Calipers from big retail?

[architect]

I’m finally getting around to my brakes.. originally, I was going to go with a big brake kit.. but recently decided to dial back a bit on spending. Part of my news years resolution thing!

I’m looking at vendors.. and stumbled across a few places selling calipers and caliper brackets new. (Autozone, Summit, Oreily, etc) Honeslty,
I was surprised to find calipers on the big retail sites.

https://www.autozone.com/brakes-and-tra ... 362_141387

Does anyone have experience with them? The only reason I’m considering.. they come with new caliper brackets.. and I can’t find brackets new anywhere.

I want to have them sent off for powder coating, and don’t want to bother with old, rusted brackets.

Here’s a pic of the ride.. without wet sand. Need to snap more pics after winter

[kilrwail]

I have purchased rebuilt calipers from NAPA with no problems.

[Nanonevol]

Same here, from O'reillys. They are Fiat parts, rebuilt.

[architect]

Same here, from O'reillys. They are Fiat parts, rebuilt.

Just curious, when you say rebuilt.. and I have seen the term re-manufactured.. they are new right? Not reconditioned?

Most big retail has core charges too. Hmm.

[bobplyler]

If it has a core charge, it's probably rebuilt. That's how the get stuff to rebuild.

[kilrwail]

Same here, from O'reillys. They are Fiat parts, rebuilt.

Just curious, when you say rebuilt.. and I have seen the term re-manufactured.. they are new right? Not reconditioned?

Most big retail has core charges too. Hmm.

If you've ever rebuilt a caliper, you'd know that all they do is clean them thoroughly, replace the rubber pieces and bleeder screws (probably) and lubricate them really well. Occasionally they might have to replace a piston, but not often. You could do it yourself if you could get the bleeder screw out.

[architect]

So if I’m reading this right - just purchase new from vendor and media blast the caliper bracket for a finished look?

It seems better to replace new, than use 40+ year old parts... but then again, the cast and quality of metal was much better back in the day!

[PaulC]

Actually a wife that knows how to handle a powered wire brush works well too
Before:


After:

[PaulC]

And caliper rebuild kits are significantly less than new.

[aj81spider]

Wow! You need to keep that wife!