I've done the search thing. I'm after a second opinion and possible some advice / shared experience etc. So, long story short, after yesterday's trackday at Bedford my brakes could do with freshening up. My car is a 2010 on 41k. Fronts have had new discs, this year. I was running CL5+ yesterday which will be replaced today with a new set of brembo pads to see me through the winter. The seals on the calipers could do with replacing some time soon based on their appearance, but it's not desperate. Other than a few scuffs from changing pads, the fronts are ok. Rears. This is the problem area. Yesterday, I killed two sets of pads. First set (OEM), which we're probably half worn, then a brand new set of brembos from ECP. After 4 more sessions, the rear right are dead again. I'm suspecting a sticky piston as the ESP was off all day (I killed a set at rockingham by leaving the ESP in sport). I need new discs and pads for certain. I'll do that next weekend. I've another spare set of part worn pads that will go on today to get me through the week. So, wrt the caliper. After some research, a new caliper is circa £130-140 from Renault. There's a place 30 miles from me that do professional refurbs but a. they take a few weeks (I need the car as my daily) and b. I think it costs about the same as a replacement calliper anyway?? I could also refurb it myself but I need the car for work (in case of any issues) plus, I can't find any car specific refurb kits for the rears on eBay (only fronts). They could do with a new lick of paint too, so again a few days away for powercoating etc. I'm currently swayed towards buying a new calliper from Renault and sticking this one on eBay as a spares or repair. Your thoughts?
Renault will pay you 20£ back for your old calipers. Just bought myself from Renault Wolverhampton and this was the deal they offered. 200£ both calipers. Make sure you clean very well the pad sliders/port calipers as well. I had the same questions last week but they price people ask for caliper rebuilds is just crazy, same as brand new calipers. In my eyes doesn't worth it. S. Sent from my E6653 using Tapatalk
BiggRed will refurb a pair of them for £149 + postage, I have a spare set that I'm sending off to them to get done, Turnaround is about a week.
Yup, if anything the rebuilt ones will come back as good, if not better than new. Plus you can have them whatever colour you want.
It's when I can go without the car for a week or two which is the problem. I probably won't be on leave now until Christmas and they won't be getting done over that period. Ideally I'd like them sorted this side of Christmas too. Can I assume that Renault will send the replacements first and reimburse on receipt of the old ones?? Anyway, I've just changed my front pads and the rears too. Fronts were fine. These are the pads from yesterday. Right set are the OEM pads that died before lunch. Left set are the brembos that I had to go get from ECP. Front of car is to the left. Pads are laid as they came out of the calipers. I had to drive home on the left set too. I didnt think they were as bad as they are. I wasn't expecting to see the near side inner like that. Feck knows why that's worse when they were ok'ish before I changed them. New discs will be ordered this week. I've just bled the system too, topping up with fresh fluid (about 0.5 ltr). I'm not 100% sure but there 'may' have been some air in the system, rear offside if anything. I've got a 50 mile daily commute this week so I'll monitor them and asses at the weekend.
Bit of an update for those using search later on..... Just got off the phone to Renault Wolverhampton. Prices below are with the forum discount (and a bit more on the calipers) applied: Rear discs - 78.32 + vat each Rear pads (if bought with discs) £10 + vat for a set. Calipers - £88.84 + vat each. £20 + vat surcharge for return on old callipers. Plus postage.
Whats exactly going wrong with the caliper then, that you cant repair them yourself for example? From the past with other car brands, its been easy to buy a new piston (measuring your old one first) and also a seal kit and change them out. Price for that were really low and defo better than buying new ones. For some cars having issues with the handbrake side on the rear calipers, now thats a different story and can be possible that its not fixable. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I've no idea as yet what the full issue is. I need new discs for certain, that could be the issue or a major factor in the excessive pad wear. If it is indeed the caliper I'd rather have the confidence that fitting a brand new pair will last another 5 yrs without all of the hassle of stripping the existing one down and fitting new seals / pistons that may or may not be the correct ones and have it leak etc. Even a new set of calipers - Cost vs output isn't going to break the bank IMO.
It can also be stucked sliders, your calipers can be in great order, so find out first and then decide what you need to buy. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Bit of an update. I replaced the discs and pads yesterday so will be monitoring the pad wear on a weekly/ fortnightly basis. For reference, I fitted a spare set of ebc yellows after the trackday and they've not had much wear, if any, in the two weeks of commuting (circa 200 miles a week) since. That said, I've not needed to brake nearly half as hard as I did on track. The discs I took off were properly fcuked (I'll post a pic later) so they could have been a factor in the excessive pad wear on track. Regardless, the calipers still need a refurb as the red paint is flaking and the seals could do with replacing. Unless I can take the car off the road for a few weeks to have them refurbished I'll be getting a new set from Renault or similar. Although, not this side of Xmas I must admit.
