Refurbed rear calipers - LS400

[cornershop]

My last service with Paul of ToyotaTech highlighted an upcoming need for rear caliper attention, with a sticky action and rusty pistons mentioned.

I bought a used pair for £50 and sent them away to Brake Caliper Specialist in Nottingham for their basic strip/blast/repaint/reassemble service.  I’d used them before getting some Boxster calipers refurbed, and these turned out fantastically well.

Overall i’m pleased with the outcome, however it took much longer than anticipated - their piston and seal supplier failed them on both items, and being contractually obliged to only use them, i had to purchase my own seal kit (from Bigg Red) and get it sent to BCS to expedite the process. BCS of course, removed the cost of seals from the final bill which dropped from £160 to £120 for both rear calipers.

These come with a 4yr guarantee and use their standard gunmetal finish.  I’ll be supplying them to Paul to fit, along with a APEC discs/pads and handbrake shoes, ahead of MOT expiration in early July.

https://www.bcs-automotive.co.uk/

http://biggred.co.uk/

[Malc]

I wonder why calipers ever really need replacing and the huge cost involved.

Mine have now covered 205k miles and apart from annual servicing of all necessary stuff, including attention to the calipers where needed,  by my very competent indy mechanic, I have only ever needed replacement disks and pads and maybe the odd super attention to the moving parts of the calipers to keep them " right "

Maybe this is something overlooked by many indy mechanics servicing cars generally ?.  resulting in replacement !

Malc

[cornershop]

I’m a magpie and like shiny things, It was my choice to replace refurb the calipers, not the mechanics. The mechanic would have spent and hour or two cleaning up the pistons and bores, so decided to one step further and get them refurbed.

Generally, the more you use the car the less chance of rear calipers needing attention.  I’m only doing 2k a year at present, most of that on 5-10 motorway journeys.

[cornershop]

And fitted, courtesy of Paul at Toyotatech (Guildford) who continues to provide excellent service.

The difference is amazing! I’ve had to recalibrate how much pedal pressure I apply as the brakes are much more effective than previously

Really happy , especially as the ongoing MOT advisory re light corrosion to the underbody has now been removed, after new shocks/springs and new brakes front and rear.  New MOT, no advisories 😄 

[cornershop]

Pics of the calipers in the ‘Before’ stage:

[cornershop]

Brake and disks performing well but these pics show the difference between genuine Lexus front discs and aftermarket Apec rear disks.

Hint - Apec are the rusty ones!

[cruisermark]

Apec seem to be abit behind compared to other manufacturers - i've had Pagid discs on mine for 3 years and they are as new due to the anti rust coating  - there are some signs appearing on the edges between the fins - I've just bought a small tin of silver hammerite which I intend to use on the rust.

I also have bought a some rear discs costing £60 and they also have a anti rust coating.

 

[Britprius]

1 hour ago, cruisermark said:

Apec seem to be abit behind compared to other manufacturers - i've had Pagid discs on mine for 3 years and they are as new due to the anti rust coating  - there are some signs appearing on the edges between the fins - I've just bought a small tin of silver hammerite which I intend to use on the rust.

I also have bought a some rear discs costing £60 and they also have a anti rust coating.

 

Stove paint for wood burners works very well on discs especially in the fin vents where temperatures get high. I have found delaying the painting for a few weeks after fitting new discs seems to make the paint adhere better possibly due to any anti rust oil being burnt off first. 

John. 

[cornershop]

Hasten to add they perform well - apec discs and pads, no squeal, low dust etc.  It’s just the cosmetics which are disappointing.