Rebuild brake calipers or buy remans?

svxash · #1 05-29-2009, 10:21 PM

So I pulled off one of my front calipers the other day and the boots around the pistons were starting to come apart. I was thinking of rebuilding the calipers but then checked Autozone and saw they have reman calipers that feature "100% New Boot, Seal & Bleeder Screw, New Mounting Hardware, Pistons Always Match The Oem Part, Featuring Anti-Seize Components, 100% Tested " for $64 each. Is this something to consider or should I stay away from these?

redlightningsvx · #2 05-29-2009, 10:27 PM

Well you may spend about $50 total or so for F/R rebuild kits. But it you see any pitting or rust on the outside wall of the pistons or to much rust on the inside lip of the caliper then I would go rebuilt.

svxash · #3 05-29-2009, 10:48 PM

I priced out the kits and it came to about $60. The pistons on the caliper I pulled off were pretty rusty on the inside. The car just turned 126k and I've never done any brake work to it since I've owned it(95k). Not sure what the previous owner had done.

Black88GTA · #4 05-30-2009, 03:00 AM

I got a pair of loaded front remans from Autozone for $92 plus a $95 core charge. They included ceramic pads as well. Morse part #P1960 on the AZ website.

With a set of remanufactured calipers + pads costing less than $100, it simply doesn't make sense to rebuild original 14 year old calipers with 126k miles on them, IMO. By the time you pay for all of the parts you'll need for the rebuild and a quality set of pads, you'll probably spend more than that - and still have crappy old calipers to show for it. Not to mention all the extra work it takes to rebuild rather than replace.

That said, I do wish I'd sent my new ones out to be powdercoated before installing them. They have surface rust already.

svxash · #5 05-30-2009, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black88GTA

I got a pair of loaded front remans from Autozone for $92 plus a $95 core charge. They included ceramic pads as well. Morse part #P1960 on the AZ website.

I just checked those out and noticed the front has ceramic and the rears come with semi-metallic. Is the caliper made by Morse or Fenco?

redlightningsvx · #6 05-30-2009, 10:03 AM

Rust on the inside of the piston will not hurt it just rust on the outside.

Black88GTA · #7 05-30-2009, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svxash

I just checked those out and noticed the front has ceramic and the rears come with semi-metallic. Is the caliper made by Morse or Fenco?

Mine were Morse. I took some pics...

svxash · #8 05-30-2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black88GTA

Mine were Morse. I took some pics...

I re-read your reply and noticed the pair price. For that price it's a great deal considering the ceramic pads are included.

processengr · #9 05-30-2009, 04:03 PM

Hi,
I rebuilt the front calipers with a kit from Subaru. Cost was $35.00 for a kit for 2 front calipers from Liberty Subaru in NJ., with the SVXWN discount. It took about an hour each. Very difficult to get the external seal seated properly. I wouldn't do it again, now that I know remanufactured are available for such a reasonable price.

alia176 · #10 06-05-2009, 09:09 PM

is there an OEM caliper rebuilt kit offered by Subaru? Usually a kit consists of: rubber boots, snap rings (if applicable), packets of grease and various rubber seals.

redlightningsvx · #11 06-05-2009, 10:18 PM

Yes Subaru sells a rebuild kit for the front and rear calipers.

svxash · #12 06-07-2009, 07:15 AM

Well I bought the Morse ones and picked them up yesterday. I'm out of town now but will install them Mon or Tue. I'm also going to paint them silver before I install them.

dannmarr · #13 06-07-2009, 11:55 AM

I've rebuilt mine a few times, but remans is the way to go. You can't go wrong, considering the time and money.

svxash · #14 06-08-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black88GTA

Mine were Morse. I took some pics...

How do you like the ceramic pads? Do they take a couple of stops to heat up?

Black88GTA · #15 06-09-2009, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svxash

How do you like the ceramic pads? Do they take a couple of stops to heat up?

I can't give any feedback on the included pads, as I used the Posi-Quiet set that I got with OT's brake kit instead. I kept the Morse pads for when the PQs wear out.

The Posi-Quiet pads seem to work pretty good right from the start - they don't seem to require heating up to get the max performance out of them. Although, I haven't stressed them much - I haven't had a chance to go out and really drive much for fun lately. It's been slow crawls to and from work for the most part.