23 replies to this topic

[JamesC]

Other than the refurb kits ive seen on Eliseparts, are there any companys that offer a refurb/exchange service for the rear calipers in particular?

[techieboy]

I gave up trying to find anyone after the companies I did contact said "no". Ended up buying a brand new pair of rears from Robin on here at a knockdown price.

[JamesC]

I gave up trying to find anyone after the companies I did contact said "no". Ended up buying a brand new pair of rears from Robin on here at a knockdown price.

I think I might buy a refurb kit and have a go at it...... I understand its not the easiest of jobs though!

[FLD]

Lotus do refurbs. I think they're about 30 quid cheaper than a new one. ETA: If you do want to have a go check the 4.5mm allen screw in the side. If it comes out then go for it, if it doesn't then save your effort. That is assuming you want to go to town on it and do all the seals rather than just the main seal and boot.

Edited by FLD, 29 November 2012 - 05:08 PM.

[Vaux Pop]

BG Developments sell refurb kits and may still provide a refurb service.

http://www.bgdevelopments.co.uk/

They are in Bromsgrove. 01527 873716.

[Ormes]

http://www.kelsport....PartsectionID=2

[FLD]

Price from lotarse NEW l/h I could do for £175.00 + vat exchange Get some r/h away for reconing

[LazyDonkey]

When mine were goosed i ended up buying new ones off Robin as it wasn't much more expensive than having them rebuilt.

I gave up trying to find anyone after the companies I did contact said "no". Ended up buying a brand new pair of rears from Robin on here at a knockdown price.

Same here - it wasn't much more expensive than having them rebuilt.

[JamesC]

Does anyone know the Brembo part or model number for the rear caliper?

[D3YMO]

Has anyone had any luck in finding a company that will refurb the calipers properly?

 

Also want mine powdercoating in Black or Grey

[JamesC]

I cant help with a company that will do them properly but I have had some trouble with the company that refurbed mine.  I used these guys:

 

http://www.brake-cal...ml#.UgjT1dLVDTo

 

I had an issue with both of them and seemed to have been rebuilt incorrectly.  Initially the finish and service was great but ultimately I had a refund for the work which took months to recover.  I would strongly suggest they are avoided.

[techieboy]

Had my fronts refurbed and powdercoated by Hofmanns and they've been spot on for the three years since. As above, gave up trying to find someone prepared to tackle the rears and bought a new pair of rear calipers from Robin.

[Gedi]

Why don't you have a go yourself? That's what I'm doing.

It doesn't seem too difficult  http://wiki.seloc.or..._Brembo_Caliper

 

[techieboy]

Because half the parts aren't available and I've never read of anyone having any success trying.

[Gedi]

I was just planing on getting a couple of these http://www.elisepart...urbishment-kit/

No pistons included, but there's no real need to change that.

[Arno]

Because half the parts aren't available and I've never read of anyone having any success trying.

 

Done several.. It's not hard, *but* you have to be careful and be prepared to skip some parts if they are too stuck.

 

There's one big problem and that's the grub screw inside the casing. This tends to rust solid into the housing and is also an oddball (4.5mm) size. It can be impossible to remove this.

 

In itself this does not have to be a showstopper as it means you can still refurbish most of the caliper. The only thing you can NOT replace in this case is the O-ring that seals the handbrake shaft through the housing, but luckily this is often not a problem area so can be left in place. All the other seals can still be replaced.

 

The second potential problem point is the small screw with O-ring groove that's inside/under the piston.

 

But the good news is that it does not have to be removed as the original docs mention. These screws are made from a very soft metal and are secured with a strong threadlock, so they tend to snap/shear if you try to undo them.

 

The part of the handbrake mechanism that fits inside the piston can still be removed from the bore if you use a bent screwdriver to gently lever the snapring inside the bore out so the whole mechanism comes out as 1 piece and can be refitted to the piston after renewing the seals.

 

Refitment is a little more tricky if the lower grub screw could not be removed, but usually the standard method of pressure and 'screwing in' the piston does bring the gap in the foot of the handbrake mechanism over the brub screw and it seats in place and the snapring then re-expands in the groove inside the bore.

 

All done

 

All in all it's more difficult than the fronts, which are very easy (but they are prone to corrosion problems on the screw threads for bleed points and hose attachment), but still not that difficult.

 

Bye, Arno.

[fezzasus]

Had my fronts refurbed and powdercoated by Hofmanns and they've been spot on for the three years since. As above, gave up trying to find someone prepared to tackle the rears and bought a new pair of rear calipers from Robin.

 

Did the refurb make a difference? I'm swapping out my rears as part of my suspension refresh but want to know if it's worth doing anything with the fronts. I haven't ever been completely happy with the brakes and suspect 84k miles hasn't made them any better

[techieboy]

Did the refurb make a difference?

I don't think there was anything wrong mechanically to start with, just showing the effects of time. Seals were torn and the pistons had a bit of corrosion on but no negative effects. The refurb didn't have any night and day effect, at least not that I noticed any difference over and above the change of pads at the same time. Always had bigger issues with the rears and the handbrake mechanism not always backing off enough when released and causing the offside rear to occasionally drag. I've still got a couple of pairs of rears in the garage and a couple of Elise-Parts refurb kits, maybe I'll give them a try one day but I'd really like new pistons for them as well.

[fezzasus]

I think the standard brembo pistons work as a replacement http://www.ebay.co.u...=item19da5e3b2a

[fezzasus]

And thanks for the information, I still haven't got to the bottom of why my brakes feel unstable. I know the weight of the car doesn't help stability but you can actually feel the bias change across the front wheels, and yesterday it felt like the rear was biting more than the front. There isn't any consistency to it. Had a full set of discs and pads at the start of the year and replaced the brake hoses recently. Multiple bleeding sessions (both meanings!). Brake servo hose on order. For the sake of the refurb kit I will probably go for it. If it isn't fixed by then I'm going to look at the master cylinder.