Caliper overhaul.

[Matt58]

Morning all. Took my 03 E55 to localish Indy to have some work done, part of that work was to have brakes (brembo 8pot/4pot) bleed on star, they said most of the bleed nipples were seized and they didn’t want to go any further, which I totally understand as i needed car back same day. So I thought this might be a good opportunity for me to remove calipers and get them overhauled and repainted as they are starting to look their age, although working well apart from frozen nipples (ohhhh matron).. I’ve contacted a company in Nottingham (around £5-600) and bigg red (£850) but their turnaround times are around three weeks, which is where the problems is, as I need car for work, I could sort something out for a week, but three is a no go. My question is does anyone provide on the shelf remanufactured units, or someone local to me (Taunton, Somerset) who could carry out works. I know when I inquired about airmatic struts, that the main dealer offered new units and reman units, I’ll ask if they do the same with calipers. Any help or advice would be great fully received. Matt.

 

[grum71]

Replacment caliper on the W204 C63 was £355 [exchange] from MB if this helps (I had a snapped nipple which wouldn't repair)
A mate had front calipers painted on his Beemer for £300 (to compare).That was just painting, not an overhaul of anything else.

 

[Will]

You could locate a slave/spare set and get them refurbished ready to swap straight over to your own car, then either sell your old ones as they are or get them refurbished and sell on?

 

[Matt58]

Replacment caliper on the W204 C63 was £355 [exchange] from MB if this helps (I had a snapped nipple which wouldn't repair)
A mate had front calipers painted on his Beemer for £300 (to compare).That was just painting, not an overhaul of anything else.

Thanks for reply, Main dealer emailed me today saying, only new rear calipers available at £386 each plus vat, new front is £600, and reman £415 but you do get £75 back on your old ones. I’m going to contact the guy that repainted my rear wheel arches to see if he’s interested in repainting my calipers, after I’ve taken them off and removed pistons/bleeders and seals, just trying to weigh up my options really, nothing is ever straight forward is it.

 

[Matt58]

You could locate a slave/spare set and get them refurbished ready to swap straight over to your own car, then either sell your old ones as they are or get them refurbished and sell on?

Thanks for your reply, certainly worth looking into.

 

[OneForTheRoad]

Brakes international do refurbished calipers , you pay a surcharge which you get back once they receive your old ones . I've had a few and can honestly say , they look absolutely brand new .

 

[Matt58]

Brakes international do refurbished calipers , you pay a surcharge which you get back once they receive your old ones . I've had a few and can honestly say , they look absolutely brand new .

Thanks for reply, will give them a bell.

 

[CarZoneParts]

Most of places won't have these clipers in stock.
It's a common issue with bleeding nipples on many brembo calipers. Those 8pots suffer with corrosion on brake pads plates and quite often bolts snapping. There is few ways to remove bleeding without damaging threads. Try BCS-Automotiv they do refurbished all sorts of brake calipers.

 

[Matt58]

Most of places won't have these clipers in stock.
It's a common issue with bleeding nipples on many brembo calipers. Those 8pots suffer with corrosion on brake pads plates and quite often bolts snapping. There is few ways to remove bleeding without damaging threads. Try BCS-Automotiv they do refurbished all sorts of brake calipers.

Thanks for info, I’ll get in touch with them. I’ve managed to buy a slave front calipers so can send them of for refurb and swap straight over as can’t have car off road, just trying to find out if I can pressure bleed Front brakes to enable me to drive to someone with star to properly bleed and flush SBC.

 

[chic0821]

When your dealing with calipers and dodgy pistons or bleed valves. I have found if you soak corroded bleed nipples in brake fluid every few days at least 2 or 3 times then most of the time you will be able to get them open with a set of mold grips. If you feel the bleed valve is going to snap and you give up. You dont always have to put your calipers into a brake specialist or rebuilder. If you remove the calipers ( which in your case you should for future peace of mind and the time will be well worth it in saved bills in the future ) then if you put the caliper into any engineering company or steel fixers. They will remove the bleed valve on a bench for you for pennys as long as your not phoning and harassing them asking them if you done it yet. When a new caliper is extremely expensive to replace new then the small engineering companys will do this for you no bother and and it gives them a little change of scenery on their bench and this is basic engineering repairs removing a corroded stuck threaded component. In the past I have also taken calipers to exhaust specialists with gas welding tools and they have removed bleed nipple valves for me in minutes by applying heat. They know the score about heat and rubber seals so another option. Main thing being. Remove the caliper and then you will have people looking at it saying yeah no bother i can do that on the bench for you.

Taken from another thread. Very good advice especially as you are able to remove the callipers yourself

 

[AMGeed]

This place looks reasonable for Brembo caliper refurbs. No repainting though

Brembo Brake Caliper Refurbishment costs at Pro-Calipers

All parts will be supply with 10% discount of our selling prices. We will always contact you for approval to fit any new replacement parts, no surprises! New Genuine Brembo Bleed Screws and Dust Caps will be fitted to any serviced calipers free of charge.

pro-calipers.co.uk

 

[exvolvoman]

You've already mentioned them, but I've used Bigg Red in the past and quite impressed

 

[Matt58]

Thanks for all of your helpful advice, I’ve just packed front slave calipers and sent them up to brake cal refurb in Rochdale for overhaul and paint, my rear calipers look pretty good cosmetically, but garage said one of them had a seized bleed nipple, so plan on removing that one and taking it to local engineering business. Need to find out in next few weeks if someone mobile with star will come out and flush system, or if I can pressure bleed and dive to main stealers to get it done. If not I’ll have to not bullet and flat bed her to the stealers.

 

[Matt58]

You've already mentioned them, but I've used Bigg Red in the past and quite impressed

I did get a quote from big red for all four calipers £820 15-20 working days turnaround.

 

[Martin 1]

BIGG RED, that's the sensible affordable answer. (no connection)

 

[Lenny63]

@Matt58 How did you get on in the end?
Unfortunately my w219 cls55 has a sticky passenger front which came to light today. The wheel is still turning but generating a lot of heat. How where your chosen brake refurb company in the end?

 

[Matt58]

@Matt58 How did you get on in the end?
Unfortunately my w219 cls55 has a sticky passenger front which came to light today. The wheel is still turning but generating a lot of heat. How where your chosen brake refurb company in the end?

Evening Lenny63, yeah good job in the end from business in Rochdale, good paint job and decals, can’t remember exactly how much but can find paper work, I thought quite reasonable at the time. I couldn’t have car off road so bought a pair of front calipers from eBay and sent those up country, I plan on doing the same with rears at some point and having full flush done, I did manage to partially flush through front calipers with pressure bleeder though. I’ve still got my original 8-pots which I will sell at some point, but if it helps I could sent them either to you or your choose of refurb establishment, that means you could swap them straight away without capping off lines, not sure if my 211 and your 219 are the same, just cover the postage.

 

[Lenny63]

Evening Lenny63, yeah good job in the end from business in Rochdale, good paint job and decals, can’t remember exactly how much but can find paper work, I thought quite reasonable at the time. I couldn’t have car off road so bought a pair of front calipers from eBay and sent those up country, I plan on doing the same with rears at some point and having full flush done, I did manage to partially flush through front calipers with pressure bleeder though. I’ve still got my original 8-pots which I will sell at some point, but if it helps I could sent them either to you or your choose of refurb establishment, that means you could swap them straight away without capping off lines, not sure if my 211 and your 219 are the same, just cover the postage.

Amazing ! I will PM you Matt !