This is a read-only archive of the old Madabout Kitcars forum. New posts and replies are no longer possible, but every thread is still here to browse and read.
Just finished the final strip of my calipers. got the pistons out and one of the front ones looks like this
I take it that means I have no choice but to send off for an exchange unit. I'm pretty sure you can't just put a new piston in even though the bore itself looks good but I'm happy for someone to tell me I'm wrong. I was a bit suspicious of it anyway as the dust seal hadn't been installed properly on the inside face so moisture could have been getting in there for ages. The others all look very tidy apart from the tops which sit outside the dust seal.
I'm assuming for the mo that I can just clean that up and it'll be ok as the seal seats are fine.
I haven't ordered a rebuild kit yet as I wanted to see the condition on the pistons first. Has anyone used the kits from these guys http://www.biggred.co.uk/
If so, any good or should I stick with BMW parts. the fact the guide pin sleeves and dust caps are included makes it look like an attractive deal.
Has anyone gone to GSF for exchange calipers? Just wondering what the replacements are like? Are they as good as new, painted etc or just the seals replaced and sent in the basic condition the left another vehicle?
When I did my rebuild (many moons ago) I got everything from the BMW parts counter. Cost around £100 for all 4 corners. It also included bleed nipples all round:
I've just been speaking to BiggRed and they can do the following
Front axle kit (all rubber components inc guide pin sleeves etc) - £19.90
Rear axle kit (all rubber components inc guide pin sleeves etc) - £22.90
Single front piston - £17.90
bleed nipples <£2 each
So not a bad price compare to the £100 BMW charged on Jason's E30 Lucas calipers. I assume that wasn't including new pistons, didn't look like it from your photos? You did get a nice bag though.
I'll give BMW a call in the morning and see what they can do it all for.
Depends on how tight your build budget is but personally I would go for new callipers if money allows. No point messing around with callipers once you get pitted pistons like that. Just replace and feel confident you've got decent hardware under your right foot.
It's only the one piston that needs replacing, the others are very clean. The manuals always say you should replace both the caliper and piston if there's any sign of corrosion but as the inner bore of the caliper is spotless it didn't make a lot of sense.
I checked with the bloke at biggred and he said that provided you have no rust or dirt inside the bore and especially the seat for the fluid seal, just swapping the piston out is fine as it actually rides on that seal rather than making permanent contact with the bore. sounded good to me as he actually has more interest in trying to sell me a set of exchange units.
At some point in the future I'll upgrade to a 4 pot set up anyway so don't want to start spending too much before I've really even got going.
For anyone else who does want to get their calipers sent in for refurb, the charge was £109 for the front pair, £119 for the back pair, £16 delivery and 10% off if you send in all 4 at the same time.
Has anyone gone to GSF for exchange calipers? Just wondering what the replacements are like? Are they as good as new, painted etc or just the seals replaced and sent in the basic condition the left another vehicle?
I bought my front calipers exchange from GSF. They were sandblasted, painted and all seals replaced. But you could tell they were not new.
They were painted gold which I didn't like so they got an extra coat of silver caliper paint from me. I have not had any issue with them.
(My back brakes are drums for which I bought brand new cylinders as they were so cheap.)
Front kit for single caliper (just the two seals) £16.84 x2
Rear kit for single caliper (just the two seals) £25.92 x2
Guide pin sleeves £14.92 each so x 8
bleed valves - £4.63 each x4
so I make that £268.08 inc VAT, P&P not included (they're a 40 mile round trip away)
They don't sell individual pistons, you have to buy the whole caliper (I guess this is the real root of the guidance in the service manuals), your's for £180 each plus VAT sir
£100 for the E30 kit a few years back sounds like bargin basement compared to the E36.
So I called the man at BiggRed and he's got a new piston coming in tomorrow for me and he'll have the whole lot out by the weekend for £73.15 inc VAT and P&P. I'll chuck some photos out of what I think of the kit when it turns up but at that price, there's just no competion.
Taken on board peoples comments about the exchange units but even more than cost, this car for me is about doing absolutely everything I possibly can myself purely from the point of view of experience gained and sense of achievement.
Just a little hint when re-assembling - if the callipers are anything like the E30 ones. I found it very easy to press the piston back in on the p!ss (not square). I didn't do any damage but they are then an absolute pig to get out again. Had to take the culprit to the local garage and use his airline....
yeah I've heard that, had a quick practice with the old seals to figure out the best technique. I'm also going to mask off with newspaper or towel roll some of the surrounding area so I don't get brake fluid on my nice new paint job. Gave the parts a dose of paint tonight, another coat in an hour or so then they'll be ready for when the kits arrive, probably early next week now.
rebuild kits from Bigg Red arrived today. unfortunately the bleed screws are the wrong size so I'll have to get them swapped.
Here's the finished result all for about £80 if you include the cost of the sacrificial electrolysis steel and caliper paint
