Should I re-use my corroded caliper cyl piston?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Feb 1, 2006
Messages
3,833
Location
NEPA
I have them apart and the usual rust and pitting was present. I cleaned and smoothed it and basicly runined it by changing the shape of the piston a hair. Should I just slap it together with new seals and test it or bag it altogether for rebuilds at $50 each? I don't care if I have to replace them after this new set of pads is shot, re-using the rotors since the pad still were about 1/8" to 1/4".
 
For safety sake, Replace. You seem to be aware that these are precision parts designed for a precision fit. A healthy leak is now one possibility. The piston getting "cocked" in the bore is another possibility. If either one happens, you'll be changing it anyway.
 
Even if you left the pistons in their original pitted condition, you're still going to get fluid passed the seals because of the pits. It's the same thing with wheel cylinders on drum brakes. You can always hone the pits out of the cylinders, but then you have to worry about increasing the diameter of the cylinder too much.
 
Remans have new pistons and plated cylinder sleves, often better than original. Most parts store chains put lifetime warranty on remans. Why consider anything else?

bob
 
Go with new calipers. It's not unusual to replace the calipers in the rust belt multiple times in a car's lifetime.

One good tip from an old poster, labman, is to butter the caliper bore, piston, and seals with silicone grease before putting the caliper into service. The silicone will help seal out the corrosive environment. I've done that to one vehicle three years ago with no problems yet. I know labman went against a lot of popular thinking here, but this is one tip where I think he hit the mark. I'll definitely report back if there's a problem.
 
Thanks. Done deal. Got new ones coming from AA, Beck-Arnleys for $50. PepBoys has ProStop *IN STOCK* for $40. However, I lean toward name-brand in this application. AA has a few other good options, the Raybestos ProFriction, for instance, but they have a wierd ordering system that makes for different arrival times and these particular ones which "cannot" be shipped to the store- only to a residence. Loaded Raybestos w/PG pads for $56 looks good too, but I have some cermaic pads I want to use. $50 for the Beck-Arnley or even other generics is cheap anyway, similar rebuilt ones for the Audis were more like $120-$150.
 
AU, I just put new Powerslot rotors and ProAct pads on the front of my Accord. The pistons had a light coating of rust in them. Every works great. I do get a very very high pitch faint squeal at times that after 2,000 miles is almost gone.

It's true thought that in the rust belt, things corrode at a much faster rate. Hopefully one day I'll be living in California or some place that receives very little if any snow.
 
I found the driver side to be intact, so I will fix that one with new seals and just replace the pass side with pos PepBoys rebuilt. I just was telling some people, the boot kits are for maintenance, not repair....once that boot is torn 90% sure the piston is pitted on the outside.
 
When I replaced some Escort calipers a year ago, I was surprised that the Car Quest rebuilds were about the same price as the AZ/AA ones. Seems to me that Car Quest and NAPA have better quality "most" of the time. Check them out.

Should calipers be replaced in pairs to maintain system integrity? Anyone know?
 
Last edited:
Quote:



Should calipers be replaced in pairs to maintain system integrity? Anyone know?




The used or new caliper should work the same with equal braking force. If the used caliper is sticking or frozen or leaking then it should be replaced.
 
Quote:


Remans have new pistons and plated cylinder sleves, often better than original. Most parts store chains put lifetime warranty on remans. Why consider anything else?

bob



Not true. Not all remanufactured calipers come with new pistons. They are not automatically replaced during the remanufacturing process, at least with A1 Cardone, who only replaces them on an as-needed basis. I received this e-mail from A1 Cardone this morning:

Quote:


The pistons are salvaged & reused if they are not pitted, cracked, or worn. Otherwise we do replace them w/ new.




Every rebuilder has a different remanufacturing process.

Quote:


Should calipers be replaced in pairs to maintain system integrity? Anyone know?



Yes, from what I've been told. Replacing an old caliper with a rebuilt unit restores braking performance to near factory specs. The one on the other side within the same axle may not be operating at factory specs. As a result, if you only replace one caliper, there's a chance that you may experience a pull.
 
Cardone was a skip, in my book. I'm not at all worried about mis-matched performance...they are the same exact unit.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top