Has anyone used cheap eBay calipers?

[slacktide_bitog]

They're only $85 for the pair, both front calipers. That is at least $50 less than Rock Auto. I ordered them over the weekend and received them today

I suspect the Chinese aftermarket all-new calipers are all the same, including from the name brands

And of course, the parts stores want over $100 each for reman garbage sloppy "rebuilt" calipers

 

[The_Jeff]

Not quite but I got a Panther caliper from (through?) Walmart for around $35. Worked fine. They didn't want a core either.

 

[D60]

Well, they get an exhaust screw so that's amazing

They're also FEARLESS, so that's nice. Note: only the brake pads get red hot, because science

 

[Trav]

They're only $85 for the pair, both front calipers. That is at least $50 less than Rock Auto. I ordered them over the weekend and received them today

I suspect the Chinese aftermarket all-new calipers are all the same, including from the name brands

And of course, the parts stores want over $100 each for reman garbage sloppy "rebuilt" calipers

The Chinese are pretty good at making castings and surprisingly good at machining. I am sure no all the stuff is good but it is worth a chance for that price IMO. Post back about the fitment and function, surely better than reman Cardone crap.

When I do calipers I use this tool, it caught a bad new caliper before I ran it.
Caliper tool

 

[ripcord]

They're probably exactly the same as you'd get at your neighborhood FLAPs.

 

[14Accent]

Make sure and share a pic when they show up

 

[Bob in Utah]

They're only $85 for the pair, both front calipers. That is at least $50 less than Rock Auto. I ordered them over the weekend and received them today

I suspect the Chinese aftermarket all-new calipers are all the same, including from the name brands

And of course, the parts stores want over $100 each for reman garbage sloppy "rebuilt" calipers

Always nice to have an idea what the application is for

I’m not the one to go cheap on braking components

Maybe delay or skip your next oil change and buy quality brake components

The saying goes you get what you pay for

 

[Bob in Utah]

I have yet to be impressed by Rock Auto…..

 

[The_Jeff]

Always nice to have an idea what the application is for

I’m not the one to go cheap on braking components

Maybe delay or skip your next oil change and buy quality brake components

The saying goes you get what you pay for

Fear! Uncertainty! Doubt!

Do you have direct experience to contribute to the thread?

What makes something "quality", paying more money through a middleman for the same part from the same factory, if that's the case?

The link is for year 2000-era subarus.

 

[DCDG]

Even the name brand stuff comes from china as mentioned they’re castings and machining is impressive only hiccup with the lesser Chinese no name brands is quality control.

 

[Propflux01]

"Fearless of ultra-high temperature!!

LOL!!!!!!

 

[doitmyself]

@slacktide_bitog ...............................heavy sigh......................... the guy that influenced my decision to buy quality EBC pads and rotors (for a Jeep Patriot, no less).......................fallen off my pedestal................... gone to the darkside

 

[ripcord]

"Fearless of ultra-high temperature!!

LOL!!!!!!

Engrish is real, lol. The sad thing is there are a lot of native born Americans who probably don't notice.

 

[edyvw]

They're only $85 for the pair, both front calipers. That is at least $50 less than Rock Auto. I ordered them over the weekend and received them today

I suspect the Chinese aftermarket all-new calipers are all the same, including from the name brands

And of course, the parts stores want over $100 each for reman garbage sloppy "rebuilt" calipers

I always say: when it comes to brakes, go with the cheapest.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

@slacktide_bitog ...............................heavy sigh......................... the guy that influenced my decision to buy quality EBC pads and rotors (for a Jeep Patriot, no less).......................fallen off my pedestal................... gone to the darkside

First of all, I will be using EBC pads

The difference is that EBC pads and rotors are still good and actually are better than the generic whitebox ebay stuff

My point is that I don't think the name brand aftermarket calipers are any better than the ones I got and could very well come from the same factory and be the same parts. In other words, the name brands and the private equity that often owns them are the ones that fell off the pedestal and gone to the darkside

For the calipers, my options were the ones I got, possibly the same ones in nicer boxes for twice the price, or lazy "rebuilt" calipers for even more money for worse quality. Unfortunately, OEM Subaru calipers aren't an option even if I really would pay over $200 each, as one side isn't even available.

