Hey Guys

As you know I've been trying to do my rear brakes. It went fine on the 5dr and my 3dr's drivers side, but the piston on the passenger side is not moving. First attempt snapped the windback tool, so gave it another go this morning.

Took the caliper completely off the car (it's getting new fluid next week) and tried again, and guess what? Tool has snapped again. I've also noticed if you move the handbrake cable the piston doesn't move at all.

Any ideas? New caliper time?

Re: HELP: Ceased caliper?

Well, taken it completely apart and the thread of the piston is bu**ered. Don't know how this happened, but the problem is now I can't get the piston back behind the seal.

A new caliper is £165 - what with a £65 fluid change, the rear brakes have cost me £250!!

Re: HELP: Ceased caliper?

ooo..... steep.


sorry dude

Re: HELP: Ceased caliper?

Yeah tell me about it . . .

I've found the fault. The caliper piston has a bolt clipped into the back of it, which is hydraulically driven and also with the handbrake mechanism. The housing that the bolt "screws into" (which is on the caliper assembly itself) is misaligned, so the piston won't move down (the piston itself is heavily scored so obviously a long-term problem).

Anyone got a spare caliper lying around?

Oh, and I'm not going on the "This car is crap, it's actually cost me some money so it's being sold, I'm complaining to FIAT, the Queen, God and everyone, intercepting TV transmissions with anti-FIAT campaigns..." Alas, I still love my Stilo, just wish I'd had this done when it was under warranty. The car is 4yrs old and got 33k on the clock so I'm not too pissed off. It's only money, granted about 2 weeks worth of Tesco work!! (Thank-god my student loan has just come in ).

Re: HELP: Ceased caliper?

rroope said:

Yeah tell me about it . . .

I've found the fault. The caliper piston has a bolt clipped into the back of it, which is hydraulically driven and also with the handbrake mechanism. The housing that the bolt "screws into" (which is on the caliper assembly itself) is misaligned, so the piston won't move down (the piston itself is heavily scored so obviously a long-term problem).

Anyone got a spare caliper lying around?

Oh, and I'm not going on the "This car is crap, it's actually cost me some money so it's being sold, I'm complaining to FIAT, the Queen, God and everyone, intercepting TV transmissions with anti-FIAT campaigns..." Alas, I still love my Stilo, just wish I'd had this done when it was under warranty. The car is 4yrs old and got 33k on the clock so I'm not too pissed off. It's only money, granted about 2 weeks worth of Tesco work!! (Thank-god my student loan has just come in ).

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Get it reconed Rich much cheaper than buying new and contact Liam he has a good place where he had his done [I cant remember where it is ] yes I know but I got a good exuse as I'm 58 LOL

Re: HELP: Ceased caliper?

Huh - good excuse for what?

I can't be arsed to get it reconiditioned to be honest, I've been offered that but it'll take 10-14 working days; I need the car daily so sooner it gets done the better. But thanks for the advice .

The irony is, I can't order it from FIAT! My local dealer's internet has gone down so they can't place orders today; got to wait until tomorrow or Monday

Re: HELP: Ceased caliper?

Found this exchange caliper unit.

Surely that picture shows it's missing the piston and seal?

Re: HELP: Ceased caliper?

Do FIAT have alot of problems with their system? whenever I ring up it always seems not to be working even when I went in yesterday the receptionist was on the phone trying to fix it

Re: HELP: Ceased caliper?

rroope said:

Found this exchange caliper unit.

Surely that picture shows it's missing the piston and seal?

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Okay dokay these people are braking lots of stilo's ATM so try here www.247spares.co.uk do I need to wipe you bum as well

Re: HELP: Ceased caliper?

dan-the-man said:

Do FIAT have alot of problems with their system? whenever I ring up it always seems not to be working even when I went in yesterday the receptionist was on the phone trying to fix it

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No it was a local thing, some of the workmen up the road had cut through the NTL broadband cable that the garage use for the internet for the FIAT servers.

Re: HELP: Ceased caliper?

Well it arrived this morning and has now been fitted on. We (my Dad and I) topped the system up (1/2 litre) and bled the back wheels, and had to adjust the handbrake (it wasn't working pre-adjustment!!).

Now all is good, still going to have the full fluid changed on Friday just to get the job done properly .

I had the same problem on my 2002, 3 door model. Contacted fiat who told me it would be £195 including vat didn't bother to ask them what they charged to fit it. After hundreds of phone calls and still no luck...i finally managed to track one down at a salvage yard for £60 and my local independant garage fitted it free of charge. It turned out that the seal had gone on the caliper and that was why it had ceased up, after speaking to a fiat specialist salvage yard they have only ever sold one other caliper that was not for the rear passenger.

have you tried www.speedways.co.uk they have them and retail around £105

phill t said:

have you tried www.speedways.co.uk they have them and retail around £105

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Nice find there Phil and another one for the old favourites :slayer:

i remembered them from last year when i replaced one on my scooby very cheap and deliver to your door !

I looked at these people when getting mine, but the picture (which IS of the actual caliper) shows no piston and seal. I then cross-referenced it to another website (god knows what it was) which had the SAME part number and supplier. They listed the caliper, but also said you needed a new piston (price was POA and it was on an exchange basis) as well as a seal kit for £20. I couldn't be arsed, and for the extra £50 (so £30 less the kit), got it next day from FIAT .