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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    detroit
    Posts
    957

    Default caliper question?

    hi, i was wondering, that if i had a 89 535i with a frozen pass front caliper due to a brake piston boot ripping and the piston getting rusty in a out position, could i just replace the caliper with a used one off pancakes and arts part car? or would it be unbalanced? or could i just get a caliper rebuild kit somewhere?

    thanks

    kyle

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Posts
    89

    Default

    You can certainly replace it with a good used one, provided it is the same type. While it is always better to rebuild used calipers after a certain length of time (and the fact that one of yours seized is a good indication that they are all near the threshold), good used ones work in a pinch. What about replacing both fronts?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Hockinson, Washington
    Posts
    2,499

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Erwin8r
    You can certainly replace it with a good used one, provided it is the same type. While it is always better to rebuild used calipers after a certain length of time (and the fact that one of yours seized is a good indication that they are all near the threshold), good used ones work in a pinch. What about replacing both fronts?
    If the other boots are intact, they are probably fine.
    Lowered with blue h&r(?) springs, Bilsteins, tint, 19# design 3 injectors, Dual Magnaflow
    southwest WA

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    868

    Default Yeah you can grab a used one and swap it right over....

    just inspect the used caliper and make sure it's not going to have a similar fate as your current frozen caliper.

    Quote Originally Posted by kyleN20
    hi, i was wondering, that if i had a 89 535i with a frozen pass front caliper due to a brake piston boot ripping and the piston getting rusty in a out position, could i just replace the caliper with a used one off pancakes and arts part car? or would it be unbalanced? or could i just get a caliper rebuild kit somewhere?

    thanks

    kyle

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Dunlap Illinois
    Posts
    1,198

    Default

    It HAS to be the SAME brand caliper. You musn't use different brand calipers. If the one on your car is an ATE, then the donor must also be an ATE...not Girling.

    Before I sold my 535, I ended up replacing the calipers also. They were somewhere around $45 after core. Not too expensive.

    I know it can be done, but rebuilding the caliper with a kit is just a waste of time in the long run.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    detroit
    Posts
    957

    Default

    thanks for the help guys, mucho apprication

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Cambridgeshire, UK
    Posts
    115

    Default

    FYI, I've recond two pistons on my car due to difficulty and expense of finding calipers for 540s over here. Luckily neither was far gone, but it takes an awful lot of elbow grease to bring 'em back to working condition. And for an inexperienced type like me, it's satan's own job getting the new outer dust seal on...

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