Semi-seized caliper: replace or rebuild?

[StageLeft]

A rear caliper is making my car undriveable now. It's the twist-in type and I think those ones just suck during replacements. I did get two sets of pads out of them, but both are pretty tight now and the brakes run warm (except tonight one started smoking!). How involved is it to rebuild a caliper with the kits, and should I Just do that instead of new ones?

EDIT: I just read a rebuild guide on autozone and given how obscenely tight the pistons were in these (it took me about an hour to return one of the pistons on one of the calipers; I had to push very hard while turning clockwise; it truly did not want to go back in) I can assume that rebuilding these will be a monumental PITA. I think it's also a lot more involved for rear twist-type than standard front or rear + handbrake w/ drum combo brakes.

 

[EvilHorace]

Save yourself the hassle and buy a reman. They usually aren't that costly either.

 

[dud]

How much is a new unit? If it's cheap then question answered ...

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: dud
How much is a new unit? If it's cheap then question answered ...

$91 unfortunately. I got one at lunch, though. I think that rebuilding it myself may have made me curse/hit/break things.

EDIT: I mean remanufactured. New, I have no idea...

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Just replaced one last week. A remanufactured one for my car was $65, new was $295. Took about 15 minutes to replace.

 

[RU482]

just make sure if you replace...get a painted unit. I got calipers from Autozone in the fall, they are rusted to fuck now

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: RU482
just make sure if you replace...get a painted unit. I got calipers from Autozone in the fall, they are rusted to fuck now

Yikes! I did get two spares and they turned out to be remanufactured OEM (perhaps they always are) and had some dark paint on them. Not cheap unfortunately, but should do the job nicely 🙂 Bleeding was a bitch after, but now things are good.