Reliability of Rebuilt/Remanufactured/Reconditioned Calipers - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

grindMARC · #1 08-13-2007, 09:00 AM

I just swapped out my two front calipers (250k miles) with two reconditioned units . I bought them from a WorldPac distributor (not Fastlane). One was a Bendix, the other a Merc. I was emailing a fellow Merc owner about my successful weekend of replacing these (and other parts) and he immediately wrote back warning me about using reconditioned calipers. He said one failed on him prematurely and the same happened to a friend of his. I guess I should mention his Merc was a 124. Mine is a 126 with ABS. I got no reply back yet on specifically how they failed.

A careful search in these forums turns up no such warning or discussion on this topic.

Has anyone had a reconditioned caliper fail on them prematurely?

bodyart27 · #2 08-13-2007, 09:22 AM

I had a leaky caliper on the passenger rear on my 126 and replaced both rears with remanufactuerd from the dealer. They don't leak, but the paint that was applied was on top of rust which came off in a few months.

I know I'm being picky, but it's the only rusty parts on my southern car! Just looks weird.

MattBelliveau · #3 08-13-2007, 09:33 AM

One of the Cardone rebuilds (front) I bought 18 months ago is binding.

grindMARC · #4 08-13-2007, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bodyart27

I had a leaky caliper on the passenger rear on my 126 and replaced both rears with remanufactuerd from the dealer. They don't leak, but the paint that was applied was on top of rust which came off in a few months.

I know I'm being picky, but it's the only rusty parts on my southern car! Just looks weird.

That's not being picky. I'd bring it back to the dealer if I were you.
Mine look like they were painted really well. The outer surface was sandblasted so much, that its difficult to read the manufacturer stamps on them.

rrgrassi · #5 08-13-2007, 09:49 AM

I got rebuilt ones from O'Reilly. They are done by Cardone and have a LT warrany. They are ATE's, and had no rust. I did not bother painting them since they are hidden by the bundt wheels. It has been 4 months now and no issues so far...

vstech · #6 08-13-2007, 09:52 AM

what is a merc caliper? AFIK, MB used bendix and ate for their brakes, so if it's a merc logo on there, I bet you have one bendix and one ate... anyway no problems with my rebuilts...

Stevo · #7 08-13-2007, 09:54 AM

I would think, like any other rebuilt part, its all a matter of finding a company that does a good job in your area. My good buddy and import shop owner uses a local parts place and has never had a problem so I get "loaded" rebuilds from them. They seem too do it right.

grindMARC · #8 08-13-2007, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

what is a merc caliper? AFIK, MB used bendix and ate for their brakes, so if it's a merc logo on there, I bet you have one bendix and one ate... anyway no problems with my rebuilts...

One clearly says Bendix on it and the other just has a Merc logo.

vstech · #9 08-13-2007, 10:19 AM

ahh, yup, that's just the way ate does their calipers. notice the different springs for retaining the pads. the wire springs are bendix, the flat plate style springs are ate. fully interchangeable, as long as you got correct right/left sides. good luck. I usually like to keep same type on left and right. but either one will work.

unkl300d · #10 08-13-2007, 01:50 PM

How does the 'drill' go again? If you originally have Bendix then you need to replace with bendix in pairs but if you have ATE then you can replace just one either way..... ?

rrgrassi · #11 08-13-2007, 02:33 PM

It is better to replace in pairs does not matter what type. YOu know, the weakest link problem.. IE: If you want to go from Bendix to ATE, then do so in pairs. IF you already have ATE, and one is bad, again replace in pairs. You can stick with ATE or move to Bendix.