caliper concern
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2007
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caliper concern
The other day I was changing my front pads, (on the 94 f-250) and it was obvious that they were not wearing evenly. The inner pad was metal on metal, and the outter pad, was still acceptable.
When I pressed the pistons in they went in real hard I had to use an extenion on the press handle to be able to turn it in. When I did I noticed that the pistions were chipping off, or flaking. What seemed really odd to me is that the pistion appeared to be a white color, like a nylon.
My questions are, are the calipers, a synthetic and is this normal. If it is not, as I am suspecting am I better off to replace or rebuild?
I can find calipers from 43.99 to 190.00, but there are no rebuild kits showing at all. I am assuming that I need to do these as a set, to prevent a stronger grab on one side.
When I pressed the pistons in they went in real hard I had to use an extenion on the press handle to be able to turn it in. When I did I noticed that the pistions were chipping off, or flaking. What seemed really odd to me is that the pistion appeared to be a white color, like a nylon.
My questions are, are the calipers, a synthetic and is this normal. If it is not, as I am suspecting am I better off to replace or rebuild?
I can find calipers from 43.99 to 190.00, but there are no rebuild kits showing at all. I am assuming that I need to do these as a set, to prevent a stronger grab on one side.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 12,324
Likes: 1,301
From: Central Mississippi
Some pistons are metal some are plastic, baklite perhaps? I'd get new/rebuilt metal ones or metal replacement pistons at least. Most better parts lists I've seen usually give you the option to choose. The cheaper ones frequently don't tell you what you're getting.
Yes, get the pair.
Yes, get the pair.
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 679
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver B.C.
If you have the plastic/bakilite piston caliper go and buy a rebuilt pair and if the new set has the bakilite pistons, just give them back and try to get a set with metal pistons as there better imho. There is nothing really wrong with the bakilite pistons other than they usually can't be rebuilt with out buying new pistons... metal pistons can usually be cleaned up and rebuilt a couple of times. Also be sure to lube the caliper slides as this will cause the pads to ware prematurely as well...good luck
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 51
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Regards to Bakolites, or Phenalic pistons, my belief is that they won't corrode if moisture is built up inside the caliper from over heating, or extreme braking. Where as the Steel Pistons will. Furthermore, I believe that the composite type pistons react quicker under braking as opposed to the wieght / intertia physics and dynamics for the steel pistons. Now I could be totally off my rocker, and I am always open to new thoughts.
Just my two cents, I am sure there are far more qualified experts out there. Please chime in and edumacate me, I am always learning.
Hope everyone is having a happy holiday
DB916gt
91 F240 SC 4WD, 460 / E$OD, 4:10 LS
Just my two cents, I am sure there are far more qualified experts out there. Please chime in and edumacate me, I am always learning.
Hope everyone is having a happy holiday
DB916gt
91 F240 SC 4WD, 460 / E$OD, 4:10 LS
