Brake Caliper: Rebuild or Replace

J

Jeremy03Sport

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I have a rear brake caliper that appears to be dragging. Took a good bit of effort to move with c-clamp, compared to opposite side. Explains the pad and rotor wear I found. This would be the second time I have had to replace the caliper (120k miles on 4R). Last time dealer did the work and covered under warranty. This go round I have to pay and wondering if its worth it to rebuild or just go ahead with replacement?
 
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Jeremy03Sport said:
I have a rear brake caliper that appears to be dragging. Took a good bit of effort to move with c-clamp, compared to opposite side. Explains the pad and rotor wear I found. This would be the second time I have had to replace the caliper (120k miles on 4R). Last time dealer did the work and covered under warranty. This go round I have to pay and wondering if its worth it to rebuild or just go ahead with replacement?
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Did you say this is the second time you're replacing the same caliper?
 
Can you find a rebuild kit??? I've replaced my calipers on the front a couple times now..and both times I tried to get a kit..but no-one carried a kit...Rebuilt or new caliper only.
 
I'm interested in the same answers as the OP. It appears my front left caliper is frozen again (had both fronts rebuilt last year). I'll be taking it apart tomorrow afternoon to confirm. But I was wondering if it's worth spending a little extra money this time on new (better?) calipers instead of having them rebuilt every year.
 
Just from my experience and talking to a few people I wouldn't rebuild them unless the time put in isn't a big deal for you. When I bought my 4runner used from a Toyota dealership one of the things they did to prep it for sale was to rebuild one or both (cant remember) of the calipers as I am assuming it/they were frozen. Not 5 months later I have brake fluid all over my tire from one of the calipers leaking. Now I moved since I bought my 4runner a good 1500km so I phoned the old dealership about it and they gave me the run around like something else and then finally said they only had 3 months warranty on work they do, that's it. Since I was far away they seemed to have little interest in making it right, I was super unimpressed. Bought re-mans and thanks to this site replaced both calipers myself.
 
I just bought both front brake calipers from Napa today because one of them is hanging up. The calipers I picked up are already painted black and have a lifetime warranty on them! I have the big 4 piston calipers. Retail is $200ea caliper but I got them for $100 each :D Can't beat already painted and the lifetime warranty. Other than the calipers I stuck with OEM replacement brake parts.
 
MikeInNH said:
Can you find a rebuild kit??? I've replaced my calipers on the front a couple times now..and both times I tried to get a kit..but no-one carried a kit...Rebuilt or new caliper only.
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Doesn't Toyota offer a rebuild kit? For some reason I remember seeing it, but I don't think that you could buy the pistons which made me avoid the rebuild kit because I didn't want to take a chance if the pistons were pitted.
 
williamZ said:
I just bought both front brake calipers from Napa today because one of them is hanging up. The calipers I picked up are already painted black and have a lifetime warranty on them! I have the big 4 piston calipers. Retail is $200ea caliper but I got them for $100 each :D Can't beat already painted and the lifetime warranty. Other than the calipers I stuck with OEM replacement brake parts.
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Which ones did you pick up?
 
I like to use the DOT 4 brake fluid as it has a higher temp rating and handles moisture better. It seems to handle the issues of getting hot and then driving in snow better than DOT 3 also. It looks like going to DOT 5 while handling higher temps could create problems in that it does not absorb moisture.
 
Don't use DOT 5 under any circumstances....it's been obsolete for about 20 years now and will not play nice with your abs system. If anyone needs rebuild kits, lemme know, I've got em in stock....cheap. I work for Centric Parts.
 
Thanks for the info on DOT 5, I knew the advantages of 4 or 3 from my own experience, but only what I read online about 5.
Regarding the original question - definitly go with rebuild or new as there is no way to get the old ones in the needed condition to properly rebuild DIY.
 
Sungod said:
What is special about Amsoil brake fluid that would make me want to spend 10times as much for it over standard DOT3?
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Prestone Synthetic is $3.79. 10X more would be $37.90. Full retail for AMSOIL Dot 3 is $7.20. I am a dealer, I will pay the extra couple bucks.
 
MikeInNH said:
Can you find a rebuild kit??? I've replaced my calipers on the front a couple times now..and both times I tried to get a kit..but no-one carried a kit...Rebuilt or new caliper only.
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Sorry for the resurrection of this old thread but I wanted to let everyone know that there is a rebuild kit out there for the 3rd gen calipers so you don't have to swap out to a lesser quality rebuilt unit (barring substancial rust on the pistons, of course.)

CARLSON Part # 15193

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This includes the inner seal, o rings for inside the caliper unit, bleeder cover, dust boots and retaining clips. $4 on rockauto :)
 
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