I might have found the best stock replacement brake caliper

[M35A2]

So RF brakes started dragging yesterday (new pads and rotors). Took the caliper apart today to see if maybe it was just gunked up and I could clean it.
Nope. Rust in the bore and square-cut seal is fubar.




Start shopping for replacements and I find this at Rock Auto (not my primary vehicle so I can wait for parts)

A-1 Cardone Ultra Reman:
New sliders, new attaching bolts, new banjo bolts AND "Exclusive weather-proof silver powder coating "... all for $13.58 plus shipping.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=6444954&cc=1431777&jsn=1

At that price, how can you afford to NOT replace them? Two, please!

 

[Chris]

Curious what @mrblaine thinks about these.

 

[Mr. Bills]

. . . At that price, how can you afford to NOT replace them?

At that price, how many times will you need to replace them?

 

[mrblaine]

Curious what @mrblaine thinks about these.

It is A1 Cardone. I wouldn't give them to my worst enemy.

 

[M35A2]

At that price, how many times will you need to replace them?

I'd guess never. A-1 Cardone is a top-quality remanufacturer and the calipers carry a 10-year/100,000 mile warranty

 

[Mr. Bills]

Door Number 1:

It is A-1 Cardone. I wouldn't give them to my worst enemy.

Door Number 2:

. . . A-1 Cardone is a top-quality remanufacturer. . . .

I'll take Door Number 1.

 

[M35A2]

Door Number 1:



Door Number 2:





I'll take Door Number 1.

Well, I've been an ASE-certified master mechanic for 24 years and I've not had any problems with any of their parts. Ever.

Blaine wants to sell you HIS parts.

I'll take door #2.

 

[astjp2]

Cardone can be hit or miss, I think it depends on by who and what day the rebuild is done on.

 

[Rob5589]

Blaine wants to sell you HIS parts.

Doubtful. I don't recall Blaine ever pushing his gear.

 

[Chris]

Doubtful. I don't recall Blaine ever pushing his gear.

X2 to that. Blaine may be opinionated, but he’s definitely the furthest thing from a “salesman” I’ve ever seen.

Hell, if you didn’t know Blaine was the guy behind Black Magic Brakes just from word of mouth, I’m not even sure it would be apparent otherwise.

 

[jjvw]

....

Blaine wants to sell you HIS parts.

I'll take door #2.

You are saying this about the guy who has a long history of telling people to not buy his parts.

 

[astjp2]

Cardone is not my #1 preference but in a pinch it works for the do it yourself person.

 

[Mike Jackson]

“Blaine wants to sell you HIS parts”

Maybe you should spend more time reading here. There was just a thread where someone was asking if a cheaper set of control arms would be a good choice for his needs, almost everyone started recommending Currie of savvy and Mrblaine jumped in and let everybody have it for recommending the arms that was twice as much and not needed for OP’s needs.
Next time I suggest you do a little research before throwing that kind of statement out there.

 

[Jed57]

So just to clarify, is that ‘yay’ on the A1 Cardone calipers or no... Seriously- and not to argue or disrespect because I don’t know- are we talking catastrophic brake failure or just won’t last that long or ? I bought rear control arms from OReilly for $200, and then what seems like the same things for the front for $100 on ebay. I’m all for good stuff but I have other addictions that need some lovin’ as well!

 

[M35A2]

Cool. Y'all just buy whatever you want. I'll keep my professional, well-informed opinions to myself.

 

[mrblaine]

Well, I've been an ASE-certified master mechanic for 24 years and I've not had any problems with any of their parts. Ever.

Blaine wants to sell you HIS parts.

I'll take door #2.

I don't want to sell him my parts and I don't care what parts he or your or anyone else buys, I just don't like to see folks waste their money. I've had 5 bad masters in a row on the floor from them. I also have sat across the desk from a major caliper manufacturer and rebuilder and we have discussed this very issue many times. As an insider, he knows what we see. A1 is notorious for reusing any part that doesn't have to be replaced to keep costs down. Seal looks good, no problem re-use it. Piston sorta looks fine, no worries, put it back in, customer won't notice. We have seen many examples of stuff like steering gears that look like all they did was repaint them and toss them in a box.

I don't care what parts you buy, just don't spend your money supporting that shit. The only way you can not have seen problems with their crap is (A) you haven't been using it for 24 years, or (B), you haven't used it much at all and have been very lucky.

 

[mrblaine]

I'd guess never. A-1 Cardone is a top-quality remanufacturer and the calipers carry a 10-year/100,000 mile warranty

No one in the industry considers them top quality.

 

[mrblaine]

Cardone can be hit or miss, I think it depends on by who and what day the rebuild is done on.

Or what parts they didn't replace, or if they even replaced any.

 

[mrblaine]

Doubtful. I don't recall Blaine ever pushing his gear.

For those that pay attention, they eventually notice that I make it a point not to. Fucks up your credibility if you start that shit and my credibility is far more valuable to me than selling a few parts.

 

[jjvw]

Cool. Y'all just buy whatever you want. I'll keep my professional, well-informed opinions to myself.

Where did anyone tell you to keep your professional, well-informed opinions to yourself? If the information is accurate, then there is no reason to keep quiet. Don't confuse the issue.