After market brake calipers

For those of you that have replaced your calipers with an aftermarket brand what seemed to do well over time? This taco isn’t a daily so I’d like to keep it somewhat cheap. I know cardones or whatever they’re called are garbage but I’d assume there are decent ones for $200- for a set. Thanks

 

Doesn't sound like a good plan. Think about how much it would suck when you step on the pedal and nothing happens. Also think about how difficult it is to stop with the emergency brake. My .02

 

Napa

 

Thanks. I was already leaning that way. How long have you been running those?

 

I got a set from Tommy Boy off Amazon a little over a year ago and they still work fine, was like 186.00 for the set.

 

There is no such thing as an aftermarket brake caliper.
Aftermarket companies do not make brake calipers.

They buy existing used ones for cheap from junkyards, then throw them into an abrasive tumbler to make them "new" again, usually fucking everything up in the process.
Calipers are made by OEM suppliers like Ate, TRW-Girling, Brembo, and so on.

This is why rather than wait for your caliper to blow at 200k,
you get in there at 100k when it's still working and take it apart by hand on a bench to slide in some new seals and grease to throw it back on the truck for more use.
A seal kit per caliper is like $10-20 and adds minimal time to doing a brake job that you're in there for anyway. Or brake lines install. Or standalone.

This is not referring to expensive performance brakes like Alcon and Wilwood.
They are legit.
And not $60.

I would sooner buy a used functional factory caliper for $60 and 100k miles to rebuild, than spending more on aftermarket that may not function as well
At least with OEM, you know what you are getting.
It also depends on the condition.
If it works, it works.
If it's been resting on the ocean floor for 10 years, the bore will have rust buildup.

 

Mostly true - sadly. The biggest difference I've seen with calipers sold by folks other than Toyota dealers is the quality of the rebuild parts - specifically the seals and pistons - and the rebuild process itself as mentioned above. My son recently purchased a fancy set of rebuilt calipers from a well-known online retailer. Oh, and they were painted a nice red color which apparently improves performance. (Yea, right.) Even though they were sold as fully rebuilt, I suggested that we buy the OEM seals and rebuild them ourselves. What we found when we pulled them apart was quite disappointing. Glad we rebuilt them ourselves.

 

I replaced my R/F caliper with a NAPA Total Eclipse one. No issues no far, it has been on the truck for more than a year.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/CALSE3535?impressionRank=1

 

My truck has 220k on it and when I did the pads/rotors yesterday I noticed the caliper pistons were pretty rusty so I’m going to replace the calipers sometime in the near future. I guess I’ll go factory Toyota even though they’re approx. $200 each. Better than not stopping!

Doesn’t look like too much more work to replace the caliper, the big pain is bleeding the brakes afterwards.

 

autozone calipers have been fine for me even when they were ADAP back in the day 40 years ago

 

I just went through the same thing last weekend. One cylinder was frozen on one caliper. Had to make the last minute trip down to Napa. We'll see how it holds up over time, but appeared to be good quality seals at least. (I did not take it apart to check internals)

I may end up eating the $60 core charge and keeping my factory caliper to rebuild at some point in the future

 

You must be joking, How can you tell they are good with out disassembly, durometer, calipers and an electron microscope?

I have a problem for your solution too.

What goes up a hill on four legs and comes down on three?

 

Cause it had nice shiny black paint all over it

 

He said, appeared guys…chill lol

 

99% of the cars on the road, when they need new calipers they get remans. As long as you get a reputable brand they work fine and it's not the big deal TW makes it out to be

Nobody in retail shops are rebuilding calipers, that's more for the DIY guy who can spend all weekend with the truck torn apart on jacks.

 

Bold of you to assume my truck has only been on jack stands for one weekend

Work for the man and get paid, work on the house, or work on the truck. Can only pick two..

 

gals too

 

I just ordered factory Toyota calipers, will post pics when they arrive. Not cheap but this truck is my daily (and also I love it)

 

I went Napa 4R front caliper conversion on mine a few miles back.