Hi everyone, i had my brembo brake calipers rebuilt by a reputable brake company as i didn't wana skimp it on brakes with my build, I have only driven the car about 1000kms from the time they where rebuilt, because at that time i didn't have suitable wheels to clear the brembos, When i found a new set of wheels i installed new zenolli dds rotors and n35s endless brake pads the brakes were really loud squealing and loss of brake pedal was some what scary, Noticed after about 200kms there was alot of wear on the left front inner pad and the slots and dimples on the rotor were clogged up with brake dust.Its now been about 10months since having them rebuilt, i have the receipt as i was happy to give them my business as usual but really wishing i didn't now as i finally got around to removing the pads from the caliperstoday and some of the pistons seem to be seized ie,they wont move at all! some move very easy and some dont at all and theres small slits on the rubber boot, where they may have pierced it with a small screwdriver or something, Thing is what do i do from here and what are my rights! Do i take them back to the shop and hold them accountable!. i payed $400 to get them rebuilt and don't really want to pay another $400 to get them rebuilt again, thinking ill just rebuild them myself but this will still cost me about $250.for the kit. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
import.enhancer,
Jan 25, 8:28pm
why dont you take them back instead of posting on here.
edangus,
Jan 25, 8:30pm
Did they do the install or you! Without being a mongrel, that may be their out and would probably be valid 10 months later. Especially after the rotor change as well. Personally, I would just get them done again elsewhere. Less drama. No he said, she said rubbish. Then again if you inform them of the issue, they may help and discount the cost to do again as an act of good faith.
hijacka,
Jan 25, 8:39pm
Yep i did the install, no expense speared even installed new braided lines and endless racing brake fluid. everything was brand new, Just wondering about the warrenty side of things really. Do most brake outfits stand by there work!
hijacka,
Jan 25, 8:43pm
Its abit late to do that now and i dont think they are open tomorrow, just wondering what others might do in my situation, So you would take them back to same place!
edangus,
Jan 25, 8:45pm
Most tradespeople and companies stand by their work (If you approach them the right way) However, as they did not do the install and it could be wear and tear due to what could be disputed as poor fitment (Not saying it is or isn't), I think they would have an out. But may come to the party if you approach them nicely. You never know your luck. They may however insist at that point that they do fitment etc etc.
jmma,
Jan 25, 8:49pm
If it were me, yes I would go and talk tothem, explain like you have in your OP and see how it goes. Not a lot you could do wrong, fitting the calipers IMO Good luck (o:
xpfairmont,
Jan 25, 9:00pm
No,
Do them yourself next time.
cowlover,
Jan 25, 9:38pm
Fitting of the items has noting to do with the warranty on the rebuild.If you buy a part and it falls to bits you go back and get it replaced.In his case ther service you obtained was to rebuild the calipers.The rebuild has failed and therefore under CGA you re entitled to have the problem made good.
Just go back and talk nicely to whoever did the work.Whatever you do dont fiddle with them yourself before you take them back.
A caliper is a pretty simple bit of kit and if the pistons are stuck must have been damm shoddy work.
scuba,
Jan 26, 7:10am
make sure your there when they strip them- will be pretty obvious whats wrong if they are sticking.
mechnificent,
Jan 26, 10:17am
It's hard to think what could go wrong with an overhauled caliper in that short time and distance. They normally retract because of being rusted, having swollen seals due to contaminant with somthing, or the brake hoses are blocked. and yeah I noticed that they are new. You should check that the hoses are not the trouble by undoing a bleeder and trying to push them in, then take the calipers back and be there as they dismantle them if you don't trust them. As a mechanic is business though,you need to have a good relationship with your suppliers and sub-contractors. If they are a reputable crowd and there is not sign of your having been responsible I'm sure they will over-haul them again. If not, a set of seals should only be fifty or so bucks at trade, not two-fifty.
