Opinions on reBuilt 13WL brake caliper strangeness

[Soren96]

Hey all,

I am going to do the tundra upgrade, and since a junkyard rebuild would’ve come pretty close in cost to the Callahan set of pads, rotors, calipers (along with several hours or cleaning/rebuild), I decided to give it a shot.

I received them and everything looks good with one odd exception. The calipers seem to be machined down, possible to allow for more rotor clearance, with the exception of one side of one caliper. It has just a regular cast surface. Pics attached, though the difference doesn’t stand out quite as much as with your own eyeballs.


I received after end of business for Callahan on Friday, so just looking for opinions here before I reach out to them.

Should I just roll with them? Should I ask for a replacement? I’m sure they would accommodate as it’s a bit odd.

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[Soren96]

Am I just showing my extreme OCD? Probably.


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[cahilc]

Am I just showing my extreme OCD? Probably.

OCD? Naw...
:lol:

It would probably bug me too. I'd reach out to Callahan's. Looks like something got missed in the machining process. Couldn't tell 'ya if intentional or not. Worth a quick phone call and definitely send those pictures to whomever is on the other end of the call.

Cheers!

 

[Soren96]

I figure they just take boatloads of cores, blast them and slap them together and if some generations weren’t machined, this is what happens. But if that’s the wrong half (it honestly doesn’t look wrong) I’d obviously rather not find out by having it spew out brake fluid in a panic stop!


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[Varangian]

Am I just showing my extreme OCD? Probably.


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Not to worry... I just finished a swap on my 2000 4R and it showed similar grind markings on one of the calipers (got them from a pick-a-part yard).
These are casted and come out with imperfections which, if out of spec., are then roughly grinded to clearance.
Not to mention the area ground, shown in you pics, is not crucial to any functionality of the braking system itself... merely to detour any direct debris from entering the braking surfaces and contributing to failure.
They are not beautiful like Brembos et.al. however, you will be very pleased in their performance!

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[Varangian]

I figure they just take boatloads of cores, blast them and slap them together and if some generations weren’t machined, this is what happens. But if that’s the wrong half (it honestly doesn’t look wrong) I’d obviously rather not find out by having it spew out brake fluid in a panic stop!


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With emphasis on the mating surfaces (parallel), concentric with the internal hydraulic line (approx. an eighth of an inch in diameter) and with little concern for any other aspect than functionality.
BTW- I've kept the ABS active for roadways and will employ a disconnect system for off-road.

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[BostonJon]

I also have the Callahan set but mine came powder coated black.

Please let us know how you feel about braking performance once you have them installed. To be honest, I’ve not been thrilled with pedal feel since installing them. The truck stops ok, but the pedal travel seems long. I’ve bled them many times and using different methods (gravity, pressure, and vacuum) so I’m pretty confident the issue isn’t air in the system. I’m starting to think I might have leaky seals in my hydraulic cylinder. I recently swapped the ceramic pads with semi metallic Bosch pads but that didn’t make much difference

 

[HiLife]

I figure they just take boatloads of cores, blast them and slap them together and if some generations weren’t machined, this is what happens. But if that’s the wrong half (it honestly doesn’t look wrong) I’d obviously rather not find out by having it spew out brake fluid in a panic stop!

Yup, when there's a mountain of cores that need to be put together in a specific amount of time...that what happens. I would figure the job of putting together cores doesn't pay well and the worker does what he is told to do...or else. It's not his job to look which half goes together with what half, that decision making happens upstream.
Not all companies are the same. You get what you pay for. Some have more strict qualities controls in place to prevent that.

 

[MaineRunna]

The Napa eclipse caliper comes powdercoated black, it is actually a Cardone. That caliper might be a reman, but I bet it's actually a new Chinese one.

 

[Yoter]

The Napa eclipse caliper comes powdercoated black, it is actually a Cardone. That caliper might be a reman, but I bet it's actually a new Chinese one.

Whats is the consensus on this? Are all these 'Rebuilt'/'Remanufactured' options just China made copies of the 13WL?

I know that in Africa much of the 'OEM' Toyota parts market is just fake Chinese reproductions, is that the case with these calipers too?