How often is everyone rebuilding calipers?

[CSBM5]

In past experience on my heavy E39 M5 both with OEM brakes and then Stoptech BBK, running the Ti shims makes a *huge* difference in piston and therefore dust cover, seal and fluid temperatures. Ti has a low thermal conductivity for metal, but it is very thin, so that's not such a huge part of the added resistance in the heat path. You get two additional contact resistances, one of each side of the shim, each of which has a high thermal resistance; plus you also shield the dust cover from "seeing", from a radiation heat transfer standpoint, the hot pad backing plate surface.

I've never experienced any issue using them; only benefits.

[bigjae1976]

Yeah, titanium plates make a big difference.

[WarrantyTracker]

Okay, this is just me. And it may mean nothing more than I'm a lucky guy.

I only rebuild when the piston boots are showing signs of losing their seal around the piston. I check the guide pin boots when I'm doing the piston boots, but I've only needed to replace maybe one, ever.

I'm doing this on 3 track cars including an E92 M3 and I'm not having any issues, or needing to replace pistons.

$30 for a rebuild kit? Ouch. I think I pay about $4 a wheel for Centric off Rockauto. But that's for BMWs, not Corvettes. First time I've ever heard about anything BMW being cheaper than GM.

[nicksm3]

Originally Posted by dbyrd

I just rebuilt my Stoptech Trophy ST-60 front kit after they blew a seal after about 2 years - approximately 30-35 track days. I'll probably rebuild them every 25 track days or so going forward.

Hey possibly you can reach out to me regarding the rebuilding on the stoptechs. I have a few questions. Thanks man!
914-659-7588

[Z K]

I've never rebuilt a brake caliper before. I don't know if I'd trust myself to do it. I've seen cracked rubber boots but never seeping or actually blown as some have said.

Many places sell rebuilt stock calipers - they come fully bead blasted clean with new pistons and seals. I'd probably do that before rebuilding.

[WarrantyTracker]

Originally Posted by Z K

I've never rebuilt a brake caliper before. I don't know if I'd trust myself to do it. I've seen cracked rubber boots but never seeping or actually blown as some have said.

Many places sell rebuilt stock calipers - they come fully bead blasted clean with new pistons and seals. I'd probably do that before rebuilding.

If you can detail a car, you can rebuild calipers! You will be just fine, and pay $4 a corner instead of triple-digits.

[dbyrd]

Originally Posted by nicksm3

Hey possibly you can reach out to me regarding the rebuilding on the stoptechs. I have a few questions. Thanks man!
914-659-7588

Sure - I IM'd you.

[RickyBobby]

My stoptech's started leaking after 2 years of track use. Luckily the pistons and caliper look to be in great shape so it's just a seal and dust boot change for me.

[RickyBobby]

Well my stoptech's are leaking once again and when I did a google search this thread came up. haha
I stopped tracking the M3 for 2 years and started up again, so my data point is every 2 years of tracking.

Rebuild kit is on order..

[Redd]

Originally Posted by RickyBobby

Well my stoptech's are leaking once again and when I did a google search this thread came up. haha
I stopped tracking the M3 for 2 years and started up again, so my data point is every 2 years of tracking.

Rebuild kit is on order..

Is yours a dedicated track car? 2 year caliper rebuilds seem excessive.

[RickyBobby]

Originally Posted by Redd

Is yours a dedicated track car? 2 year caliper rebuilds seem excessive.

The car sees street and track. 2 years seems along the lines with the others in this thread too so I'm not overly concerned with this interval. The pistons and everything internally look clean and new so fresh seals and I'm good to go.

Rebuild kits have doubled in price since this thread was started, and of course they are out of stock at Stoptech due to supply chain issues.
😩

[redpriest]

Not once have I rebuilt my AP kit since I got it.... which reminds me I should probably do this, lmao. Almost at a 100 track days. No leaking.

[Redd]

My Brembo GT kit was well used when I bought it. I then put another 7 years 75k kms on them. Mainly street, but with many hill runs and the occasional trackday thrown in. No leaks, no sticky pistons. Heck, even the dust boots are still intact (I do run Ti shims).

I did ask people in here when I should rebuild my calipers and the consensus seems to be only rebuild them if they leak.

[M eyedoc]

I find the my rebuild schedule is somewhat track dependent, but I have just adapted the every 2 years as preventive maintenence. Depending on the year, that could be 21-36 days per year.

[Ximian]

Originally Posted by RickyBobby

Well my stoptech's are leaking once again and when I did a google search this thread came up. haha
I stopped tracking the M3 for 2 years and started up again, so my data point is every 2 years of tracking.

Rebuild kit is on order..

Regular ST60 kit by any chance? I'd like details on sources and any tips on how to do it. I'm likely reverting to my stock front calipers for the rest of the year and might as well rebuild the ST60 calipers while they're off.

[RickyBobby]

Originally Posted by Ximian

Regular ST60 kit by any chance? I'd like details on sources and any tips on how to do it. I'm likely reverting to my stock front calipers for the rest of the year and might as well rebuild the ST60 calipers while they're off.

Yes, I have stoptech's and the rebuild process on them is fairly straight forward.
Here's a good writeup. I'll see if I can dig up some of my old pics too.


https://racingbrake.com/installation-instructions/

[RickyBobby]

Does anyone have any experience with the racingbrake rebuild kits? If they have them in stock I might give them a try.

https://racingbrake.com/stoptech-5/

[Redd]

Just go to Zeckhausen for anything Stoptech related. Their customer service is too notch!

[RickyBobby]

Originally Posted by Redd

Just go to Zeckhausen for anything Stoptech related. Their customer service is too notch!

They're out of stock too, although Dave did give me a detailed explanation into their supply chain issues. Nice folks over at Zeckhausen.

[Redd]

Dave is amazing. He emailed me back and forth when I was trying to solve brake knockback issues, giving me advice and everything, all the while knowing I was running Brembos and probably won't be buying anything from him.