Rebuild Rear VAG Calipers
Discussion
I have some discs and pads to do on the rear of my Audi A3 and last time i was in there i noticed that both caliper piston boots were torn.
Ive normally just bought exchange calipers in the past but i see i can get some rebuild kits for £17 not including pistons.
Is it worth bothering with?
I have plenty of time on my hands over christmas and have access to all tools and a compressor, the calipers wound back ok when i cleaned up the brakes a few months back.
Maybe its just worth changing the boots only if they are working ok, they are manual handbrake versions.
Ive normally just bought exchange calipers in the past but i see i can get some rebuild kits for £17 not including pistons.
Is it worth bothering with?
I have plenty of time on my hands over christmas and have access to all tools and a compressor, the calipers wound back ok when i cleaned up the brakes a few months back.
Maybe its just worth changing the boots only if they are working ok, they are manual handbrake versions.
Edited by Belle427 on Monday 16th December 09:45
I asked my Romanian mechanic this a fortnight ago when he was replacing calipers on my Mums car.
He said in the UK, the supply chain is short creating cheap parts - manufacturer to ECP to him, so it wasn't worthwhile spending on the rebuild kit and spending time rebuilding it. I think each caliper was around £55.
But in his home country it was worth rebuilding because of the lower labour costs, and the supply chain being 4-5 long with each part adding profit, so parts are a lot more expensive.
He said in the UK, the supply chain is short creating cheap parts - manufacturer to ECP to him, so it wasn't worthwhile spending on the rebuild kit and spending time rebuilding it. I think each caliper was around £55.
But in his home country it was worth rebuilding because of the lower labour costs, and the supply chain being 4-5 long with each part adding profit, so parts are a lot more expensive.
You'll probably need a piston if the boot has been torn for a while, as the piston may have pitting or corrosion from water ingress.
Given the rear calipers do little work and are at the back of the car where salt and other debris is sprayed I'd go for the replacement caliper option from a decent manufacturer i.e TRW
Given the rear calipers do little work and are at the back of the car where salt and other debris is sprayed I'd go for the replacement caliper option from a decent manufacturer i.e TRW
I recently replaced a rear caliper on my Mk2 TT, if you buy new the caliper wont come with the little pipe thats attached & I can 100% gurantee your existing one wont come out of the caliper in one piece so I'd buy new, something like this
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125983602406?fits=Car+M...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125983602406?fits=Car+M...
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