Brake calipers

[Rural]

I may be putting a deposit down on a Delica in the near future. One of the things that's up in the air is whether I want to replace the brake calipers. It's a bit pricey if I have the importer do the work, but the parts aren't too expensive, if I want to do it myself.

Brake work always scares me a little. I've had the brake calipers off on my Subaru Sambar a couple of times, and it seemed easy enough. Is replacing the L400 brake calipers a big deal?

I did a bit of searching and didn't find a cross-over part for the calipers. Is there a compatible part that easy to get on this side of the pacific?

[jessef]

I did a bit of searching and came up with this :

http://www.delica.ca/forum/l400-4m40-28 ... -5886.html

Brakes are easy or difficult depending on your mechanical skill level.

If yours has ABS, then be very careful you don't compress the pistons too much otherwise you can blow the ABS box and the master cyl.

Replacing pads are easy.

Replacing calipers do not take much time.

Replacing the rear rotors do not take much time

Replacing the front rotors are more time consuming as the entire hub assembly needs to be removed from the van. Once removed, the hub and the caliper are separated from each other. It's not done with basic tools.

What is your importer charging for parts/labour ?

Don't mention your importer and you're free to give out the cost. I can tell you if it is reasonable or not.

[Rural]

Thanks for the info, I might have the front calipers installed by the dealer. (That was his recommendation.)

$90/caliper. $240/caliper installed.

[jessef]

240 for both sides on the front ?

If so, that's reasonable. 3 or so hrs is okay

90/caliper part cost is average too

it's easy to damage the front calipers if you don't have the right tool/process to separate it from the hub.

Brakes are one thing not to try and save money on.

Get it installed and that puts the onus on the installer/service shop in case any issues arise down the road.

If you install it, you have no recourse and have to deal with the parts supplier in case of damaged or defective parts which can be difficult.

[Rural]

$240 per caliper. $480 total for both the front calipers. That's my understanding at the moment. If I'm wrong, I'll update it here.

[jessef]

Average shop rate is $70/hr

$480 is almost 7 hours. That's too expensive/too much time.

A good mechanic can do one side re&re including repacking the hub under 2 hours and that's being generous.

As a gauge, I'm mechanically inclined but not a cert mechanic and I can do one side within 2 hrs plus I don't work fast.


*** EDITED ***



I was thinking calipers, pads + rotors.

If you are referring to replacing ONLY the front calipers, then 1-1.25 hrs MAX. is what the book says.

You should not be paying more than $100-120 for labour to install both left/right front calipers on the L400.

So at $90 / caliper + $120 , your total should be $300 parts & labour.

If you are paying more, go somewhere else.

I can recommend quite a few places.

Where are you ?

[Rural]

Thanks for the reply and apologies for my not seeing it earlier. I'm in the process of haggling a bit for an L400, and will factor this in.

Mark

Average shop rate is $70/hr

$480 is almost 7 hours. That's too expensive/too much time.

A good mechanic can do one side re&re including repacking the hub under 2 hours and that's being generous.

As a gauge, I'm mechanically inclined but not a cert mechanic and I can do one side within 2 hrs plus I don't work fast.


*** EDITED ***



I was thinking calipers, pads + rotors.

If you are referring to replacing ONLY the front calipers, then 1-1.25 hrs MAX. is what the book says.

You should not be paying more than $100-120 for labour to install both left/right front calipers on the L400.

So at $90 / caliper + $120 , your total should be $300 parts & labour.

If you are paying more, go somewhere else.

I can recommend quite a few places.

Where are you ?