Brake Caliper Restoration Service, "We don't rebuild your calipers... we restore them." Options

[Eric_Shea]

"We don't rebuild your calipers... we restore them."

Early 914 Fronts $349.00 Per Pair: Click Here to Learn More


Late 914 Fronts $349.00 Per Pair: Click Here to Learn More


Early 914 Rears $349.00 Per Pair: Click Here to Learn More


Late 914 Rears $349.00 Per Pair: Click Here to Learn More


914-6 Fronts $349.00 Per Pair: Click Here to Learn More


Specializing in 914-6 and 914-6/GT Rear Calipers $349.00 Per Pair: Click Here to Learn More


Why have us restore your brakes?

Very simple. Because we do it right. The way the factory did it. The way it should be done for many reasons. Here's some common questions:

"Why not just "paint" the calipers?"

1. Paint only protects the outside of the caliper... not very well and only temporarily.
2. Paint comes off with odd things like... brake fluid and brake cleaner.
3. Zinc is the factory finish and has superior corrosion protection.
4. Zinc re-plates the bore, which it probably needs it by now.

Rebuilders that paint calipers do so because zinc is expensive. They can easily slap on a coat of paint on "in-house" and it speeds up the process. They can even call it cool things like "Ceramic" or "Polymer" etc. If you want your calipers done right they will need to be zinc coated like the day they left the ATE factory.

"Why not buy the el cheapo mass-rebuilt, assembly line calipers other parts vendors are pushing on me?"

1. Those things cost those vendors $35.00 each. They're pushing them because there's big money to be made off you.
2. The caliper bodies are vibratory tumble polished. They put them in a huge bin of media and polish all of the finish off them. Then they get an oil bath. That's it! There is "no" protective finish on them at all! Give it a few years and your bargin calipers will literally be covered with rust. We've seen hundreds of them. The ones that come from the big-box rebuilders are almost unusable in a few short years.
3. The same process applies to your "vital" fasteners. We've seen some fasteners about to rust right through (see picture below)
4. And finally, mass production can lead to mass-problems. We've actually seen pistons in backward. Your piston step needs to be set at a precise 20 degree angle to help eliminate pad squeal. We've seen the wrong calipers delivered (there's many VW deriviatives of some of these calipers). We've seen handbrake arms with the wrong springs set to them... meaning; your handbrake is on all the time!



The real benifit of zinc is the sacrificial coating properties. Zinc, by nature, will attract oxidents and literally save the metal it is protecting. Even if it is scratched off the zinc will continue to protect the steel it encapsulates. We've restored 46 year old calipers and have them come out looking brand new. All thanks to the protective properties of the zinc coating applied those many years back.

Zinc also helps protect your piston bore. While the bore is not a sealing surface, it can get wear from the piston. Wear, lack of fluid changes and rusty caliper shellac will cause a caliper to stick. This usually happens just above the seal where moisture can get in. Other rebuilders use a hone to clean out your caliper bore. We recommend against that as it leaves a fresh steel on steel surface (bore and piston). The zinc bath leaves a perfect factory finish on the inside of your caliper bore. All in all, the process will clean and replate the entire caliper and make everything good for another 30-40 years.

Now you know what we mean when we say "We don't rebuild your calipers... we restore them."