[David's8]

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

Points to note:

1, yes, the torx bolts are extremely tricky to get out, and require the caliper splitting to get proper access to them. I would not trust anyone who thinks they can do a proper job on these calipers without splitting them

2, the balance pipes will need replacing when they are split. They never come out intact.

3, genuine Brembo seals are half the price from Audi that they are from Brembo specialists! Audi also do a full kit including pistons.

4, splitting the caliper can be a challenge because the steel bolts can seize in the alloy housing.

5, these calipers must have genuine Brembo bleed screws as they are much better machined than any of the aftermarket tat, and have a special anti-corrosion coating.

6, none of my calipers (4x) have needed new spring plates. 90% of the problems with these calipers are caused by those stupid stainless plates corroding away the alloy underneath them and then pushing the spring away from the caliper body so the pads get stuck.

7, Even I accept that properly painting brake calipers is a specialist job. The last 'special bake-in-the-oven brake caliper paint' I bought isn't even resistant to brake fluid!

8, you can buy the pad retaining pins and springs aftermarket, but not from Audi. Not sure about Brembo - I've never found them if so.

Sadly all of these points make the calipers one of the big-ticket items on the D2, but at least done properly they should be good for another 10+ years.

Thanks for the responses: Brake Caliper Specialist have just emailed a quote - ignoring that on the online input form I put down just for the fronts so it came to £563 (after 20% discount!) for all four! They also promise a plethora of further discounts if I pay TODAY! That puts me off anyway.

All the points raised by Mikkijayne were addressed by Pro-Calipers when I questioned how/what they did so I and they were the only ones who state that the split the caliper and fit Brembo bleed screws - others use standard stainless steel which would obviously react with the aluminium body (like the spring plates!) - so I get the feel that they do know what they are talking about. With regard to splitting the calipers, Bigg Red stated that that's the reason they dont do this and farm it out to Pro-Calipers as they have the skills and techniques to do this.

I tried clearing out the corrosion behind the steel springs as they have obviously been distorted by it but to no effect. They (Pro-C) stated that they try to re-use the springs if at all possible but if they cant they use locally made springs as Brembo dont provide them as spares!