osc911 Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 I'm giving my car a once over after 5-6 years of no use and want to tackle the calipers. They are not very clean to look at and pistons are a bit sticky. Whilst they might free up, I'm weighing up options. The car will be for road use and from my reading, the stock calipers are pretty good for the job. I spoke to Classicar Automotive in Cheshire and they quote £80+VAT+shipping per corner for a full refurb with Budweg parts on my ATE calipers. Brakes International are quoting just under £60+VAT+shipping each for the fronts by ATE (unsure of parts used for the refurb). I know Classicar is highly rated here, but just wondering if anyone has any experience with Brakes International on a 911. There is not much price differential but this is not a job I want to do twice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicestershire Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 Brakes International exchange calipers are usually factory refurbished by Budweg. Good customer service from Brakes Int. at Rochdale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Type911 Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 They all will be ATE calipers, just depends if they have them on the shelf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Comerford Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 It’s actually a very easy job to do yourself with medium mechanical competence. Works out very cheaply as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicestershire Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 11 hours ago, Ian Comerford said: It’s actually a very easy job to do yourself with medium mechanical competence. Works out very cheaply as well. Do you get the bodies electroplated or just painted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osc911 Posted October 25, 2018 Author Share Posted October 25, 2018 2 minutes ago, Leicestershire said: Do you get the bodies electroplated or just painted? The proper way to do this is to use zinc plating which acts as a sacrificial coating (it gives the yellow finish on the metal). I have found someone in West London that can do this but oddly they want to see the caliper before quoting a price. If you paint, then it's better to do this on top of the zinc coating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osc911 Posted October 25, 2018 Author Share Posted October 25, 2018 11 hours ago, Ian Comerford said: It’s actually a very easy job to do yourself with medium mechanical competence. Works out very cheaply as well. I want to split the caliper, so the zinc will protect all faces and liners. Do you know where to get the EDPM 1/2 seals (flat washers) to seal the caliper on re-assembly? Classicar won't supply them and BrakeIntl have one set for ATE but don't know if it will fit. If you know the size of the washer then I could check this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverWT Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 20 minutes ago, osc911 said: I want to split the caliper, so the zinc will protect all faces and liners Big can of worms for little return IMHO. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osc911 Posted October 25, 2018 Author Share Posted October 25, 2018 7 minutes ago, SilverWT said: Big can of worms for little return IMHO. Mark Thanks you guys bring the experience on this. There is a bit of patchy surface rust so should I get the zinc dip without splitting halves and just do the normal seal kit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverWT Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 It's not only the seals that are an issue, it's also getting the special bolts that hold the halves together and then reassembling without any leaks. Personally, if I wanted an original type finish I would talk to Matt at Type911 about some exchange ones that are already done. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris T Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 Changing the seals is an easy job, splitting the halves is not. I'd either settle for changing the seals and giving them a coat of silver paint or send them away for professional refurb. New ones tarnish pretty quick anyhow.... Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris T Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 Weird timing, I've just had an email from BCS calliper refurbishment telling me how they took on too many orders and have finally cleared the backlog. To encourage new business they are offering 30% discount to 1st 50 customers from today, so be quick! I don't believe I have ever used them, so cannot comment on quality but may solve your dilemma. enquiries@bcs-automotive.co.uk Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osc911 Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 (edited) I managed to speak to BCS yesterday (thanks Chris). £300 for 4 calipers refurbed (normal price £350, discount on labour only) in basic gunmetal (darkish grey) with stainless steel nipples. They don't split the caliper (they find, as Mark said, this is more trouble and no benefit). The process is to sandblast then an ultrasonic bath with rust remover, then apply a resin 2-pack finish (they fine, as Chris said, the zinc starts to tarnish within a few months). If a piston is needed then this will add £25 each. The paint and function carry a lifetime warranty. I thought the zinc would last but I think it's better getting good paint for the long-term. Fancy colours can be had for + £120. What do you reckon guys? Edited October 26, 2018 by osc911 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevvy Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Not a million miles from these prices: https://type911shop.co.uk/epages/de867ca1-377e-432e-84fd-bdccf2206766.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/de867ca1-377e-432e-84fd-bdccf2206766/Categories/Shop/10/42/291/401 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axel Posted November 4, 2018 Share Posted November 4, 2018 I got 4 930 brakes refurbed by classicbrake, they were perhaps a bit far gone but I think they cost me 1800 quid all in to refurb. bit expensive I felt but the result was good, however Im not competent enough to mean something about it. might have been a donkey of a job to get em sorted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osc911 Posted December 10, 2018 Author Share Posted December 10, 2018 OK I went down the DIY route. I've taken the left front and rear off first and capped off the copper pipe so I can still move the car if need be. The calipers are on the bench and the pistons are out (I used a grease gun to pump them out). The prices I quoted above don't include new pistons, and these are about £40 each when fitted for you and it's 2 per corner. I can get all 8 Budweg (OEM?) pistons for around £80 (some of mine do need changing) and unless any rusted pistons are replaced they won't last very long before getting stuck again. I felt it was not great value giving them to someone else to rebuild given it's a simple task. I have sourced a local chap (Jackson's Plating) and they will sandblast and zinc for £25 each with a 3 day turnaround. I think the calipers need the zinc coating to protect the metal, but I'm also thinking I will put on the same high temp epoxy paint that BCS use (they supply it) on top of the zinc to keep them looking good for some time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_911 Posted December 11, 2018 Share Posted December 11, 2018 Stainless steel pistons would be the way to go. Can't remember where I bought mine form, though I couldn't find a source for the rear pistons in stainless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Type911 Posted December 11, 2018 Share Posted December 11, 2018 The case need to be pressure tested. Dont do all the work and then find there is a crack in the casting! We are finding about 20% of the calipers we have sent away for refurb are scrap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osc911 Posted August 31, 2019 Author Share Posted August 31, 2019 Finally dropped them off to the alchemist!I took the advice of the knowledgeable on here and went down the DIY route, plus didn't spilt them.Cleaned, tested and new zinc.Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy M Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 Don't know whether they are still around but I posted this in 2014! (Stainless pistons) "Checked mine - they were from bigg red - www.biggred.co.uk Part number BRP234803SS and were £13.90 plus vat each almost exactly 2 years ago" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osc911 Posted October 13, 2019 Author Share Posted October 13, 2019 Finished in the POR15 high temp caliper paint. New pots and seals installed. Hopefully won't have to touch them again.Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baz Posted October 15, 2019 Share Posted October 15, 2019 I see you have the cut outs at the same angle on the pistons, from memory there is a right way to fit them. Looks like you know about this but just wanted to make you aware. Zinc plating looks good. Baz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osc911 Posted October 15, 2019 Author Share Posted October 15, 2019 Thanks Baz, I used the following info for setting up the angle. Printed out the template and cut it out, and set the angle using this.https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_caliper_rebuild/911_caliper_rebuild.htmI loved the zinc but it is sacrificial and will tarnish so quickly hence I went down route to use a black high temp coating option.Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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