Which caliper: A1 Cardone or Raybestos?

[VK56VD]

Looks like I need a rear right caliper for the Infiniti G35. RockAuto sells the A1 Cardone and Raybestos Professional grade caliper.

Both have a lifetime warranty. Which one have you heard good things about?

Both are re-manufactured.

I've used A1 Cardone in another vehicle before and both those calipers rusted over after the first rain. Whereas the 10 year old OEM caliper didn't have any rust. I'm assuming the re-manufactured calipers don't have a coating to protect against rust.

 

[SLCraig]

This isn't exactly going with the grain of your thread, but.. I just put a new set of rear calipers on my '02 Maxima, I went with Napa re-mans. I have also used them on my fathers '00 Maxima, and my previous '97 Saturn with nary an issue.

They're inexpensive, and their loaded calipers are ready to go and work great.

Just thought I'd throw that into the mix...

 

[VK56VD]

Originally Posted By: SLCraig
This isn't exactly going with the grain of your thread, but.. I just put a new set of rear calipers on my '02 Maxima, I went with Napa re-mans. I have also used them on my fathers '00 Maxima, and my previous '97 Saturn with nary an issue.

They're inexpensive, and their loaded calipers are ready to go and work great.

Just thought I'd throw that into the mix...


Thanks for sharing. Do the Napa calipers come with a Lifetime warranty? How is the coating holding up on these? Any rust?

So far RockAuto has the best price of $55 after the core for the A1 Cardone's. If I can get something comparable locally, I can do that as well.

Locally they also sell Beck Arnley (which usually make very good OEM parts), Wagner and a few other brands I've never heard of. I want the best part for the best price so I don't have to do the work over again ever again or any time soon due to a failing replacement part.

 

[EricF]

I've had great luck with the raybestos remans.
I usually paint my calipers, so I won't see rust for at least a year!

 

[JHZR2]

Interesting about the cardone calipers... THey are a brand that offers 30 yo MB calipers... with many MB diesels over 200k miles and 30 years old, replacing calipers is starting to be prudent, and so Ill try to avoid them - dont want calipers that lasted rust free until now to rust in the first rain...

 

[qship1996]

Infiniti sells a caliper rebuild kit for little $$$$ so you can rebuild the original one.

 

[Chris142]

stay away from any thing A1 remanufactured.

 

[VK56VD]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
stay away from any thing A1 remanufactured.


Have you had bad experiences with the A1 Cardone?

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
stay away from any thing A1 remanufactured.


So true. I've actually never seen anything GOOD made by them. Atleast Raybestos is in the brake industry and makes very good products - my vote is Raybestos.

 

[Herz]

Raysbestos and NAPA remans have served me very well. Show NAPA your AAA card if you have one. They usually take off a good discount on suspension and brake parts. On your OEM calipers, give them a good wire brush service with brake kleen and a wirebrush. I find that this keep out uneeded particles and can extend the life of a caliper. Use a bronze brush that way you dont damage the paint or rubber compenents. Good luck, and let us know what you choose.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: Spartuss
Originally Posted By: Chris142
stay away from any thing A1 remanufactured.


Have you had bad experiences with the A1 Cardone?
I think everybody has.

 

[Herz]

I had two different sets of cardones on my pontiac with seized pistons. Then on my Jeep, ate up the inner piston. Never again will I use cardone.

 

[labman]

Originally Posted By: qship1996
Infiniti sells a caliper rebuild kit for little $$$$ so you can rebuild the original one.


+1 I always used to rebuild mine, cheaper and done right. Kits are getting hard to find.

 

[VK56VD]

What bad experiences have you guys had with the A1 Cardones? I have to A1 Cardones in the back of my other car they have been on there for about 20k miles?

The housing is OEM. Are the re-build components inside they use inferior?

 

[artificialist]

Given all the trouble I have had with Cardone P/S racks, I would taken my chances on the idea that Raybestos calipers are good.

I hardly ever have to replace calipers here in Florida, due to the lack of road salt.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: Spartuss
What bad experiences have you guys had with the A1 Cardones?


You usually end up replacing the part 3-4 times before you get a good one. Their rebuilt PS pumps and rebuilt AC compressors are really bad.

When I reciently replaced my PS gear box on my Jeep every shop in town had an A1 box except Autozone. I went with the non A1 box and it's ok so far.

 

[VK56VD]

I can believe that P/S racks may be troublesome. I called RockAuto and asked how many warranty claims they've had for A1 Cardone and Raybestos calipers under my part # and there were 0 claims in the last 2 years.

What would you guys say about the Beck Arnley re-manufactured calipers?

 

[L_Sludger]

Originally Posted By: Spartuss

What would you guys say about the Beck Arnley re-manufactured calipers?
My experiences with Beck Arnley products, calipers and otherwise, have been nothing but great. I hold them up as the next best thing to OEM.

 

[The Critic]

If you look at the pictures of the Raybestos semi-loaded calipers on Rockauto, you'll find that they are painted with some silver/dirty colored paint.

Centric also makes good calipers, from what I hear. I bought a set once (but never installed) and they were painted gold.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
Originally Posted By: Spartuss
What bad experiences have you guys had with the A1 Cardones?


You usually end up replacing the part 3-4 times before you get a good one.



TRUE! I had a friend who asked me to replace the OptiSpark on his Corvette. I've done so many, I've got it down to a science. I always insist on OEM or the new MSD for the Opti since it is a labor instensive job and a bad part could leave you stranded. Anyway, against my judgement, the guy brings an A1 part. I balk at it, but being Sunday and he needs the car - I install it. Lucky I check my work before fully putting it all back together because the part was BAD - no spark at all. We go and get another one and it works. So, off he goes only to come back 2 months later with backfiring and misses. Yep -bad Opti. I demaneded OEM this time, changed it and it's been over 1 year w/o issues. That lesson cost him dearly!