Old Calipers worth re-building?

[epowell]

I have removed my calipers because I am replacing the front rotors (wheel hubs), and many suspension parts.
Right now the front calipers are working very well so I am thinking about just cleaning them and painting them and putting them back on... and re-building them next year.

But over on the American forum (Samba) everyone is telling me to get rid of these rusted old things and put new (re-conditioned) one on there.

But I can't really understand what is wrong with these old calipers except they are ugly. They are not cracked.

Do you guys also think I should get rid of them? If yes, can you recommend any place in Germany that sells good re-conditioned calipers?

PS - for sure I will get a shop to install new bleeder valves.

Thanks!

[Vanagon66]

Are you aware that the only parts making your car stop are these rotten pieces of metal? How much is your life worth?

[Max Power]

Hi,

Ed, you have to admit these calipers are rusted. In a way material has corroded away. For example the area around these holes is thin:


If you want to paint them durable, you have to remove the rust complete before doing this. This means not wirebrushing it! Either sandblasting or hammer with a pointed hammer and scratch with a sharp needle every bit of corrosion out of every pore.
I won´t waste much time or paint in these parts.
If I had a deadline, I would reinstall them as they are and have a look for new or rebuild calipers or good used ones, that are worth to rebuild by myself.

Are these Girling or Ate calipers?

Greetings, Max

[epowell]

Hi,

Ed, you have to admit these calipers are rusted. In a way material has corroded away.

If you want to paint them durable, you have to remove the rust complete before doing this. This means not wirebrushing it! Either sandblasting or hammer with a pointed hammer and scratch with a sharp needle every bit of corrosion out of every pore.
I won´t waste much time or paint in these parts.
If I had a deadline, I would reinstall them as they are and have a look for new or rebuild calipers or good used ones, that are worth to rebuild by myself.

Thanks Max, this explanation makes sense!

Are these Girling or Ate calipers?

I don't know?

[JX_JOSCHI]

Hi,
looks like Girling calipers.
Like Max said...I would go for new calipers. Depending on your situation I would put them back in temporary, drive and look for new ones.
Greets, joschi

[andovic]

Hey,

I would strongly recommend new calipers to you. In my case the cylinder inside the caliper broke in two parts due to rust inside the caliper (water in the brake fluid i guess, due to lack of maintainance). Luckily this was on the parking spot so no further damage occurred...

I recommend this seller: https://www.tk-carparts.de/

[epowell]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate this kind of 'level-headed' perspective.

What is irritating sometimes is condescending fear-porn comments with no clear explanations. I guess some people need to boost their self-esteem in this way.

So what is clear to me now is that these calipers are not worth the time and money to invest into... because there well may be hidden issues with them due to obvious long-term neglect. However, they are now currently working well so therefore I can keep using them (at my own risk) temporarily while sourcing better alternatives.

This seems reasonable to me.

Thanks so much!

[seppo85]

IMHO the rust ist not the problem with these cast iron metal chunks. but the rubber sealing and maybee rust inside.

and rebuilding doesn't really make sense, because the differnece between all the parts, cleaning and coating + time / buy refurbished ones, isn' t really big.

[epowell]

IMHO the rust ist not the problem with these cast iron metal chunks. but the rubber sealing and maybee rust inside.

and rebuilding doesn't really make sense, because the differnece between all the parts, cleaning and coating + time / buy refurbished ones, isn' t really big.

Where do you suggest buying?
I saw them a Brickwerks, but shipping cost to Czech is a lot.
thanks

[PMS]

I buy my old calipers here:
http://buschef.de/VW-Bus-T3/Bremse-Felg ... ::439.html

They are cheap I think, but the first on it will have a leakage after 1year!!
And thats sucks!!
Breaks save your lives...
But the new ones looks better and looks like a other builder...till now it will works.

But I have my old original calipers...maybe I find some parts to rebuilt...my calipers looks not so rosty than yours.

Greetings
Tom

[Fränkie]

The rubber gasket around the cylinder is damaged, probably the Zylinder and Piston is rusted.... the caliper itself is worn out.

A refurbished one ist 129€ at tk-carparts.... it has new gaskets new pistons and is cinc-coated at Büschen it is around 90€

a gasket-set is around 20€ a piston is around 20€.... and u have no chance to sandblast it an get it cinc-coated.

What are u thinking about?

[epowell]

The rubber gasket around the cylinder is damaged, probably the Zylinder and Piston is rusted.... the caliper itself is worn out.

A refurbished one ist 129€ at tk-carparts.... it has new gaskets new pistons and is cinc-coated at Büschen it is around 90€

a gasket-set is around 20€ a piston is around 20€.... and u have no chance to sandblast it an get it cinc-coated.

What are u thinking about?

Yep, good points... I will remove the piston and find out what the verdict is. As you say, probably all damaged inside..... let's see.

[Fränkie]

At Buschef..... sorry auto-correction......

[epowell]

This looks like a good deal now that the GBP is down... https://www.brickwerks.co.uk/brake-cali ... -left.html