Hi,
I have an 89 F-150 2WD XLT-Lariet.

I'm thinking of rebuilding the brake calipers this time.

Has anyone here done this?

Any pointers???

 

I've rebuilt a few sets. They're fairly simple to rebuild. Watch some youtube videos on rebuilding calipers. Don't put your fingers in the way of the piston if you use the air blast trick to blow it out of the bore.

 

I used to rebuild them but rebuilt are so inexpensive to buy, why bother.

 

They are very easy to rebuild. As with any caliper or wheel cylinder the worst part is getting the bleeder screw out if it hasn't been used in a while. Put a piece of wood to stop the piston from flying into the caliper and getting damaged. Use. Blast of air into the hole where the brake line attaches to force the piston out.

 

I would just get rebuilt ones....they are so cheap anymore that I'd almost bet you can't buy the rebuild kits for the same price as rebuilt calipers.....Yeah, they are easy to do....just why bother????

 

On RockAuto you can get two kits for as little as $6.00 + shipping. The cheapest caliper is $20 after you send back the core.

Why bother....because you can do it yourself and he wants to?

 

Because there is no warranty on any work I do. If I screw up the fix is on me, if they screw up I'm only out the time it takes to R&R the caliper. Perhaps also I could be doing something better with my time.

 

What brand calipers or kits do you guys recommend?

 

Unless they need new pistons, which they often do. There is no problem to do it yourself but time is still an asset and it's time you could put into doing something else. I guess I just got to buying them when I was in business because it was more cost effective for the customer. I usually get the loaded calipers, not the high quality pads but still good and inexpensive, $30-$40 per

 

I went through a similar situation in the past.

Time and money...

My DD was down, so completely rebuilt the front steel calipers. Used a Dremel tool, etc, and Primered and painted them. I had to use a torch on the bleeder screws.

I went through 3 sets of remaned calipers in the past, so I feared the same problem, and I rebuilt them.

This last time, on a different truck, I bought Reman's, and had better luck.

If you have time and patience, it's fun. If you don't...That's another matter.

Good luck!

 

Hi,
Thanks Gentlemen!

I rebuilt one even though the piston was iffy!

The second one the piston was gone!

Said to hec with it and went to my favorite Mom and Pop store and got some AC-Delco brand!

I like AC-Delco for brakes and Delco/REMY for starters and alternators!

Well I tried but they were not "easy" to me, had problems getting the pistons back in but they were in bad shape to begin with.

Probably just buy them from now on!