PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - You mean you don't rebuild your brake calipers?

rwthomas1 · #9 11-01-2005, 11:28 PM

My reality is a little different. While I learned to rebuild master cylinders, brake cylinders and calipers a long time ago in shop class thats the last place I bothered with it. When I have a vehicle go down for service I usually need it up and running the next day or in the very near future. My time is also quite limited due to work and other commitments. If I was to opt for rebuilding a component like this there is always the chance that once I disassemble it it will be too corroded to be useable or I will have the incorrect parts. Now I am stuck either calling around looking for parts or waiting for either the time or a shipment. It is far easier to simply purchase a rebuilt unit. The rebuilt unit can be visually compared to the old unit to verify correctness. The rebuilt usually carries a warranty. It is usually faster to simply swap on a rebuilt part. I understand that the rebuilts can fail and I'm sure there are people with anecdotes of crappy remanufacturing but mostly the stuff is just fine. Last time I bought 123 front calipers I paid $79/ea for a loaded unit from local Import Indy parts. Paying $20 for a rebuild kit and then spending 3-4 times as long performing the repair doesn't make any sense for me. My time is worth more to me and I can make that money easier from working at my job. I understand that part of this is to simply enjoy working on a vehicle but that is not my point. I throw the rebuilt part on, bleed it and move on. RT