate when rebuilding.

PETROLEUM BASED GREASE REACTS WITH BRAKE FLUID!
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Porsche 924 1984 (UK import) NA
Its AUTO and its BLACK
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gohim · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 4459 Location: Rialto, CA

I use a silicone based grease that I bought from Performance Products years ago for brake caliper assembly.

The idea of smearing a chemical that eats paint on contact, and absorbs water from the air, all over something that I am rebuilding (no rust resistant properties) doesn't sit right with me. Expecially when I sometimes rebuild calipers and put them on the shelf. I don't want the brake fluid sucking up moisture from the air, and rusting my nice freshly cleaned metal.