mrfxit,
Jan 26, 11:07am
Yea, $400 seems a bit over the top for a pair of owner caliper rebuilds
hijacka,
Jan 26, 11:42am
True, i have given them the benefit of the doubt for now, they where open today so i returned them i spoke to a guy there and let him no im not happy, i left them with him so will see what they say once they have inspected them, i think i might even go down there on monday and ask them to open the calipers up in front of me, all the brake fluid was clean and new goodridge braided lines where installed, the brake fluid used is endless RF650 as Richard from pro sport recommended, the brake fluid alone cost $90 for 500mls. The brembo rebuild kits are more expensive than most, i think the best place to get them is ex japan cost is around $220. I have a offer from a fellow clubsub member for a kit for $150, i will look at this if the company decide to pull me a short straw, If they do then they will lose a good customer so will be there loss and there name will be shamed.I am worried about the damage that maybe done already and they might not be rebuildable as i dont think you can even get replacement pistons for them, I wonder if the new seals where soaked in fluid before installing! ''sigh'' What a bloodly expensive headache this has turned out to be:(
mechnificent,
Jan 26, 12:01pm
You can get any sized pistons, not that they are going to be damaged. You should be able to get a set of lucas or pbr seals for a fraction of those prices. 150$ must be with a piston surely!
The seals don't need soaking, only lubricating, and a decent shop will have used rubber grease, which should still be there.
hijacka,
Jan 26, 1:46pm
Ok cheers, Im looking forward to monday, will go in there first thing so they know im on there case. theres no denying that the pistons are stuck thats for sure.
cowlover,
Jan 26, 11:02pm
Not something silly like piston for one side is deeper (longer) than the other and they are in the wrong sides and therefore cant retract deep enough!
intrade,
Jan 27, 6:46am
i cant make sense of it but i would make sure they fix it for free as if there was a problem with it when they rebuilt it they should have told you then and let you know it could lead to problems after rebuild like if it had pitted rusted badly inside.
edangus,
Jan 27, 7:06am
This statement is what causes me to question who is at fault.
"because at that time i didn't have suitable wheels to clear the brembos"
So were they rubbing!
mechnificent,
Jan 27, 7:26am
New pistons don't rust in a hurry, unless they are exposed to water. like if the calipers were sitting around and collected water somehow, rain if they were on the car without hoses, or condensation if they were in a humid environment. water caused rust will be obvious. Old cleaned out corrosion or even pitting in the caliper won't cause a sticking problem. Swollen seals is the other likely problem, if they were assembled with the wrong grease or had the wrong fluid put in them. Swollen seals will be obvious. To be honest, I'd doubt that a reputable brake specialist could go wrong overhauling a set of calipers. It would take the apprentice using regular grease where he should have used rubber grease to do it in my estimation. Unlikely.
hijacka,
Jan 27, 6:23pm
I don't think your quite understand, They where never rubbing as i never fitted them till i got suitable wheels. I bought the brake setup 1 piece at a time for my project car, its going to be road legal/certed but mainly used for track days and club meets. As it will be a bit of a pig to daily drive. this isnt ya standard subaru sti it will be pushing at least 500bhp. I bought the calipers secondhand and want the piece of mind knowing that they are rebuild/new. They where never fitted to the car till i bought wheels that clear them. Till then it was on the factory 4pot subaru calipers. I have spent thousand on the brake set up alone because imo braking is just as important as going fast. Calipers.$1000 Rebuild calipers $400 Endless pads and fluid.$1000 Braided lines $ 220 Zenolli dds front and rear slotted and dimpled rotors.$ 900 thanks for all your comment and thoughts, Its helped have a second opinion and i'll keep you all updated:)
edangus,
Jan 27, 6:31pm
Well that is a bit clearer, it was never driven with the ill fitting wheels. Hopefully they come to the party then. Good Luck.
supernova2,
Jan 27, 6:40pm
Got to ask - what are endless pads and fluid made of!Liquid gold maybe!Is that fluid compatable with Brembo seals!
Richard from pro sport is very good to deal with i recommend contacting him if your in the market for a brake upgrade
hijacka,
Jan 27, 7:53pm
Thanks mate yeah hopefully they will and if they don't ill just rebuild it myself and take my business else where. why pay someone else to fuck it up when you can fuck it up yourself for free haha. will be heading there tomorrow morning in between work, i'll try and put on a happy face but a suspect that they will draw me a short straw. On saturday the guy was talking about the master cylinder being the problem and even drawed me a picture, i let him rant then i finally had enough of his crap and said ''bullshit'' and he said nah that can cause it and i said, ''what'' cause the piston to seize one side of the caliper!. he was stuck for words just as much as the brake piston is stuck haha what a muppet.
supernova2,
Jan 27, 8:09pm
Given the amount of money you are spending on fluid and pads why did you not buy Endless calipers and rotors as well!
While a rebuilt caliper (unless bent or cracked) should be as good as new obviously in your case you have either been shafted by a muppet or there are serious mechanical problems with your parts.
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