Do you think any of these calipers are any better than the ones I got, or even not the exact same ones? Paying more is worth IF it actually is better

I suspect I need new calipers because it makes scraping noise when the car is moving, so it could be stuck. I got the calipers in case the slide pins seized, but if I'm lucky, I won't need to actually replace the calipers, so if the damage isn't as done as I think it is, I can always return the ebay calipers and just re grease or replace the slide pins as necessary

"Fearless of ultra-high temperature!!

LOL!!!!!!

Cardone trash certainly isn't fearless of high temps! Check this out

 

[Lubener]

Try and find an aftermarket caliper which isn't Chinese made. I can't say that I have purchased calipers off ebay but I haven't had any issues with calipers from RA which shouldn't be any different. It's kind of hard to mess up a caliper.

 

[The_Jeff]

A cheap caliper probably won't have the "clearcoat" of a nice one and will harmlessly flash surface rust. But the same is true of sand-blasted parts store rebuilds.

 

[doitmyself]

First of all, I will be using EBC pads

The difference is that EBC pads and rotors are still good and actually are better than the generic whitebox ebay stuff

My point is that I don't think the name brand aftermarket calipers are any better than the ones I got and could very well come from the same factory and be the same parts. In other words, the name brands and the private equity that often owns them are the ones that fell off the pedestal and gone to the darkside

For the calipers, my options were the ones I got, possibly the same ones in nicer boxes for twice the price, or lazy "rebuilt" calipers for even more money for worse quality. Unfortunately, OEM Subaru calipers aren't an option even if I really would pay over $200 each, as one side isn't even available.

Do you think any of these calipers are any better than the ones I got, or even not the exact same ones? Paying more is worth IF it actually is better

I suspect I need new calipers because it makes scraping noise when the car is moving, so it could be stuck. I got the calipers in case the slide pins seized, but if I'm lucky, I won't need to actually replace the calipers, so if the damage isn't as done as I think it is, I can always return the ebay calipers and just re grease or replace the slide pins as necessary



Cardone trash certainly isn't fearless of high temps! Check this out

Excellent retort and now you have shamed me into guilt for prompting you to spend valuable minutes defending your cause. However, your response is an excellent definition of the challenges we all encounter choosing quality parts, especially for older vehicles.

I already knew your motives and of course my short post was tongue in cheek. But it demonstrates how my real thoughts were displaced by a few words that challenged you to explain, a common problem with the written word. What one thinks vs. what one writes can often be miles apart or misconstrued (I trust you recognized my sarcasim).

I'm guilty of similar purchases. I had a very old Stihl weed trimmer and chose to install a $13 Ebay carburator vs. the OEM $70 one. Both were made in China. It does cause me mental grief of the hypocrisy we support.

Carry on home mechanic warriors!!!

 

[zzyzzx]

A cheap caliper probably won't have the "clearcoat" of a nice one and will harmlessly flash surface rust. But the same is true of sand-blasted parts store rebuilds.

The sand blasted parts store rebuilds are often painted.

 

[Johnny248]

They're only $85 for the pair, both front calipers. That is at least $50 less than Rock Auto. I ordered them over the weekend and received them today

I suspect the Chinese aftermarket all-new calipers are all the same, including from the name brands

And of course, the parts stores want over $100 each for reman garbage sloppy "rebuilt" calipers

Yep. Front and Rear from eBay. I was being incredibly cheap, however the quality actually seems to be very good! Better than reman. I've had them for a year now without issue. The shiny "zinc???????" coating is still looking fresh.