Brake calipers. Are they all the same?
Discussion
A quick look at some brake calipers for my 07 Z4 shows many many different 'brands' from well known like Bosch and Brembo to unknown (to me) like Ridex.
Prices from £30 to £300!
I think ATE make the original part?
So ignoring the cheapest, only because they are cheapest, Ridex and Kamoka etc, we get to TRW, Metzger, Hella, Budweg, ERA and many others at about £40-£80.
Are these all made to the same specs? Is there one giant refurb factory churning these out in China?
Most are recon but new calipers start at about £80-90.
Prices from £30 to £300!
I think ATE make the original part?
So ignoring the cheapest, only because they are cheapest, Ridex and Kamoka etc, we get to TRW, Metzger, Hella, Budweg, ERA and many others at about £40-£80.
Are these all made to the same specs? Is there one giant refurb factory churning these out in China?
Most are recon but new calipers start at about £80-90.
TRW are a subsidiary of zf, so of decent quality.
The zf webcat is a good place to find part numbers to then search the web for.
https://webcat.zf.com/index.asp?PKW=1&KHERNR=1...
The zf webcat is a good place to find part numbers to then search the web for.
https://webcat.zf.com/index.asp?PKW=1&KHERNR=1...
richard at home said:
A quick look at some brake calipers for my 07 Z4 shows many many different 'brands' from well known like Bosch and Brembo to unknown (to me) like Ridex.
Prices from £30 to £300!
I think ATE make the original part?
So ignoring the cheapest, only because they are cheapest, Ridex and Kamoka etc, we get to TRW, Metzger, Hella, Budweg, ERA and many others at about £40-£80.
Are these all made to the same specs? Is there one giant refurb factory churning these out in China?
Most are recon but new calipers start at about £80-90.
I've always tried to stick with ATE for my BMWs; but have used TRW and Budweg in the past with zero issuesPrices from £30 to £300!
I think ATE make the original part?
So ignoring the cheapest, only because they are cheapest, Ridex and Kamoka etc, we get to TRW, Metzger, Hella, Budweg, ERA and many others at about £40-£80.
Are these all made to the same specs? Is there one giant refurb factory churning these out in China?
Most are recon but new calipers start at about £80-90.
Usually sourced via Brakes International; but worth speaking to your local motorfactors too and check on ebay also
What's wrong with your existing ones? I have a 2006 z4 and had a sticking caliper last year, looked at all sorts of options for a replacement caliper but like you was worried about quality. In the end I had the originals refurbished, think it was £250 to have both done including painting.
Z4 calipers are E46 ones. Only Ate (Teves) make the calipers but they're often made under license by Lucas and TRW. Very few 'new' calipers are actually new. Most are reconditioned from exchange core castings and remanufactured with new pistons etc.
GSF do exchange Bendix calipers for about 100 quid each. Always replace the flexy hose as well, they're less than twenty quid each.
GSF do exchange Bendix calipers for about 100 quid each. Always replace the flexy hose as well, they're less than twenty quid each.
Touring442 said:
Z4 calipers are E46 ones. Only Ate (Teves) make the calipers but they're often made under license by Lucas and TRW. Very few 'new' calipers are actually new. Most are reconditioned from exchange core castings and remanufactured with new pistons etc.
GSF do exchange Bendix calipers for about 100 quid each. Always replace the flexy hose as well, they're less than twenty quid each.
^^^ This. Except Lucas are TRW and are now ZF, but I think these will be reconditioned calipers as well. GSF do exchange Bendix calipers for about 100 quid each. Always replace the flexy hose as well, they're less than twenty quid each.
Generally there's a single OEM for a caliper (although if there are different size calipers across a model range these can be split between OEMs) then anything other than new from the VM or OEM will be a recon.
Dashnine said:
^^^ This. Except Lucas are TRW and are now ZF, but I think these will be reconditioned calipers as well.
Generally there's a single OEM for a caliper (although if there are different size calipers across a model range these can be split between OEMs) then anything other than new from the VM or OEM will be a recon.
Some of the very cheap non exchange calipers are not recons. They are poorly cast new ones. Generally there's a single OEM for a caliper (although if there are different size calipers across a model range these can be split between OEMs) then anything other than new from the VM or OEM will be a recon.
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