Brake calipers: rebuild/restore or replace? (5 Viewers)

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Super77

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All four of my brake calipers are the only seriously rusty part of the vehicle. I doubt they’re original - judging from the service docs, the PO seems to have had recurring brake issues, and unfortunately, a tire shop seems to have done the work. I doubt they used OE parts.

I’m not having any problems (yet), but the calipers really look like crap. The piston seals are cracked, the rust, hoses look very old. So, rebuild these or buy reman or new?

A) New Toyota parts: ~$800 for all 4 corners. Current pricing, with available discounts. Serra Toyota advised me not to buy the Toyota reman. They’ll sell them, but it’s only a little cheaper and will take months to ship apparently. Yeah … upsell.

B) New NAPA rebuilts: ~$275 for all 4 corners after core refunds, current pricing, with available discounts.

C) Self rebuild: ~$100 for all new seals, clips, etc. I can sandblast and paint at home. I’ll be sandblasting or at least POR-15’ing the brackets anyway so I’ll paint the calipers to match.

Summary: I don’t think the $500 premium for Toyota parts is worth it, and my time is worth more than the ~$200 I’ll save with a full DIY restore of what are likely economy grade aftermarket calipers.

Anyone think that buying NAPA reman is an objectively terrible idea?
 
I have a spare set laying around with EBC rotors with tons of life.
 
If it is rusted, then get rebuilt or new calipers, else you can easily rebuild those. Use OEM seals and dust covers. Getting the dust cover is bit tricky, as there is no grove to hold the circlip, but keeping the mating surface (dust boot to caliper) clean can keep the dust boot circlip secure in place.

Use a wooden pick such as a tooth pick to remove the old seal inside the caliper housing. If pistons are rusted, then might need to get new pistons as well. A/M sells stainless-steel pistons!
 
If anyone is interested, I do have a set of new seals for the front and rear OEM calipers that I'd sell for less than Impex prices - I didn't realize that each set does a pair of calipers, so I bought 2x front sets and 2x rear sets when I redid mine.
 
Have you tried Rock Auto. I got a rebuilt Aisin caliper from them for my LS400. The original was no longer available.
Rockauto is a mixed blessing. Great selection and search process, non-existent customer service. They keep their prices down by automating everything. If the part they say would fit, but doesn't, they blame the manufacturer and have a strict return policy. I prefer places with better service but I'll hold my nose and order from rockauto if it's a smoking deal.
 
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I went with NAPA rebuilds and was impressed with the quality.
 
Rockauto is a mixed blessing. Great selection and search process, non-existent customer service. They keep their prices down by automating everything. If the part they say would, doesn't, they blame the manufacturer and have a strict return policy. I prefer places with better service but I'll hold my nose and order from rockauto if it's a smoking deal.
Yes, I've heard this many times. Thankfully I've never had an issues with them, but I do order quality parts from them like Denso, Aisin, Bando, Philips, etc. I steer clear from their cheap parts brands.
 
I too use NAPA rebuilds and they have always worked well for me, but I have recently heard (maybe here on mud?) that there are two series for rebuilds and they've stopped producing the "better" one. If anyone has more info on this, please share it here!
 
I used Napa rebuilds for my 60.. They were fine, not quite OEM quality. I did have to return one caliper because the paint was pretty messed up when it arrived, but that was an easy process. The finish on both now are just "OK" and I do expect they'll rust sooner rather than later.

I happened to have OEM rebuild kits lying around, so I actually rebuilt the napa rebuilds with the OEM seals, etc before installing them because they were clearly better quality. So far so good..

I would say it's probably not worth an extra $500 for new OEM, but if you're gonna keep the truck for 100+k miles, might be worth it for peace of mind.
 
NAPA seems to have multiple quality levels: Adaptive One (near-OE), Nugeon (value), and then a couple more for mechanics and fleet operators. Supposedly the Adaptive One calipers are built on OEM cores and have an electroplated finish. I think they also have a lifetime warranty, so same-day swap in any NAPA store should be possible. I'll post up some pics when they arrive.

Also, who came up with Nugeon? I think it's supposed to be pronounced "new-gen," but it looks like a word that describes a lumpy growth on your foot.
 
i had the napa eclipse on my truck and had no issues with them for many years, it was way more cost effective even with my price from the dealership and lifetime warrantee. i was working at a dealership at the time and my price was 10% over cost and that would have been the second time replacing with toyota remans
 
All four of my brake calipers are the only seriously rusty part of the vehicle. I doubt they’re original - judging from the service docs, the PO seems to have had recurring brake issues, and unfortunately, a tire shop seems to have done the work. I doubt they used OE parts.

I’m not having any problems (yet), but the calipers really look like crap. The piston seals are cracked, the rust, hoses look very old. So, rebuild these or buy reman or new?

A) New Toyota parts: ~$800 for all 4 corners. Current pricing, with available discounts. Serra Toyota advised me not to buy the Toyota reman. They’ll sell them, but it’s only a little cheaper and will take months to ship apparently. Yeah … upsell.

B) New NAPA rebuilts: ~$275 for all 4 corners after core refunds, current pricing, with available discounts.

C) Self rebuild: ~$100 for all new seals, clips, etc. I can sandblast and paint at home. I’ll be sandblasting or at least POR-15’ing the brackets anyway so I’ll paint the calipers to match.

Summary: I don’t think the $500 premium for Toyota parts is worth it, and my time is worth more than the ~$200 I’ll save with a full DIY restore of what are likely economy grade aftermarket calipers.

Anyone think that buying NAPA reman is an objectively terrible idea?
Really no need to be concerned with rust, other than look.
Exception is rear caliper mounting plate slide pin ports/bore. If the slide pin boots aren't change with pad service. They'll then, often fail, allowing water which result in and rusting in slide pins. The bore, often becomes damaged from rust. Eroding it away the bore. We then, may need, a new mounting plate and pins. Those list today id $223. Waste of a mounting plate for lack of replacing a $2 slide pin boot.

The other area of concerns, is rust inside the bleeders. Which provide rubber bleeder caps keep on, is never a concern. The rear calipers, without bleeder caps, is where I see the most issue. Since angle of bleeder results in holding in moisture. If rusty bleeder in to long. Rust may damage calipers bleeder seat. A real waste of a caliper, from lack of $2 cap.

We can not see the piston seal, without removing caliper pistons. What we see on outside of assembled caliper. Is the piston boot(s). These boots last a supper long time. Not uncommon to see them still okay on 25 year old calipers.

Personally I don't like non OEM remains. The biggest issue I have with them, is bleeder seat. I've more than once had to replace bleeders. Fact is I replace a lot of bleeders, mostly on rears (when not capped). These aftermarket calipers, do not play well with OEM bleeders. Then we must find a aftermarket bleeder, which is a hit and miss game.

NAPA (most anyones) rebuilt rear calipers, that claim to be OEM. Is a hit and miss game, as to whether OEM. The mounting plate I've seen with them are used and very often the slide pin bore is enlarged (honed). This can result in clangy brakes.

Toyota Remain rear calipers. Do not come with mounting plate. New do! Makes new a better deal.

Calipers can easily be rebuilt, painted also if you like. But keep in mind, they're are two different caliper rebuild kits and two different front shim kits. One is for the 98-02. The other, is for 03-07, which have larger pistons.

Many do not install front shim kit and fitting kit. This is a mistake. The front outer shims, clips into pistons. The fitting kit, locks shim to pad. Pistons, pull pads off rotor, as seal recoils.
 

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