variations in price of new parts on line.

[ricky8664]

Not sure if this is the right place for this, so feel free to move it if it should be elsewhere.

As part of putting my P5B back on the road, the brakes are the next issue.

I'm replacing all of the hydraulic bits, some of which I already have, but have noticed big variations in the online prices of things like the rear wheel cylinders. I've seen prices vary from about £80 for a pair to nearly £180 a pair. 

The question in my mind is this. Do members have experience of cheaper brake parts being counterfeit?

My own view is that as the cars are so rare, there would not be much money to be made in faking things like brake wheel cylinders for our P5s, when much bigger production run cars provide a more lucrative market to exploit.

But that's just my view. Does anyone have any actual experience of cheaper quality parts (particularly rear brake wheel cylinders!) being of noticeably poorer quality and reliability and possibly counterfeit, or is the difference in price simply down to individual traders who sell cheaper to turnover faster?

[barryr]

Just speaking about rear wheel cylinders I found the same price difference as you and bought mine from an eBay Rover parts supplier that was way cheaper than the known main suppliers. The parts looked and fitted identically but the only issue I had was swapping over the plate that covers the handbrake actuating components. The 4 drilled holes were misaligned with my original plate. I resolved this by drilling my plate slightly oversize. This was minor and I am very happy with what I saved overall.

Hope this helps? All other parts like discs, pads and brake pipe have been purchased from well known suppliers which I thought were all very reasonably priced.

[enigmas]

Consider having the original factory rear wheel brake slave cylinders resleeved with stainless steel inserts. This is my preference every time over a repro part.

[eightofthem (Andy)]

I agree with the above, try to re use or refurbish as much of the original parts as possible, they were well made at the time.
Today's re made parts are sadly well below par.

[ricky8664]

Yes, I've decided to have my existing wheel cylinders relined along with my front calipers. Found a firm in Suffolk whose reviews are all very good apart from one a few years back, so will go with them. Was going to leave the calipers till later as long as I could get the rear brakes/handbrake working, but think I'll do the complete job including the copper pipes and servo.

BTW, if I'm filling the brake fluid from empty with all new/refurbed hydraulics, which DOT grade can/should I use? Prefer not to use silicon fluid

[Phil Nottingham]

DOT4 is OK

[djm16]

I bought some flexible brake hoses cheap from Argentina (I think it was). They only lasted a few years and I had to replace them again. So either get them from JRW or have a local brake parts supplier make them up on the spot.

[lagain]

I have Goodridge flexible hoses, the first set lasted about 30 years and their replacements look very good, so can recommend them.

[ricky8664]

Clarification from the firm in Suffolk. They say you cannot reline the calipers but they hone them, supply new pistons and bleed nipples and a seal kit and say they have never had any problems with the calipers not sealing.

They can reline the wheel cylinders though.

[enigmas]

Stainless steel insert relining of hydraulic cylinders is an industry staple for repairing/refurbishing hydraulic cylinders.
A small brake shop is unlikely to have the facilities but would know who does this type of repair but are not passing on the info.

Below is a link to a company in OZ who carry out this permanent method of repair...unfortunately too distant from the UK for you. Forum Admins John or Phil may be able to chime in with the location of a company that carries out this work.

www.powerbrakes.com.au/#collapse25402

www.powerbrakes.com.au/wheel-and-master-cylinder-reconditioning

Before and after images of a brake cylinder restored with a stainless steel sleeve.

[johnwp5bcoupe]

I think most refurbishment companies re-sleeve Vince if they don't they should!!
First day of no Tariffs with Aus and NZ Vince
Honing if there is corrosion? pointless!

[Sam Bee]

For relining with stainless steel and an excellent overhaul of brake calipers I recommend Mark Grey of MGBD Parts. He normally does P6 stuff but will do P5 at reasonable cost, he does brake servos too.

[ricky8664]

Just checked the MGBD site and they mention overhauling P5B calipers, but it does not mention relining or sleeving. They just mention replating. What do they mean by this? I've just tried to send them a message but the email address keeps coming up as not known, so I wondered, whilst I wait till Monday to give them a ring, if anyone knows what they mean by re-plating of the caliper? 

[percy]

Contact Past Parts, Bury St Edmonds. Cambs. If they can't help you, no one can!

[ricky8664]

Past parts are the co I've been in touch with and who say you cannot sleeve calipers (or P5B calipers) and they hone the bores. I've never seen any company who say they re sleeve calipers, but they do with wheel cylinders and despite being referred to some companies by forum members, I have not yet found one which says they re-sleeve calipers.

The most recent one I was referred to said they re-plate calipers but, as I said earlier, I don't know what that means. Firms talk about refurbished calipers but apart from saying they use new pistons and seals, they don't say what they do to the caliper bores, and that is what I want to know.

[ricky8664]

Power Brakes in Aus also do not state that they reline/rebore calipers. They expressly state that they reline and sleeve wheel and other brake cylinders but on the pages dealing with brake calipers, they just talk of "guaranteed restoration", without saying what they actually do to the calipers or giving a spec for  what they do. So only the firm in Suffolk have said what they actually do to the calipers as part of renovation or restoration (i.e. honing) which to me does not seem a method to deal with rusty bores.

So if anyone knows of a UK brake caliper restoration firm that actually re bores/relines/re-sleeves brake calipers then please let me know, as there does seem to be a bit of confusion about what actually gets done to calipers that are rebuilt/renovated/restored. Whilst the definitions of what gets done are a bit ambiguous, one thing none of those sites I've looked at actually state expressly, is that they re bore/re sleeve/ reline brake calipers but do expressly state that they do that to wheel, master, slave cylinders. That makes me think that calipers don't get relined etc by any of the firms I've checked out.

However, internet searching is fairly imperfect and I don't expect members to search the net for me. I'm more than happy to research particular companies myself. I just need members to give me the company names they have used where they believe their calipers (for the P5B) were re bored/re lined etc and I can try and find out what their actual restoration spec is.

It's of particular importance to me as I've now got the calipers and wheel cylinders off the car. I'm happy to take the wheel cylinders to Suffolk as they have stated they expressly reline those, so happy to let them do it. Obviously need more clarity on what happens to the calipers before entrusting them to anyone.

Sorry, if this comes across as a bit ungrateful for the info provided but I think there is a lack of clarity on what actually gets done to "recondition" calipers and I suspect that there may be a number of people who think they have had them re lined etc., when they actually haven't. I've also seen reference on a couple of sites that say the calipers must be serviceable, which also suggests there is a limit on bore wear/damage over which the calipers are not "restorable etc., which also suggests re-lining doesn't happen at those firms. So I think it's in all our interests to know exactly what were getting when we have our calipers restored.