General Front caliper - replace or refurb?

[gar074]

Hello folks! First time on here for simply ages. How time flies…

After 10 years of trouble-free service, my Wee Yellow Beastie (2015 Cross TA 4x4) finally needed the attentions of the AA last night.

Without any warning, the front n/s brakes started binding on the A12, to the extent that, after just a few miles, they were smoking quite spectacularly, and the wheel was extremely hot.

Mr AA whipped the pads out at the roadside (before anyone asks, they came away easily, as did the carrier pins) and diagnosed a sticking piston, most likely due to corrosion. He freed it off sufficiently for me to drive home (after a precautionary test drive and temperature check), but I now need to replace or repair the caliper.

So, which to do, replace or refurb?

New calipers - possibly Chinese? - are available for £30-40 online, from suppliers of varying degrees of dodginess (some of their customer feedback is shocking). But are those cheap parts any good? Our friends at Shop4Parts don’t appear to stock calipers. OEM are £££££. Europarts less so, but they still want £160+ for a refurbed part.

I’d be most grateful for any recommendations of suppliers, or alternatively a reliable, cost-effective refurber.

 

[ZaphodB]

Try autodoc.co.uk

They appear to have some Febi Bilstein, you'd have to confirm fit with your reg

 

[gar074]

Try autodoc.co.uk

They appear to have some Febi Bilstein, you'd have to confirm fit with your reg

Had a *really* bad experience with them last year - took nearly 3 weeks to deliver a part, when their listing said 48 hrs. Had to rearrange an MOT test because the car wasn’t fixed in time. Fuming!

 

[ZaphodB]

Well in that case at least if you can find the Febi part number via them you can go looking elsewhere

 

[gar074]

Well in that case at least if you can find the Febi part number via them you can go looking elsewhere

That’s a great suggestion - many thanks!

And thanks also for your original suggestion, and my apologies for what must have seemed like a most ungrateful response. I’m sure many others have bought parts from them without any problem.

 

[ZaphodB]

No probs , let us know how you get on

You can use the same trick on euro car parts to get any original (or other manufacturer) part numbers, then go looking for bargains elsewhere.

 

[KPat]

You could try these: https://www.partsinmotion.co.uk. They do a range of makes at reasonable prices.

 

[WitleyPanda]

If you want to refurb, try here https://www.biggred.co.uk/vehicle/categories
And if you want them refurbished for you, https://www.classiccar-brakes.co.uk/
Both very good, excellent.

 

[gar074]

You could try these: https://www.partsinmotion.co.uk. They do a range of makes at reasonable prices.

Many thanks - I’ll check them out

 

[gar074]

If you want to refurb, try here https://www.biggred.co.uk/vehicle/categories
And if you want them refurbished for you, https://www.classiccar-brakes.co.uk/
Both very good, excellent.

Many thanks - much appreciated

 

[Mike1alike]

How are the discs/pads?
Don't they need replacement?

 

[gar074]

How are the discs/pads?
Don't they need replacement?

Hopefully I stopped in the nick of time to save the discs. The AA guy reckoned they are OK - there’s no blueing or vibration. I’ll have a closer look at the weekend. I expect to replace the pads - makes obvious sense to do so when it’s all stripped down.