Technical Rear Callipers - replace with Fiat OE parts or pattern parts and save £200?

[shedtastic]

Subject line says it all really - my 2003 JTD (with disc rear brakes) has a non-functioning handbrake (ok - it's more complicated than that, it feels stiff and then with a jerk something releases and the handbrake will weakly apply. Sometimes. Other times it doesn't seem to be able to do anything at all.. And the cables have been replaced..)

Anyhow the dealer says it'll need callipers - and has quoted ~£550 with Fiat bits or ~£350 with pattern parts (not sure yet if that's an all-in price for the job or just the parts..)

Question is: does anyone have any experience with the pattern parts? Are they less durable? (Is that likely - less durable than parts that completely pack up in around six years?!)

Any comments appreciated!

Neil

 

[blitzer]

Pattern Parts will be fine, they all have to pass the same BS Standard

 

[shedtastic]

As a follow up for the information of others, the car just failed it's MOT due to an ineffective handbrake on one wheel. So perhaps my choice of having the dealer use pattern callipers wasn't actually a wise move.. (The dealer fitted new handbrake cables etc. as well..)

Hopefully the now supposedly faulty calliper will be still under some kind of warranty..?

Hmm..

 

[the frog]

The problem lies probably with the design of the cable layout. The handbrake always seems to favour one caliper more than the other.

I feel your pain as I have an 03 with discs too! And yes I have been down the replacement caliper route. My FIAT recon ones came with a 1 year guarantee.

 

[shedtastic]

Further follow up - The fiat garage never returned my calls and I needed the Multipig back up and running so I took it to my local trusted mechanic - who stripped it all down and reassembled the mechanisms with liberal doses of grease. He commented that whoever had assembled it last time hadn't used any..

It still failed to work properly however - so he ended up replacing both rear cables again.. (The fiat garage had claimed they'd fitted new ones 8 months ago)

Anyhow - we are now fully MOTd and the handbrake works better than ever. I just wish the light on the dash came on when the handbrake is on. I'd got out of the habit of using it and I know now it won't be long before I drive off with the brake on..

 

[widemouthfrog]

RE: the handbrake light, it's easy enough to get at the switch concerned by unclipping the cover gaiter for the handbrake lever. Mine stops working from time to time but it only takes a couple of minutes and a bit of WD40 to get things back as they should be.

 

[Dr Denzelino Poblinski]

Ditto with my 03 bug, I found calipers on Ebay that were exchange units around 70 quid and a 24 quid rebate when you send the old ones back, I think they just do a seal kit refub on them, perfectly good.

Posting a bit more, must be falling back in love with the old girl!

Cheers

Denzle.

 

[the frog]

Must remember to advertise the spare rear pads and cables I have in the classified section.
Whilst I like my new car I still miss my Multipla/