Sticking front caliper - options?

[GreenFish]

Driving around the other day I noticed a brake/clutch burning smell in the car. Got out and there was smoke coming from the front driver's side wheel.

Took it to the local garage and they diagnosed it to be a sticking caliper and have quoted the following for the work:

New offside front caliper - £180
New discs - £50
New pads - £47
Labour - £213
Total = £490

Seemed a bit steep to me so was wondering what other options were available around the caliper, etc?

I gave Zed Shed a call and he could do much cheaper but would need to get there.

Car is a Z3 1.9 1999 T reg.

Thanks

PS: Did look at this older post but not sure if info still relevant.

 

[AntStark]

Front calipers are cheap (rear not so) ..almost worth changing them every time you do the pads. They will need to bleed your brakes but labour seem excessive

What have you bought for your Zed this week?

So you can chuck the ear plugs now? ;) Tony.

zroadster.org

eBay link

Pardon our interruption...

 

[GreenFish]

They are a good price! Thought I might have to use a service kit but at that price not worth it.

Founds some discs and pads:

https://www.gsfcarparts.com/za020778

https://www.gsfcarparts.com/za011202

So parts come to £122.26...less than the price of 1 caliper I was quoted.

Just need to find someone to fit them, or have a go myself.

 

[t-tony]

They are a good price! Thought I might have to use a service kit but at that price not worth it.

Founds some discs and pads:

https://www.gsfcarparts.com/za020778

https://www.gsfcarparts.com/za011202

So parts come to £122.26...less than the price of 1 caliper I was quoted.

Just need to find someone to fit them, or have a go myself.

Where are you located?

Tony.

 

[ChrisD]

The callipers are different for the 1.9 and 2.8 so be careful with eBay sellers who don’t always specify. The labour charge you were quoted is, what around 3 hours? I’d take that.

 

[GreenFish]

Where are you located?

Tony.

Harrogate.

 

[GreenFish]

The callipers are different for the 1.9 and 2.8 so be careful with eBay sellers who don’t always specify. The labour charge you were quoted is, what around 3 hours? I’d take that.

Thanks for the tip! Last time they quote me getting on for £100/hr labour Checking with a local mobile mechanic to see what they can do it for.

 

[Nodzed]

Under £16 for a full refurb kit (autodoc). It's a very simple job.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Or maybe

Brake caliper repair kit (Soft dust cover)

Brake caliper repair kit (Soft dust cover) BRK205414 in Caliper Repair kits

www.biggred.co.uk

Nothing to do with me, I've used their stuff before and the bits fit and work. Not a hard job to do, and a damn sight cheaper than paying some ape in a shed to do it.

 

[andyglym]

I've done a full caliper service before and I only have basic skills, loads of info on YouTube.

 

[mikeyH]

Got mine from for my Z4 at Halfords, they had a deal on at the time, I think the calipers were around £35.00 each. My nearside had been sticking, someone on the other forum I belong to said that the discs are quite difficult to warp with normal road driving. It was fine.

 

[GreenFish]

Just gave Bigg Red a call. Super helpful. Got this kit arriving tomorrow.

They also do a caliper refurb for £82.50....so that will probably be stage 2 when the repair kit goes horribly wrong

 

[bertiejaffa]

As mentioned - Refurbing the calipers yourself is actually quite straight forward and there are plenty of videos to follow - the refurb kits are cheap and good.

I have used BIGG RED before for the parts and they are great

 

[GreenFish]

Can anyone recall what size hex bolt is on the calipers? Just checking I have the right kit.

 

[Lee]

Can anyone recall what size hex bolt is on the calipers? Just checking I have the right kit.

7mm allen for calliper pins

16mm hex bolt for the carrier.

6mm allen for disc retainer

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Caliper off first, then the bracket. That's if you're intending to take off the bracket. And while they're all off, plenty of opportunity for some of this

X2 BMW Estoril Blue M-Sport BREMBO Heat Resistant Aerosol Spray Caliper Paint | eBay

ESTORIL BLUE HEAT RESISTANT CALIPER PAINT. Aerosol paint - 400ml. Over 5 0 0, 0 0 0 different colour codes available to mix! Fully automated mixing system cuts out human error making sure that the colour matches exactly.

www.ebay.co.uk

Other colours are available.
The bracket will almost certainly benefit from a good clean on the slidey bits that the pads locate on, pretty certain to be rusty, and the pads need to be able to move on there.

 

[GreenFish]

Was going okay. Caliper off even though pads were jammed on disc. Stuck now trying to get brake hose connector off caliper - looked easy on the videos I watched

 

[the Nefyn cat]

May be best to put the caliper back on temporarily and slacken the hose a bit before removing the caliper again. May also help to pump the piston out most of the way before taking the hose off completely, much easier than trying to get it out by hand with the caliper off. Unless you've got some piston removal tools, of course.

 

[Stevo7682]

Bolt caliper back to carrier togive you some stability which will allow you to apply a bit more pressure once cracked then unbolt caliper remove flexi hose.
Stephen

 

[t-tony]

You can blow the piston out using compressed air too, if you have it.

Tony.