Brake Parts of Ebay

[Oliver Hardy]

I have in the past bought stuff of Ebay and only ever failed a couple of times but I need a brake clipper, going to have a go at doing it myself, doesn't seem hard, motor parts shop want £160 for the part, Ebay are offering them from £52, being brakes I am a bit ?

Need a torque wrench too, anyone recommend one for some very occasional use?

[donkmeister]

You may find the eBay one is a rebuilt exchange item - I've certainly fitted a couple of those in the past and not been let down.

Have you considered a rebuild/remanufacture service? Bigg Redd are well-regarded (however not used them myself).

[Oliver Hardy]

donkmeister said:

You may find the eBay one is a rebuilt exchange item - I've certainly fitted a couple of those in the past and not been let down.

Have you considered a rebuild/remanufacture service? Bigg Redd are well-regarded (however not used them myself).

Thanks, I look it up.

[tapkaJohnD]

For a cheap style of torque wrench that is as accurate as the 'clicker' type, look at "beam" wrenches.

John

[dhutch]

I've used Big Redd, both exchange services and then seal kit. No issues.

Stainless pistons are good for infrequently used cars imo.

[dhutch]

Oliver Hardy said:

Need a torque wrench too, anyone recommend one for some very occasional use?

We use the TTi20 at work, it's an easy to use no-frills 3/8 drive reversable ratchet jobber. Make in England and supplied with caliv cert. £100.

https://www.norbar.com/products/view/product/categ...

[Belle427]

I have a couple of the halfords advanced torque wrenches, believed to be made by norbar.

[johnsmith222]

Oliver Hardy said:

I have in the past bought stuff of Ebay and only ever failed a couple of times but I need a brake clipper, going to have a go at doing it myself, doesn't seem hard, motor parts shop want £160 for the part, Ebay are offering them from £52, being brakes I am a bit ?

Need a torque wrench too, anyone recommend one for some very occasional use?

The ebay brake calipers will be perfectly fine and I agree with suppliers like "Big Redd" being reliable. I wouldn't have any issues with a remanufactured brake caliper either as they fit them with new parts.

The price difference will be a combination of:

1. Being able to shop around from many different suppliers.
2. The garage will likely get their parts from a company which delivers them that day (so likely will have a higher cost).
3. Garage mark up on the parts.
4. The garage spending time to order the parts.
5. The garage taking responsibility for the hassle of if a part fails.

If you're on a budget then this one has served me well for the past 15 years doing everything from wheels, brakes, suspension work, gearboxes, subframes, flywheels etc:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-633567-Torque-...

If you have the funds though then I'd consider the halfords/norbar ones.

I don't want to put you off in any way, but be wary of underestimating "simple" jobs like brakes. I did a clutch on a car recently, but the "simple" job to repace the rear shocks when sideways when a bolt snapped flush in the body.

[Pica-Pica]

Belle427 said:

I have a couple of the halfords advanced torque wrenches, believed to be made by norbar.

Indeed, I believe they are. I have recent upgraded to a larger one, with wheel bolts needing a higher torque nowadays.